Tuesday 1/31/23 10am ET: Feature Greatest Hits LP: Chicago – If You Leave Me Now (1983)

If You Leave Me Now is a compilation album by the rock band Chicago. In an attempt to capitalize on the band’s second #1 single (“Hard to Say I’m Sorry”) as well as its Top 40 follow-up (“Love Me Tomorrow”), Columbia Records built a collection around the Grammy-winning single, which had previously been their only other chart-topper. Album released in March 1983.

Since Columbia was the owner of the recordings at the time, this is an official release, but has never been considered a proper part of their numbered canon of works. While the practice of repackaging older works when an artist has a resurgence with another label is not new, it is almost always frowned upon, as demonstrated in William Ruhlmann’s review at AllMusic: “At least a few people will mistake it for new product and take it home”.

1. “If You Leave Me Now” 3:57
2. “Saturday in the Park” 3:55
3. “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day” 4:14
4. “(I’ve Been) Searchin’ So Long” 4:29
5. “25 or 6 to 4” 4:52
6. “Baby, What a Big Surprise” 3:05
7. “Wishing You Were Here” 4:35
8. “No Tell Lover” 3:52
9. “Another Rainy Day in New York City” 3:02
10. “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? 2:54
11. “Song for You” 3:41

Sunday 7/31/22 3pm ET: Feature LP: Chicago – Chicago XII Hot Streets (1978)

Hot Streets is the tenth studio album (twelfth overall) by the American band Chicago, released October 2, 1978. In many ways, Hot Streets marked the beginning of a new era for the band, turning to disco music, a move which would be derided in retrospect. This was the band’s first album with all-new material released since their second that did not have a numbered title. It was also the first album not to feature original guitarist/vocalist Terry Kath, who died from an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound in January 1978. He was replaced by Donnie Dacus on this album.

1. “Alive Again” 4:08
2. “The Greatest Love on Earth” 3:18
3. “Little Miss Lovin'” 4:36
4. “Hot Streets” 5:20
5. “Take a Chance” 4:42
6. “Gone Long Gone” 4:00
7. “Ain’t It Time” 4:12
8. “Love Was New” 3:30
9. “No Tell Lover” 4:13
10. “Show Me the Way” 3:36
11. “Love Was New” (Alternate Vocal) 3:32

Peter Cetera – bass, lead and backing vocals
Donnie Dacus – guitars, lead and backing vocals
Laudir de Oliveira – percussion
Robert Lamm – keyboards, lead and backing vocals
Lee Loughnane – trumpet, backing vocals, brass arrangement (8)
James Pankow – trombone, brass arrangements (1-7, 9-10)
Walter Parazaider – woodwinds
Danny Seraphine – drums
Blue Weaver – synthesizer strings on “No Tell Lover” and “Show Me The Way”
David “Hawk” Wolinski – Fender Rhodes on “Show Me The Way”
Bee Gees – backing vocals on “Little Miss Lovin'”

Sunday 7/3/22 6pm ET: Feature LP: Chicago – Chicago 13 (1979)

Chicago 13 is the eleventh studio album by the American band Chicago, released in 1979. As the follow-up to Hot Streets, Chicago 13 would be the band’s final release featuring lead guitarist Donnie Dacus, who had followed the late founding member, guitarist Terry Kath. All band members would contribute to the songwriting (one of only two albums where this is the case, with the other being Chicago VII).

1. “Street Player” 9:11
2. “Mama Take” 4:14
3. “Must Have Been Crazy” 3:26
4. “Window Dreamin'” 4:11
5. “Paradise Alley” 3:39
6. “Aloha Mama” 4:11
7. “Reruns” 4:29
8. “Loser with a Broken Heart” 4:43
9. “Life Is What It Is” 4:37
10. “Run Away” 4:18

Peter Cetera – bass, lead and backing vocals
Donnie Dacus – guitars, lead and backing vocals
Laudir de Oliveira – percussion
Robert Lamm – keyboards, lead and backing vocals
Lee Loughnane – trumpet, backing vocals
James Pankow – trombone, brass arrangements
Walter Parazaider – woodwinds
Danny Seraphine – drums
P.C. Moblee – lead vocals on “Window Dreamin'” and “Aloha Mama” (Moblee was actually Peter Cetera singing in a lower register. His appearance on the album is credited as “courtesy of the Peter Cetera Vocal Company”).
David “Hawk” Wolinski – synthesizer on “Street Player”
Airto Moreira – percussion on “Street Player”, “Paradise Alley”, “Life Is What It Is” and “Run Away”
Maynard Ferguson – trumpet soloist on “Street Player”

