Chicago XXVI: Live in Concert
Encyclopedia
Chicago XXVI: Live in Concert is an album
by American
rock
band Chicago
and was released in 1999. Their second live album to be released in the US, it was Chicago's first of the sort since 1971's Chicago at Carnegie Hall
and 1972's "Chicago Live In Japan", though the band had released commercial VHS tapes of two concerts in the early 1990s.
Featuring the band's latter day line-up, Chicago XXVI: Live in Concert is composed mostly of their wealth of hits, with three brand new studio recordings ending the album, one of which, Jackie Wilson
's "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher", curiously features non-band member Michael McDonald
on lead vocals.
Released on their own Chicago Records imprint, Chicago XXVI: Live in Concert became the first new Chicago album to fail to chart upon its release (Take Me Back to Chicago
, a compilation of hits and album tracks having failed to chart upon its release some 14 years earlier) and, consequently, went out of print a few years later. The imprint has since folded.
The reaction among fans who purchased the album was mixed. Many appreciated that the current line-up of the band finally had an official live release. Others also appreciated that the recording was done with modern recording equipment leading to a crisp, modern sound. The band was also applauded for clean, tight performances compared to sloppier performances in older recordings.
Criticism was often targeted at Michael McDonald's appearance as a lead vocalist when Chicago had several resident lead singers. In addition, the album's use of vocal and horn over-dubs to augment the actual live performance (a common practice with many live albums) received some criticism. Finally, the reaction to the song selection on the album was mixed. Some criticized its lack of representation of music from Chicago's post-1984 catalog while others noted that the live songs chosen for Chicago 26 weren't substantially different from other live recordings the band had sold commercially in the 1990s.
Regardless of these criticisms, Chicago XXVI remains a popular collector's item, due to its relative obscurity compared to other albums in Chicago's catalog.
Chicago XXVI:Live in Concert (Chicago 26) did not chart in the US or UK.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Chicago
Chicago (band)
Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The self-described "rock and roll band with horns" began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, becoming famous for producing a number of hit ballads. They had...
and was released in 1999. Their second live album to be released in the US, it was Chicago's first of the sort since 1971's Chicago at Carnegie Hall
Chicago at Carnegie Hall
Chicago at Carnegie Hall is the first live album by American band Chicago and was initially released in 1971 as a four LP vinyl box set on Columbia Records. It was also available for a time as two separate 2-record sets....
and 1972's "Chicago Live In Japan", though the band had released commercial VHS tapes of two concerts in the early 1990s.
Featuring the band's latter day line-up, Chicago XXVI: Live in Concert is composed mostly of their wealth of hits, with three brand new studio recordings ending the album, one of which, Jackie Wilson
Jackie Wilson
Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson, Jr. was an American singer and performer. Known as "Mr. Excitement", Wilson was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. He was known as a master showman, and as one of the most dynamic singers and performers in R&B and rock history...
's "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher", curiously features non-band member Michael McDonald
Michael McDonald (singer)
Michael McDonald is a five-time Grammy Award winning American singer and songwriter. McDonald is known for a soulful baritone singing style and a multi-octave range. He began his career singing back-up vocals with Steely Dan...
on lead vocals.
Released on their own Chicago Records imprint, Chicago XXVI: Live in Concert became the first new Chicago album to fail to chart upon its release (Take Me Back to Chicago
Take Me Back to Chicago
Take Me Back to Chicago is a compilation album by Chicago released in 1985 by Columbia/CBS Special Products with Cat. N. PC 39579 and the first one to bear this title; in 1990 a different compilation was released by CBS/Columbia with the Cat. N. 21581 with the same title but a different track list...
, a compilation of hits and album tracks having failed to chart upon its release some 14 years earlier) and, consequently, went out of print a few years later. The imprint has since folded.
The reaction among fans who purchased the album was mixed. Many appreciated that the current line-up of the band finally had an official live release. Others also appreciated that the recording was done with modern recording equipment leading to a crisp, modern sound. The band was also applauded for clean, tight performances compared to sloppier performances in older recordings.
