Take Me Back to Chicago
Encyclopedia
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. This 1985 release was issued by Columbia/CBS at a time when the band was enjoying many hit singles and swift album sales for Warner Brothers, and consists of hit singles and key album tracks that (save for the title track) had not appeared on the band's two Greatest Hits albums on the Columbia label, while the 1990 release features many tracks already present on the previous Greatest Hits. Because Chicago had by 1985 moved to their new label, Take Me Back to Chicago was not directly authorized by the band and they do not acknowledge it in their official discography. Also notable is the fact that the 1990 release featured almost exclusively songs by bassist and singer Peter Cetera
, rather than a mix of material by all of the band's songwriters (the 1985 release has a more balanced sampling of material between each songwriter and the different time periods). By this time, the once prominent writers, Robert Lamm
and James Pankow
, who had composed nearly all of the material in the early days of the band, were losing ground due to the band's stylistic changes. Only two of Pankow's songs are featured on this compilation, and Lamm was credited only as a co-composer on one song.
The 1985 version album was issued on LP, cassette, and CD, while the 1990 version was released only on CD. The 1985 release was not successful sales-wise, nor was it critically approved of. A particularly biting review came in one sentence from Allmusic, stating that it was "Another pointless rip-off compilation by Columbia Records and this one doesn't even contain any big hits."
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...
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. This 1985 release was issued by Columbia/CBS at a time when the band was enjoying many hit singles and swift album sales for Warner Brothers, and consists of hit singles and key album tracks that (save for the title track) had not appeared on the band's two Greatest Hits albums on the Columbia label, while the 1990 release features many tracks already present on the previous Greatest Hits. Because Chicago had by 1985 moved to their new label, Take Me Back to Chicago was not directly authorized by the band and they do not acknowledge it in their official discography. Also notable is the fact that the 1990 release featured almost exclusively songs by bassist and singer Peter Cetera
Peter Cetera
Peter 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...
, rather than a mix of material by all of the band's songwriters (the 1985 release has a more balanced sampling of material between each songwriter and the different time periods). By this time, the once prominent writers, Robert Lamm
Robert Lamm
Robert William Lamm is an American keyboardist, singer and songwriter who came to fame as a founding member of the pop rock band Chicago...
and James Pankow
James Pankow
James 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:...
, who had composed nearly all of the material in the early days of the band, were losing ground due to the band's stylistic changes. Only two of Pankow's songs are featured on this compilation, and Lamm was credited only as a co-composer on one song.
The 1985 version album was issued on LP, cassette, and CD, while the 1990 version was released only on CD. The 1985 release was not successful sales-wise, nor was it critically approved of. A particularly biting review came in one sentence from Allmusic, stating that it was "Another pointless rip-off compilation by Columbia Records and this one doesn't even contain any big hits."
1985 Edition
- "Listen" (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...
) - "Free" (Lamm)
- "Thunder and Lightning" (Cetera, Lamm, Danny SeraphineDanny SeraphineDaniel Peter "Danny" Seraphine is an American drummer, record producer, theatrical producer and film producer, best known for being the original drummer and founding member of the rock group Chicago, a tenure which lasted from February 1967 to May 1990.-Early life:Danny Seraphine was born in...
) - "Lowdown" (Cetera, Seraphine)
- "I'm a Man" (Steve WinwoodSteve WinwoodStephen Lawrence "Steve" Winwood is an English international recording artist whose career spans nearly 50 years. He is a songwriter and a musician whose genres include soul music , R&B, rock, blues-rock, pop-rock, and jazz...
, Jimmy Miller) - "Prelude (Little One)" (Seraphine, Wolinski)
- "Little One" (Seraphine, Wolinski)
- "You Are On My Mind" (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:...
) - "Take Me Back to Chicago" (Seraphine, Wolinski)
- "Mongonucleosis" (Pankow)
- "Harry TrumanHarry Truman (song)"Harry Truman" is a song written by Robert Lamm for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago VIII , with lead vocals by Lamm. The first single released from that album, it reached number thirteen on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100....
" (Lamm)
1990 Edition
All songs written by Cetera, except where noted.- "Baby, What a Big SurpriseBaby, What a Big Surprise"Baby, What a Big Surprise" is a song written by Peter Cetera for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago XI , with Cetera singing lead vocals. The first single released from that album, it reached #4 on the U.S...
" - 3:05 - "Happy Man" - 3:15
- "Take Me Back to Chicago" (Danny SeraphineDanny SeraphineDaniel Peter "Danny" Seraphine is an American drummer, record producer, theatrical producer and film producer, best known for being the original drummer and founding member of the rock group Chicago, a tenure which lasted from February 1967 to May 1990.-Early life:Danny Seraphine was born in...
, David Wolinski) - 5:17 - "If You Leave Me NowIf You Leave Me Now"If You Leave Me Now" is the title of a popular hit ballad by the American rock group Chicago, from their album Chicago X. It was written and sung by bass guitar player Peter Cetera and released as a single in July 1976....
" - 3:54 - "Old DaysOld Days"Old Days" is a song written by James Pankow for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago VIII , with lead vocals by Peter Cetera. The second single released from that album, it reached #5 on the U.S...
" (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:...
) - 3:31 - "Song for You" - 3:41
- "Thunder and Lightning" (Cetera, Lamm, Seraphine) - 3:32
- "Wishing You Were HereWishing You Were Here"Wishing You Were Here" may also refer to a different song by Deborah Gibson."Wishing You Were Here" is a song written by Peter Cetera for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago VII , with lead vocals by Terry Kath , while Cetera sang the song's bridge...
" - 4:34 - "Mama Take" - 4:05
- "Run Away" (Pankow) - 4:18