Wednesday 6/29/22 8pm ET: Feature LP: Chicago Transit Authority (1969) Chicago I

The Chicago Transit Authority is the self-titled debut album by the Chicago-based rock band Chicago (then known as Chicago Transit Authority). It was recorded and released in 1969. For this inaugural recording effort the group was nominated for a Grammy Award for 1969 Best New Artist of the Year. The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014. The album stayed on the Billboard 200 for 171 weeks, beating the previous record for a rock album’s longevity of 155 weeks and has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

1. “Introduction” 6:35
2. “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” 4:35
3. “Beginnings” 7:54
4. “Questions 67 and 68” 5:03
5. “Listen” 3:22
6. “Poem 58” 8:35
7. “Free Form Guitar” 6:47
8. “South California Purples” 6:11
9. “I’m a Man” 7:43
10. “Prologue, August 29, 1968” 0:58
11. “Someday (August 29, 1968)” 4:11
12. “Liberation” 14:38

Peter Cetera – bass, lead and backing vocals
Terry Kath – guitars, lead and backing vocals
Robert Lamm – keyboards, lead and backing vocals
Lee Loughnane – trumpet, claves, backing vocals
James Pankow – trombone, cowbell
Walter Parazaider – saxophone, tambourine, backing vocals
Danny Seraphine – drums, percussion

Wednesday 5/18/22 11pm ET: Feature LP: Chicago – Chicago 19 (1988)

Chicago 19 is the sixteenth studio album by American rock band Chicago, released June 20, 1988. After recording Chicago 18 with David Foster, the band worked primarily with producers Ron Nevison and Chas Sandford for this album. Their Full Moon Records imprint moved to Reprise Records. This is the final album to feature the band’s original drummer Danny Seraphine, who was later dismissed from the group in 1990.

With a reception similar to its predecessor, Chicago 19 became a success on the album chart, going platinum and yielding hit singles. The album includes “Look Away” (No. 1), “I Don’t Wanna Live Without Your Love” (No. 3), and “You’re Not Alone” (No. 10). A slightly remixed version of Jason Scheff’s “What Kind of Man Would I Be?” (No. 5) would also be successful in late 1989, as part of the follow-up Greatest Hits 1982-1989 release. The album relied heavily on outside writers, continuing a trend from the previous album. The first two singles were written by Diane Warren, and the third by British-born songwriter Jimmy Scott.

After the tour for Chicago 19, original drummer Danny Seraphine was fired from the band for undisclosed reasons. Session drummer Tris Imboden then permanently joined the band, for the recording of Twenty 1.

1. “Heart in Pieces” 5:04
2. “I Don’t Wanna Live Without Your Love” 3:55
3. “I Stand Up” 4:06
4. “We Can Last Forever” 3:45
5. “Come in from the Night” 4:43
6. “Look Away” 4:02
7. “What Kind of Man Would I Be?” 4:21
8. “Runaround” 4:10
9. “You’re Not Alone” 3:56
10. “Victorious” 6:02

Bill Champlin – keyboards, lead and backing vocals
Robert Lamm – keyboards, lead and backing vocals
Lee Loughnane – trumpet, brass arrangements
James Pankow – trombone, brass arrangements
Walter Parazaider – saxophone
Jason Scheff – bass, lead and backing vocals
Danny Seraphine – drums, percussion, programming
Dawayne Bailey – guitar, backing vocals
Chas Sandford – guitars
Dann Huff – guitars
Phillip Ashley – keyboards
John Campbell – keyboards
Charles Judge – keyboards
Kiki Ebsen – programming and keyboards
Mike Murphy – programming, cowbell, drum technician
Peter Kaye – programming
Peter Maher – programming
Efrain Toro – drum programming
Paul Jamieson – drum technician
Tamara Champlin – additional backing vocals
Tim Feehan – additional backing vocals on “Heart In Pieces”

