Classic Rock Bottom

This week is the third in a series! You know, that series that you're really enjoying and wishing that I would do it more. That series I'm speaking of is the series on albums released by artists before they hit it big. You know, you're favorite series.

But you might be saying to yourself, "Hey, wasn't Chicago pretty big before this album?" Well, sure. But then they kinda went into a slight rut and then hit it big again. Besides, as you well know, my series and my ground rules.

XIV was released in 1980 and is their first studio album that did not receive any certification plus was their lowest charting album, only reaching #71 on the US charts. Their previous "disco" album (figure out the album title yourself) reached #21 on the charts and was certified gold, but that album was the lowest charting and lowest certified album until this one. 

Their next studio album (again, figure out the album title yourself but it might be a little bit tricky) reached #9 on the charts and was certified 2X platinum and then they really hit it it big after that with those albums Scott claims that you'll lose you man-card if you give them a listen. 

A couple singles were released but they might not be any songs you're familiar with. However, I think this is actually a pretty good album with the lead-off track and my red track as ones that really grab me.

What does allmusic.com think?

Despite containing a few hidden gems, Chicago's 14th long player went primarily unnoticed when first released in the summer of 1980. The concurrently popular music styles of new wave and punk, as well as the last remnants of disco, had all but abandoned the septet's dependably horn-driven pop and dramatic balladry. In retrospect, it seems that the band had not yet recovered from the tragic loss of Terry Kath (guitar) less than two years earlier. Although his role had decreased somewhat by the mid-'70s, Kath continued to provide Chicago with both a stabilizing spirit as well as a unifying sound. Former Stephen Stills sideman Donnie Dacus (guitar) helped out on the definitely unlucky release Chicago 13 (1979). However, he had already jumped ship before the band began working on Chicago XIV (1980) and Chris Pinnick (guitar) soon became the combo's third guitarist in as many years, and after a decade with the same primary personnel. On top of that and despite ten years of significant successes, Chicago was no longer considered a top priority by its record label. This significant lack of direction resulted in one of the group's more unfocused entries. The vast majority of the album's material came from either the Peter Cetera (bass/vocals) or Robert Lamm (keyboards/vocals) camps. While the pair had long been considered Chicago's strongest respective songwriters, Cetera in particular was emerging with a definitive and soulful delivery especially notable on "Song for You" and "Overnight Café," though he bails on the half-baked "Hold On." Conversely, Lamm's "Manipulation" is a strong and aggressive opener, yet any initial momentum quickly dissipates with lesser sides such as "Upon Arrival" or the tongue-in-cheek "I'd Rather Be Rich." A decidedly more successful outing from Cetera, Lamm, and Danny Seraphine (drums) is "Thunder and Lightning" -- which is highlighted by some jazzy chord changes reminiscent of Steely Dan's "Fez" or "Josie."

XIV

1. Manipulation
2. Upon Arrival
3. Song For You
4. Where Did The Lovin' Go
5. Birthday Boy
6. Hold On
7. Overnight Cafe
8. Thunder And Lightning
9. I'd Rather Be Rich
10. The American Dream

Availability: The remastered version with three extra tracks (not included here) appears to be OOP, but can be had for around $22 or you can get the box set that includes this along with a few other Chicago albums, all remastered and in a nice box which makes sense since this is a box set.

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I was sitting on the edge of my seat, all the time looking forward to find out what is the series that EVERYONE wishes it never ends. It turns out, it's the album the artist puts out before the really good one. Hmm? I'm more of a 10 out of 10 kind of guy, but let's go with the flow.

Where I grew up Chicago was just a blimp somewhere over the Atlantic on the geographical map. They never had a single hit, there. So my knowledge is very limited to few songs (I like) on various compilation albums. This means I'm listening to XIV with fresh perspectives.

Starts out well enough, but after the first song it grows too mellow for my taste. If the red track stand for the one song you like the most, I'm completely on board with that. I really liked it. Very infectious. Might buy the track separately, or look for a compilation it's part of. After Hold On the material is OK , closing with another good track.

Birthday Boy is the WTF moment of the album. I love the arrangements and the song ain't bad by itself, but it baffles me that in places a song that is celebrating a BIRTHDAY Boy sounds more like a funeral march.

Liked your write up.

Yeah, this is one of the series someone and everyone wishes would never, ever end. At least that's what I've been told?

SO bossmans clue for this weeks AOTW is "its all back and white", and then you posted this album cover?

COLLUSION!!!  ITS BACK AND IM CALLING IT!

Oh, boy. Here we go again. Meds obviously not working, but there's a cheap way to stop those thoughts from invading your brain:

Is that the album you mentioned to me?
Mike

No, that one is Night & Day: Big Band by Chicago.

Ah, Chicago 13 and 14 (I dont feel like typing Roman numerals today) - the lost years.  I think the band was reeling from the loss of Kath and what band wouldn't?  He was a powerhouse, a triple threat!!  Singer-Songwriter-Guitarist; One the most underrated guitar players on the planet and yes I still think that.  The Cetera-Kath era of Chicago remains legendary and the albums they made are almost all 100% solid...

Where 13 found them embracing the disco beats of the times this one finds them retreating into a more song written album and not so much pandering to the pop charts.  New guitarist Donnie Dacus is quite capable though, his work on that opener is scorching!!

But lets get to the real best song on here, the newly crowned "Cherry-Pick" of the week.  Hours of research on shades of red produces the obvious shade of red that represents its worthiness.  The Cherry pick this week is SONG FOR YOU.  A stunner of a ballad if you ask me which has been showcased on a very early SHT list.  But the album slows down too much on side one, side two will fix that if youre patient.  Overnight Café is playful and fun, and its production stands out. I'd Rather Be Rich harkens back to the earlier days of the band but the song teases you with the guitar work, just when you think they are going to break off in a jam they reel it back in!    The album closes nicely as well, but I wish they had jammed more, the opener hints at it, and then it only comes in small pieces after that.  Its better than 13 and lets you know a resurgence if near (which they would do on 16).  Its a must own for fans of the band, cursory fans will not like it though.

I love it!!  Fine post sir!

This isn't Dacus on geetar, it's Chris Pinnick.

Therefore, I didn't bother reading the rest of your comment since it's probably as silly as that Dacus comment.

Stupid auto-correct!

When will this Series finally end?

Hahahahahahaha!

Mike

When RJ says it will...

When Scott stops making silly comments.

So.......NEVER.

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