Criticism was often targeted at Michael McDonald's appearance as a lead vocalist when Chicago had several resident lead singers. In addition, the album's use of vocal and horn over-dubs to augment the actual live performance (a common practice with many live albums) received some criticism. Finally, the reaction to the song selection on the album was mixed. Some criticized its lack of representation of music from Chicago's post-1984 catalog while others noted that the live songs chosen for Chicago 26 weren't substantially different from other live recordings the band had sold commercially in the 1990s.
Regardless of these criticisms, Chicago XXVI remains a popular collector's item, due to its relative obscurity compared to other albums in Chicago's catalog.
Track listing
- "The BalletBallet For A Girl In Buchannon"Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon" , a nearly thirteen-minute song cycle/suite from Chicago's 1970 album Chicago II, was the group's first attempt at a long-format multi-part work....
" (James PankowJames PankowJames Carter "Jimmy" Pankow is an American trombone player, songwriter and brass instrument arranger best known as a founding member of the rock band Chicago.-Early life:...
) – 13:29- Make Me SmileMake Me Smile"Make Me Smile" is a song written by James Pankow for the rock band Chicago. Part of Pankow's Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon song cycle/suite, it was recorded for their second album Chicago II...
- So Much to Say, So Much to Give
- Anxiety's Moment
- West Virginia Fantasies
- Colour My WorldColour My World (Chicago song)"Colour My World" is a song written by American musician James Pankow, one of the founding members of the rock/jazz fusion band Chicago. Part of Pankow's Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon song cycle/suite, it was recorded for their second album Chicago II...
- To Be Free
- Now More Than Ever
- Make Me Smile
- "(I've Been) Searchin' So Long(I've Been) Searchin' So Long" Searchin' So Long" is a song written by James Pankow for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago VII . The first single released from that album, it reached number 9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100....
" (James Pankow) – 4:40 - "Mongonucleosis" (James Pankow) – 3:39
- "Hard Habit To Break" (Steve KipnerSteve KipnerSteve Kipner is a multi-platinum-selling songwriter and record producer with hits spanning over a 40 year history, including chart-topping songs such as Olivia Newton-John's "Physical", Chicago's Grammy-nominated "Hard Habit to Break", "Genie In A Bottle" by Christina Aguilera, for which he won an...
/Jon Parker) – 5:16 - "Call on MeCall on Me (Chicago song)"Call On Me" is a song written by Lee Loughnane for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago VII , with Peter Cetera singing lead vocals. The second single released from the album, it reached No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Easy Listening chart."Call On Me" was...
" (Lee LoughnaneLee LoughnaneLee Loughnane , born 21 October 1946 in Elmwood Park, Illinois to Juanita Wall and Philip Louis Loughnane, is an American trumpeter, flugelhorn player, vocalist, and songwriter, best known for being a founding member of the rock band Chicago.- Biography :...
) – 4:33 - "Feelin' Stronger Every DayFeelin' Stronger Every Day"Feelin' Stronger Every Day" is a song written by Peter Cetera and James Pankow for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago VI . The first single released from that album, it reached #10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100....
" (Peter CeteraPeter CeteraPeter Paul Cetera is an American singer, songwriter, bassist and producer best known for being an original member of the rock band Chicago, before launching a successful solo career...
/James PankowJames PankowJames Carter "Jimmy" Pankow is an American trombone player, songwriter and brass instrument arranger best known as a founding member of the rock band Chicago.-Early life:...
) – 4:24 - "Just You 'N' MeJust You 'N' Me"Just You 'N' Me" is a song written by James Pankow for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago VI , with Peter Cetera singing lead vocals. The second single released from that album, it reached #4 on the U.S...
" (James Pankow) – 6:18 - "BeginningsBeginnings (song)"Beginnings" is a song written by Robert Lamm for the rock band Chicago and recorded for their debut album The Chicago Transit Authority, released in 1969. Lamm also provided lead vocals...
" (Robert LammRobert LammRobert William Lamm is an American keyboardist, singer and songwriter who came to fame as a founding member of the pop rock band Chicago...