Sunday 4/24/22 1pm ET: Feature LP: Chicago Transit Authority (1969) Chicago I

The Chicago Transit Authority is the self-titled debut album by the Chicago-based rock band Chicago (then known as Chicago Transit Authority). It was recorded and released in 1969. For this inaugural recording effort the group was nominated for a Grammy Award for 1969 Best New Artist of the Year. The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014. The album stayed on the Billboard 200 for 171 weeks, beating the previous record for a rock album’s longevity of 155 weeks and has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

1. “Introduction” 6:35
2. “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” 4:35
3. “Beginnings” 7:54
4. “Questions 67 and 68” 5:03
5. “Listen” 3:22
6. “Poem 58” 8:35
7. “Free Form Guitar” 6:47
8. “South California Purples” 6:11
9. “I’m a Man” 7:43
10. “Prologue, August 29, 1968” 0:58
11. “Someday (August 29, 1968)” 4:11
12. “Liberation” 14:38

Peter Cetera – bass, lead and backing vocals
Terry Kath – guitars, lead and backing vocals
Robert Lamm – keyboards, lead and backing vocals
Lee Loughnane – trumpet, claves, backing vocals
James Pankow – trombone, cowbell
Walter Parazaider – saxophone, tambourine, backing vocals
Danny Seraphine – drums, percussion

Saturday 2/26/22 9am ET: Feature LP: Chicago – Chicago 18 (1986)

Chicago 18 is the fifteenth studio album by the American band Chicago, released on September 29, 1986. This album is the first without cofounding member Peter Cetera. This is also the first album to feature Jason Scheff on bass guitar and vocals.

With Cetera having quit the band in 1985 in favor of a solo career, Chicago eventually hired Scheff to fill Cetera’s position as vocalist and bassist. With Scheff and Bill Champlin, who had joined the band in 1981, aboard the most used voices in Chicago now belonged to its two newest recruits. Chicago again hired producer David Foster to create a follow-up to Chicago 17.

The band recorded an updated high-tech remake of their hit classic “25 or 6 to 4” (#48). Scheff recalled when he asked Foster on the way he should sing the song, the latter responded: “Just like Cetera.”[citation needed] Then, “Will You Still Love Me?” (#3) and “If She Would Have Been Faithful…” (#17) became hits. Scheff was lead vocalist on all three releases. The album features a brief instrumental horn riff, Pankow’s “Free Flight.” Despite the success of its predecessor, Chicago 18 ultimately only went gold, peaking at #35 on the Billboard Top 200 charts.

1. “Niagara Falls” 3:43
2. “Forever” 5:17
3. “If She Would Have Been Faithful…” 3:51
4. “25 or 6 to 4” 4:20
5. “Will You Still Love Me?” 5:44
6. “Over and Over” 4:20
7. “It’s Alright” 4:29
8. “Free Flight” 0:25
9. “Nothin’s Gonna Stop Us Now” 4:25
10. “I Believe” 4:20
11. “One More Day” 4:13

Bill Champlin – keyboards, vocals
Robert Lamm – keyboards, vocals
Lee Loughnane – trumpet
James Pankow – trombone, brass arrangements
Walter Parazaider – woodwinds
Jason Scheff – bass, vocals
Danny Seraphine – drums, drum programming
Michael Landau – guitar
Howard “Buzz” Feiten – guitar
Steve Lukather – guitar
David Foster – keyboards, additional arrangements, brass contributions
Tom Keane – keyboards, backing vocals
Michael Boddicker – synthesizer programming
David Boruff – synthesizer programming
Rhett Lawrence – synthesizer programming
Bo Tomlyn – synthesizer programming

Wednesday 1/19/22 1am ET: Feature LP: Chicago – Chicago VI (1973)

Chicago VI is the fifth studio album by American rock band Chicago and was released on June 25, 1973. It was the band’s second in a string of five consecutive albums to make it to No. 1 in the US, was certified gold less than a month after its release, and has been certified two-times platinum since. It is the first album to feature percussionist Laudir de Oliveira, who would become a full-fledged member of the band for Chicago VIII. VI is the first studio album (the other being 1975’s compilation Chicago IX) to feature the original band members on the cover before the death of leader and co-founder Terry Kath.

