Any Chicago/Cetera fans?

[G.I.Jim]

One of my all-time Cetera songs..."Have You Ever Been In Love".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y33iEchH ... re=related

[S2M]

But to me the magic was kind of gone when Cetera left, much like Perry leaving Journey.

I am not the Chicago historian that some here are. That said, I don't believe Chicago was ever a band that was centered around their vocalist, as Journey was. In fact, my understanding of Chicago is that Cetera didn't even sing on much of anything until around Chicago 16 and 17. I believe Chicago 17 was their most successful commercial release, which is the material that is so identifiable with Cetera's voice. Every time I've heard Scheff sing, it is quite obvious that he is doing his best to mimic Cetera's sound (and does a pretty good job) on the Cetera era Chicago stuff. I've yet to hear anyone come close to mimicking Perry, even thought they've all tried like hell!

Cetera sang on many songs prior to 16,17....

[Don]

These were the Cetera lead songs that were hits in the PreFoster era of Chicago. Once Foster came on board Peter pretty much took over the lead singer position and became the focal point unlike on the previous albums.
Just you "n" me
Feeling stronger every day
Old Days
Call on me
No Tell lover
If you leave me now
Baby what a big surprise

[Enigma869]

Cetera sang on many songs prior to 16,17....

Whether he did or didn't isn't really the issue. I think the only real hit they had prior to that may have been "Saturday In The Park". The bottom line is that the band Chicago was never built around soaring vocals the way Journey was. Hell, their horn section was probably more identifiable on their music than their lead vocalist. Another thing I've been told by Chicago fans is that they never had just one "lead vocalist" the way many other bands (i.e. Journey) had, which is probably another reason that replacing Cetera was so much easier.

[S2M]

Chicago sings a great song off Chicago XXX with Rascal Flatts on backing vox....'Love Will Come Back'

Awesome song!

[jrny84]

Cetera sang on many songs prior to 16,17....

Whether he did or didn't isn't really the issue. I think the only real hit they had prior to that may have been "Saturday In The Park". The bottom line is that the band Chicago was never built around soaring vocals the way Journey was. Hell, their horn section was probably more identifiable on their music than their lead vocalist. Another thing I've been told by Chicago fans is that they never had just one "lead vocalist" the way many other bands (i.e. Journey) had, which is probably another reason that replacing Cetera was so much easier.

I agree that Chicago wasnt built around the soaring vocals like Journey was. During the late 60s to late 70s they were more of an instrumental band than a vocal band, but when Peter Cetera and David Foster hooked up, the band really changed. They were writing more ballads like Journey and Cetera was pushed into the spotlight as the frontman for a few years there. They also had more success than they have ever had selling 6 million copies of chicago 17. If you listen to the 70s chicago vs. the 80s chicago, its a pretty different sound. For me I personally like many of the songs that foster and cetera wrote...that is my favorite period in chicago. I do appreciate the 70s to early 80s chicago and like alot of bill champlin's songs and music too.

[Ehwmatt]

Chicago sings a great song off Chicago XXX with Rascal Flatts on backing vox....'Love Will Come Back'

Awesome song!

XXX is underrated. Feel is awesome, Caroline's fun if a bit novelty, King of Might Have Been is a strong ballad, Love Will Come Back as you said is great, and Long Lost Friend, 90 Degrees and Freezing, Where Were You, and to a lesser extent, Why Can't We are all good tracks.

As for Cetera leaving, I think what alienated some fans is more the general change in direction Chicago took before Cetera even left, particularly when Bill Champlin came on. That's when they started doing songs like Hard To Say I'm Sorry, the horns started being de-emphasized, and the overall songwriting got a little less "risky." Champlin wasn't really responsible for that, just so happened that he came on at that time. I think the general change in direction frustrated fans more than Cetera leaving. John is right, Chicago wasn't necessarily about Cetera's voice. But, it wasn't just about the horns either, it was a case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts or however that expression goes. But I like all eras of the band, so it doesn't matter to me...

Anyway, some of my fave Cetera solo songs:

End of Camelot (GREAT guitar work on this one - anyone know if Lukather played on this album?)
Glory of Love
Faithfully
Feels Like Heaven
Where There's No Tomorrow
World Falling Down
I Wasn't The One
After All
No Explanation from one of the symphony DVDs
Restless Hearts

[DracIsBack]

Also anyone know of a Chicago with Peter Cetera DVD out there?

There's actually only one legit one and you have to buy the boxset to get it: It's Chicago Live at the Aire Crown Theatre from 1972.

[DracIsBack]

That said, I don't believe Chicago was ever a band that was centered around their vocalist, as Journey was. In fact, my understanding of Chicago is that Cetera didn't even sing on much of anything until around Chicago 16 and 17.

Cetera sang plenty on all 17 albums. The difference with Chicago was that it was built around three horns and three voices. So while Peter was the most identifiable (range and style) there were two other singers to share the load.

[DracIsBack]

One of my all-time Cetera songs..."Have You Ever Been In Love".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y33iEchH ... re=related

I was at that show.

[G.I.Jim]

One of my all-time Cetera songs..."Have You Ever Been In Love".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y33iEchH ... re=related

I was at that show.

Awesome! I do wish he'd go on tour with a more "pop" band though, instead of relying on orchestras. Just love to hear him sing with some kick-ass rocking guitar. It just seems like his tours over the years are really watered down versions of the songs. maybe it just me? I do love his voice though, and he's still got an amazing voice to be as old as he is!

[Ehwmatt]

One of my all-time Cetera songs..."Have You Ever Been In Love".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y33iEchH ... re=related

I was at that show.