) – 5:51 - "Hard to Say I'm SorryHard to Say I'm Sorry"Hard to Say I'm Sorry" is a 1982 Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit ballad performed by American rock group Chicago, written by band member Peter Cetera and producer David Foster from the album Chicago 16, released in 1982. The song hit number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 11...
/Get Away" (Peter Cetera/David FosterDavid FosterDavid Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
/Robert Lamm) – 5:38 - "25 or 6 to 425 or 6 to 4"25 or 6 to 4" is a song written by American musician Robert Lamm, one of the founding members of the rock/jazz fusion band Chicago. It was recorded for their second album, Chicago , with Peter Cetera on lead vocals. The song was edited and released as a single in June of the year 2009, climbing to...
" (Robert Lamm) – 5:51 - "Back to You" (Robert Lamm/Keith Howland) – 3:41
- "If I Should Ever Lose You" (Burt BacharachBurt BacharachBurt F. Bacharach is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his popular hit songs and compositions from the mid-1950s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David. Many of their hits were produced specifically for, and performed by, Dionne Warwick...
) – 4:30 - "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" (Gary Jackson/Raynard Miner/Carl Smith) – 4:11
- Features Michael McDonaldMichael McDonald (singer)Michael McDonald is a five-time Grammy Award winning American singer and songwriter. McDonald is known for a soulful baritone singing style and a multi-octave range. He began his career singing back-up vocals with Steely Dan...
on lead vocal - The above three tracks are new studio recordings
- Features Michael McDonald
Chicago XXVI:Live in Concert (Chicago 26) did not chart in the US or UK.
Personnel
- Bill ChamplinBill ChamplinWilliam Bradford "Bill" Champlin is an American singer, guitarist, keyboard player, arranger, producer, and songwriter. His performance work is principally associated with the bands Chicago and the Sons of Champlin...
- pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
s, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s - Keith HowlandKeith HowlandKeith Howland is an American guitarist and singer. Since 1995, he has been the lead guitarist for the veteran pop-rock band, Chicago....
- acoustic guitar, electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker... - Tris ImbodenTris ImbodenTris Imboden is the current drummer with Chicago. He replaced their original drummer Danny Seraphine following his dismissal in 1990. Prior to joining Chicago, as well as during his tenure with the band, Imboden has had a career as a studio session player...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Robert LammRobert LammRobert William Lamm is an American keyboardist, singer and songwriter who came to fame as a founding member of the pop rock band Chicago...
- pianos, keyboards, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, background vocals - Lee LoughnaneLee LoughnaneLee Loughnane , born 21 October 1946 in Elmwood Park, Illinois to Juanita Wall and Philip Louis Loughnane, is an American trumpeter, flugelhorn player, vocalist, and songwriter, best known for being a founding member of the rock band Chicago.- Biography :...
- trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, flugelhornFlugelhornThe flugelhorn is a brass instrument resembling a trumpet but with a wider, conical bore. Some consider it to be a member of the saxhorn family developed by Adolphe Sax ; however, other historians assert that it derives from the valve bugle designed by Michael Saurle , Munich 1832 , thus...
, cornetCornetThe cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
, guitar, percussion, background vocals - James PankowJames PankowJames Carter "Jimmy" Pankow is an American trombone player, songwriter and brass instrument arranger best known as a founding member of the rock band Chicago.-Early life:...
- tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
, percussion, background vocals - Walter ParazaiderWalter ParazaiderWalter Parazaider is best known for being a founding member and saxophone player for the rock band Chicago. He also plays the flute and other woodwind instruments in the band, including clarinet. On the hit "You're Not Alone," he played backing rhythm guitar.Parazaider began playing the clarinet...
- saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
s, fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, clarinetClarinetThe clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed... - Jason ScheffJason ScheffJason Randolph Scheff is an American bassist, singer and songwriter. Since 1985 he has been the bassist and singer for the veteran pop-rock band Chicago. He is the oldest son of well-known session bassist Jerry Scheff, who toured for several years with Elvis Presley...
- electric bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals, background vocals