1. “Critics’ Choice” 2:49
2. “Just You ‘n’ Me” 3:42
3. “Darlin’ Dear” 2:56
4. “Jenny” 3:31
5. “What’s This World Coming To” 4:58
6. “Something in This City Changes People” 3:42
7. “Hollywood” 3:52
8. “In Terms of Two” 3:29
9. “Rediscovery” 4:47
10. “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day” 4:15

Peter Cetera – Bass guitar, lead vocals, backing vocals, harmonica on “In Terms of Two”
Terry Kath – Electric guitar, acoustic guitar, slide guitar, lead vocals, backing vocals
Robert Lamm – Acoustic piano, Hammond organ, clavinet, Wurlitzer electric piano, Fender Rhodes, ARP synthesizer, Hohner Pianet, lead vocals, backing vocals
Lee Loughnane – Trumpet, backing vocals, percussion, co-lead vocals on “Something In This City Changes People”
James Pankow – Trombone, brass arrangements
Walter Parazaider – Saxophone, flute
Danny Seraphine – Drums, percussion
Laudir de Oliveira – Congas
Joe Lala – Congas
J. G. O’Rafferty – Pedal steel

Tuesday 1/11/22 1am ET: Feature LP: Chicago – Chicago II (1970)

Chicago (retroactively known as Chicago II) is the second studio album by Chicago-based American rock band Chicago. Like their debut album, Chicago Transit Authority, this was a double album. It was their first album under the name Chicago (the band’s prior name, Chicago Transit Authority, was changed due to a threatened lawsuit from the actual mass-transit operator bearing the same name) and the first to use the now ubiquitous cursive Chicago logo on the cover. Released in January 1970 on Columbia Records, Chicago was commercially successful. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in April of the same year of its release, and certified platinum in 1991. It reached No. 4 on the album charts in the United States and No. 6 on the album charts in the UK, and produced three top ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100. The album received three Grammy Award nominations – for Album of the Year, Contemporary Vocal Group, and Best Album Cover. It was voted best album of 1970 by readers of Cash Box magazine, and the 1971 best small-combo LP by readers of Playboy magazine.

1. “Movin’ In” 4:06
2. “The Road” 3:10
3. “Poem for the People” 4:25
4. “In the Country” 6:34
5. “Wake Up Sunshine” 2:29
6. “Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon” 12:55
   “Make Me Smile” (3:32)
   “So Much to Say, So Much to Give” (1:04)
   “Anxiety’s Moment” (1:00)
   “West Virginia Fantasies” (1:34)
   “Colour My World” (2:58)
   “To Be Free” (1:21)
   “Now More Than Ever” (1:27)
7. “Fancy Colours” 5:10
8. “25 or 6 to 4” 4:50
9. “Memories of Love” 9:12
   “Prelude” (1:18)
   “A.M. Mourning” (2:05)
   “P.M. Mourning” (1:59)
   “Memories of Love” (4:01)
10. “It Better End Soon” 10:24
    “1st Movement” (2:30)
    “2nd Movement” (3:47)
    “3rd Movement” (3:19)
    “4th Movement” (1:15)”
11. “Where Do We Go from Here?” 2:53

Peter Cetera – bass, vocals
Terry Kath – guitar, vocals
Robert Lamm – keyboards, vocals
Lee Loughnane – trumpet, vocals
James Pankow – trombone
Walter Parazaider – saxophone, flute, clarinet, vocals
Danny Seraphine – drums

Thursday 1/6/22 2pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: The Music of 1973 A to Z – Part 8

This RadioMax special features our Library of music from 1973 A2Z.

We continue with the completion of letter I and J and start the K list and feature music from: David Bowie, Queen, Seals and Crofts, Allman Brothers Band, Argent, Spinners, Baby Washington, Jim Croce, Bruce Springsteen, Electric Light Orchestra, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Chicago and many more.

2pm to 6pm ET

Tuesday 1/4/22 2pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: The Music of 1973 A to Z – Part 6

This RadioMax special features our Library of music from 1973 A2Z.

