OT - Stone of Sisyphus

[geminix]

I was checking out sites a few nights ago and I came across something very interesting and something I never knew about. Chicago apparently did an album in 1993 called Stone of Sisyphus that has never been released. It was supposed to be their "22". Their label didn't release it because there weren't enough "ballads". Well, I listened to it last night and, let me tell you, it is some of their BEST WORK. If you want to know more about it if you don't already know, give it a google.

[Moon Beam]

I haven't heard the whole thing entirely but from what I've
listened to of this, I've enjoyed.
Bigger Than Elvis is a great track.

[Rick]

I'm looking high and low and can't find any of that album. There are lots of websites with info on it, but all of the links to download tracks are dead. No biggy.

[finalfight]

I'm looking high and low and can't find any of that album. There are lots of websites with info on it, but all of the links to download tracks are dead. No biggy.

As I said in the Danzig thread, Google is your friend! This was very easy to find.

Geminix thanks for letting me know it was available. Rick, Moon Beam check your pms.

P.S - Perhaps the thought of many misguided people wandering into record stores asking for the Stone of Syphilis put Chicago off releasing this undiscovered treasure...?

[Abitaman]

I have had the cd for a few years now. It is good, the best of Chicago with a twist of Toto thrown in-ERIC

[Monker]

I was checking out sites a few nights ago and I came across something very interesting and something I never knew about. Chicago apparently did an album in 1993 called Stone of Sisyphus that has never been released. It was supposed to be their "22". Their label didn't release it because there weren't enough "ballads". Well, I listened to it last night and, let me tell you, it is some of their BEST WORK. If you want to know more about it if you don't already know, give it a google.

Back when this was being recorded I was on a Chigago mailing basicaly. From what I understand, it was more then just "too many ballads". The label wanted more control of the songs, the band recorded SoS without that control...and the label hated it. So, Chicago filled their contract and have been on their own ever since.

[strangegrey]

There's some other issues with those SoS sessions....right around the same time they were mastering, I think....Duane Bailey (sp), chicago's guitarist at the time....got caught schtooping Jimmy Pankow's (trombone) daughter. Needless to say, he was thrown out on his ass.

Sadly, he was the last great guitarist that band had....the current schmoo sucks anus.

But I had heard that part of the lack of push by chicago to force SoS out into the public, was that Duane's very original style was all over that record...Might be horseshit....

but the fact of the matter is that they went through more than just record label changes then.

[brandonx76]

Facts:

- SOS is a great album.
- The titular track is one of Chicago's best.
- Dawayne is a GREAT guitar player
- The song 'Plaid' is supposedly about the bands disatisfaction with the label (Similar to Manipulation...hmm)
- Let's take a life time is a great ballad

[WalrusOct9]

SOS is pretty good...really the only post-Kath Chicago album I actually feel like listening to. (XXX had some good stuff but wayyy too many suck-tastic ballads). It's a shame it never got released, although by 1993 or 1994 i don't think anyone would've noticed either way.

[larryfromnextdoor]

SOS was on Mr.x last year... sign up today.. never miss out!

[brandonx76]

If anyone is interested...pm me and I'll see what I can do...

[Penguinpc]

Bump since this is relevant again. It really is an excellent album.

[Ehwmatt]

There's some other issues with those SoS sessions....right around the same time they were mastering, I think....Duane Bailey (sp), chicago's guitarist at the time....got caught schtooping Jimmy Pankow's (trombone) daughter. Needless to say, he was thrown out on his ass.

Sadly, he was the last great guitarist that band had....the current schmoo sucks anus.

But I had heard that part of the lack of push by chicago to force SoS out into the public, was that Duane's very original style was all over that record...Might be horseshit....

but the fact of the matter is that they went through more than just record label changes then.

Oh man, Keith Howland is a good player with a great sound... don't rip him. Bailey was cool too and he fit perfectly for Chicago back in their 80s day. Can't wait to hear this album.

[strangegrey]

Frankly, Bailey kills compared to the guy thats in the band now....not that he's bad, he does the material a tribute-band sorta justice. But, Bailey laid a fucking stamp on the music....you KNEW it was him playing...

it'

[tj]

I saw Chicago twice back in the late 80's. Bailey was amazing. I wondered what happened to him.

[marco17]

Will be nice to hear this in June when Chicago finally releases it through Rhino. It is a great record, very progressive compared to their 80's power ballad heavy albums. The main reason Warner Bros wouldn't release it was because of this, and they didn't do a 10 out of 12 track typical power ballad album, which is what they wanted. For anyone who has heard a boot copy of this, you'll know what I am talking about.

[ProgRocker53]

I SO desperately want to listen to this.

By all accounts it sounds like something I'd love.

[Sundet]

Bailey is in fact still so unpopular with the band that they have removed one of his songs from the official SOS (Get on This). I'm sure they'd love to have removed the title track as well, which Bailey wrote (with Loughnane demandnig 50 % of the songwriting credit and royalties for playing the demo to their producer at the time).