Awesome! I do wish he'd go on tour with a more "pop" band though, instead of relying on orchestras. Just love to hear him sing with some kick-ass rocking guitar. It just seems like his tours over the years are really watered down versions of the songs. maybe it just me? I do love his voice though, and he's still got an amazing voice to be as old as he is!

I really like the symphony performances, but yeah, they are better served as a one-off type of thing rather than a consistent thing. I'd like to see him go on tour with a bona fide band as well. BTW, PC downtunes live! Oh the humanity

[G.I.Jim]

One of my all-time Cetera songs..."Have You Ever Been In Love".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y33iEchH ... re=related

I was at that show.

Awesome! I do wish he'd go on tour with a more "pop" band though, instead of relying on orchestras. Just love to hear him sing with some kick-ass rocking guitar. It just seems like his tours over the years are really watered down versions of the songs. maybe it just me? I do love his voice though, and he's still got an amazing voice to be as old as he is!

I really like the symphony performances, but yeah, they are better served as a one-off type of thing rather than a consistent thing. I'd like to see him go on tour with a bona fide band as well. BTW, PC downtunes live! Oh the humanity

Hey, he still sounds amazing though. He does shorten a lot of his phrases live, which gets on my last nerve, but again...he's awesome! I wish he'd get busy and put out another great album.

[Ehwmatt]

One of my all-time Cetera songs..."Have You Ever Been In Love".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y33iEchH ... re=related

I was at that show.

Awesome! I do wish he'd go on tour with a more "pop" band though, instead of relying on orchestras. Just love to hear him sing with some kick-ass rocking guitar. It just seems like his tours over the years are really watered down versions of the songs. maybe it just me? I do love his voice though, and he's still got an amazing voice to be as old as he is!

I really like the symphony performances, but yeah, they are better served as a one-off type of thing rather than a consistent thing. I'd like to see him go on tour with a bona fide band as well. BTW, PC downtunes live! Oh the humanity

Hey, he still sounds amazing though. He does shorten a lot of his phrases live, which gets on my last nerve, but again...he's awesome! I wish he'd get busy and put out another great album.

I know exactly what you're talking about with the phrases thing. I've gotten used to it. I'd love to hear another album. I just love the overall sound of his albums, especially the guitar sounds. Great stuff... just listen to the guitar tone on End of Camelot.

[DracIsBack]

Awesome! I do wish he'd go on tour with a more "pop" band though, instead of relying on orchestras. Just love to hear him sing with some kick-ass rocking guitar. It just seems like his tours over the years are really watered down versions of the songs. maybe it just me? I do love his voice though, and he's still got an amazing voice to be as old as he is!

I've seen him three times solo - twice with an orchestra (2003, 2006) and once with an electrical band (1996). I prefer the electric concert too, but the promoters seem to want the symphony shows.

My dream is that he'll practice up on the electric bass again and remind the world why he was the cover story in Bass Player magazine's December 2007 issue.

[G.I.Jim]

Awesome! I do wish he'd go on tour with a more "pop" band though, instead of relying on orchestras. Just love to hear him sing with some kick-ass rocking guitar. It just seems like his tours over the years are really watered down versions of the songs. maybe it just me? I do love his voice though, and he's still got an amazing voice to be as old as he is!

I've seen him three times solo - twice with an orchestra (2003, 2006) and once with an electrical band (1996). I prefer the electric concert too, but the promoters seem to want the symphony shows.

My dream is that he'll practice up on the electric bass again and remind the world why he was the cover story in Bass Player magazine's December 2007 issue.

That would be awesome! Doesn't hurt to dream.

[jrny84]

Also anyone know of a Chicago with Peter Cetera DVD out there?

There's actually only one legit one and you have to buy the boxset to get it: It's Chicago Live at the Aire Crown Theatre from 1972.

Thanks for the information! Ive been searching on youtube and chicago did a show in 84 at budokon hall in tokyo. Cetera was spot on in that performance and the band sounded awesome. Wish they would release that one.

[WalrusOct9]

Love early Chicago...can't stand Cetera's ballads. The rest of the band made five or six fucking amazing albums.


The 80's stuff I can't really stomach (they didn't write any of it anyway, and the horns were barely existent) but their last album, 'XXX' was a pleasant surprise, as was the unreleased Stone Of Sisyphus.

[Since 78]

One of my favorites from Cetera http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSbzlxZ2MYA Even a fool can see

[DracIsBack]

The 80's stuff I can't really stomach (they didn't write any of it anyway, and the horns were barely existent)

That's pushing it, on both counts.

On 16, 17 and 18, most songs were written or cowritten by the band. There's a couple that came from outside. 19 was an oddball where about half the songs came from outside.

As for the horns, I've always maintained this is a huge myth. There aren't a lot of horns on released singles but they are definitely there throughout the albums.

but their last album, 'XXX' was a pleasant surprise, as was the unreleased Stone Of Sisyphus.

Stone of Sisyphus was released recently, but missing a song from the original sessions. Disagree on XXX - I'd take all of the 80s albums over it any day of the week.

[stevew2]

Cetatra was a fag,and also most ruined Chicago.Thank god they let his ego inflated ass go and let him do that limp ass solo attempt with Cher. Shit he was just a bass player for petes sake.

[Art Vandelay]

For those of you interested in the classic Chicago sound, you should really check out CTA – California Transit Authority. It includes Danny Seraphine (original Chicago drummer) and some former members of Tower of Power. They do incredible versions of the classic Chicago stuff. In my opinion, this is probably what Chicago would have sounded like now had Terry Kath not passed away.

Check out Danny's playing...the man is amazing. Smooth as buttah!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK1C_yIglFA