[X factor]

Fact...Stone of Sisyphus is the gayest album title ever!!!!


What, were they going for a SPINAL TAP vibe???

[Blueskies]

Fact...Stone of Sisyphus is the gayest album title ever!!!!


What, were they going for a SPINAL TAP vibe???

It's from Greek mythology....rolling the stone uphill only to have it roll back down again and again.....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisyphus

[X factor]

Fact...Stone of Sisyphus is the gayest album title ever!!!!


What, were they going for a SPINAL TAP vibe???

It's from Greek mythology....rolling the stone uphill only to have it roll back down again and again.....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisyphus

Yeah yeah...I get the reference...It's just silly, is alls I'm saying!

[RisingForce73]

You can listen to the title track to SOS on Dawayne Bailey's MySpace:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu ... d=66782751

DB wrote the title track. Robert Lamm sings lead on the verse. The tenor voice on the chorus is DB.

And some of DB's live guitar work with Chicago (he was a sideman and didn't play much on the albums):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv0vPwSq4YE

[tj]

And some of DB's live guitar work with Chicago (he was a sideman and didn't play much on the albums):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv0vPwSq4YE

Funny on this one that they start out asking the crowd "Do you want to Rock and Roll?", then they play "You're not alone". I love Chicago, but never considered that song "Rock and Roll".

[Ehwmatt]

You can listen to the title track to SOS on Dawayne Bailey's MySpace:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu ... d=66782751

DB wrote the title track. Robert Lamm sings lead on the verse. The tenor voice on the chorus is DB.

And some of DB's live guitar work with Chicago (he was a sideman and didn't play much on the albums):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv0vPwSq4YE

My god the playing on that You're Not Alone is putrid. He really butchered the two great album solos from that song. I saw another clip of him where it wasn't nearly that bad - different, but not horrendous like that. He had a few cool whammy bar ideas in there, but they get lost amidst the rest of the shit he plays... that was like a kid who just learned how to do 3 note string runs but can't do them in time with any music yet. Horrible.

[Rick]

You can listen to the title track to SOS on Dawayne Bailey's MySpace:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu ... d=66782751

DB wrote the title track. Robert Lamm sings lead on the verse. The tenor voice on the chorus is DB.

And some of DB's live guitar work with Chicago (he was a sideman and didn't play much on the albums):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv0vPwSq4YE

My god the playing on that You're Not Alone is putrid. He really butchered the two great album solos from that song. I saw another clip of him where it wasn't nearly that bad - different, but not horrendous like that. He had a few cool whammy bar ideas in there, but they get lost amidst the rest of the shit he plays... that was like a kid who just learned how to do 3 note string runs but can't do them in time with any music yet. Horrible.

I don't know how he plays with his guitar up like that. Maybe he borrowed his sons strap.

[jimmy19029]

[quote="strangegrey"]There's some other issues with those SoS sessions....right around the same time they were mastering, I think....Duane Bailey (sp), chicago's guitarist at the time....got caught schtooping Jimmy Pankow's (trombone) daughter. Needless to say, he was thrown out on his ass.


It wasn't Pankow's daughter, it was Walt Parazaider's daughter Dawayne dated. That wasn't the reason he was let go from the band though. On his site, Bailey thinks one of the reasons may have been his huge objection to the dumping of SOS and Chicago's decision to do a Big Band songs album. At any rate, he says he was never told the reasons why he was let go.

[jimmy19029]

The album is set for release on Rhino Records on June 23rd of this year. Unfortunately, one track, Get on This, will not be included. That's a whole 'nother story......Dawayne talks at length about it on his website's forum.

[DracIsBack]

There's some other issues with those SoS sessions....right around the same time they were mastering, I think....Duane Bailey (sp), chicago's guitarist at the time....got caught schtooping Jimmy Pankow's (trombone) daughter. Needless to say, he was thrown out on his ass.

Actually he was dating the sax player's daughter and the relationship ended (not a case of "getting caught"). He's discussed this extensively on his site.

[DracIsBack]

My god the playing on that You're Not Alone is putrid. He really butchered the two great album solos from that song. I saw another clip of him where it wasn't nearly that bad - different, but not horrendous like that. He had a few cool whammy bar ideas in there, but they get lost amidst the rest of the shit he plays... that was like a kid who just learned how to do 3 note string runs but can't do them in time with any music yet. Horrible.

Geez, if you're such a hotshot guitar player, how's about going over the Dawayne's forum and challenging him to a guitar faceoff?

[ProgRocker53]

My god the playing on that You're Not Alone is putrid. He really butchered the two great album solos from that song. I saw another clip of him where it wasn't nearly that bad - different, but not horrendous like that. He had a few cool whammy bar ideas in there, but they get lost amidst the rest of the shit he plays... that was like a kid who just learned how to do 3 note string runs but can't do them in time with any music yet. Horrible.

Geez, if you're such a hotshot guitar player, how's about going over the Dawayne's forum and challenging him to a guitar faceoff?

Liquid Drummer and I volunteer to be the rhythm section for said guitar faceoff.