We continue with land complete letter G into H and feature music from: Dells, Main Ingredient, Elton John, BW Stevenson, Stealers Wheel, Chicago, Jackson 5, Montrose, Cher, War, Bobby Darin, Ringo Starr, Sonny James, Cliff Richard, Paul McCartney & Wings, Bobby Womack and many more.

2pm to 6pm ET

Monday 1/3/22 2pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: The Music of 1973 A to Z – Part 5

This RadioMax special features our Library of music from 1973 A2Z.

We continue with land complete letter E into G and feature music from: Ohio Players, Doobie Brothers, Merle Haggard, Chicago, Freda Payne, Hues Corporation, Elvia Presley, Genesis, T.Rex, Chairmen of The Board, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Queen and many more.

2pm to 6pm ET

Thursday 12/30/21 2pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: The Music of 1973 A to Z – Part 3

This RadioMax special features our Library of music from 1973 A2Z.

We continue with letter C and start D with music from: Spinners, Byrds, Buckingham Nicks, Led Zeppelin, America, King Harvest, Chicago, Joe Walsh, Doobie Brothers, Elton John, War, Helen Reddy, Who, Jimmy Buffett, Anne Murray, Archie Bell and The Drells and many more.

2pm to 6pm ET

1973-episode-3Download

Wednesday 9/22/21 12am ET: Feature LP: Chicago – Chicago III (1971)

Chicago III is the third studio album by American rock band Chicago and was released in 1971. It was the band’s third consecutive double album of new studio material in less than two years.

1. “Sing a Mean Tune Kid” 9:13
2. “Loneliness Is Just a Word” 2:36
3. “What Else Can I Say” 3:12
4. “I Don’t Want Your Money” 4:47
5. “Travel Suite” 22:30 / 7:28
6. “Mother” 4:30
7. “Lowdown” 3:35
8. “An Hour in the Shower” 5:30
9. “Elegy” 15:27 / 6:26

Terry Kath – guitar, lead and backing vocals
Robert Lamm – keyboards, lead and backing vocals, spoken word on “When All the Laughter Dies in Sorrow”
Peter Cetera – bass, lead and backing vocals
Lee Loughnane – trumpet
James Pankow – trombone
Walter Parazaider – saxophone, flute
Danny Seraphine – drums, percussion

Wednesday 6/30/21 1am ET: Feature LP: Chicago – Chicago XI (1977)

Chicago XI is the ninth studio album (eleventh overall) by the American band Chicago, released in 1977. The album marked the end of an era for the band. This would be the last Chicago album to feature band leader, guitarist, and founding member Terry Kath prior to his death in an accident with a gun just over four months later, and the last Chicago album to be produced by James William Guercio.

1. “Mississippi Delta City Blues” 4:39
2. “Baby, What a Big Surprise” 3:04
3. “Till the End of Time” 4:49
4. “Policeman” 4:02
5. “Take Me Back to Chicago” 5:17
6. “Vote for Me” 3:47
7. “Takin’ It on Uptown” 4:45
8. “This Time” 4:44
9. “The Inner Struggles of a Man” 2:44
10. “Prelude (Little One)” 0:52
11. “Little One” 5:40

Peter Cetera – bass, lead and backing vocals
Laudir de Oliveira – percussion
Terry Kath – electric and acoustic guitars, percussion, lead and backing vocals
Robert Lamm – acoustic piano, Hammond organ, clavinet, Fender Rhodes, lead and backing vocals
Lee Loughnane – trumpet, piccolo trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals
James Pankow – trombone, keyboards, percussion, vocals, brass arrangements
Walter Parazaider – saxophones, flute, clarinet
Danny Seraphine – drums, percussion
David “Hawk” Wolinski – ARP synthesizer on “Take Me Back to Chicago”; Fender Rhodes on “Little One’
James William Guercio – acoustic guitars and bass on “Baby, What a Big Surprise”
Tim Cetera – additional background vocals on “Baby, What a Big Surprise”
Carl Wilson – additional background vocals on “Baby, What a Big Surprise”
Chaka Khan – background vocals and incredible preach at end of “Take Me Back to Chicago”
Dominic Frontiere – orchestral conception and orchestration on “Baby, What a Big Surprise”; orchestration for “The Inner Struggles of a Man”; string and orchestral arrangements for “Little One”
The Voices of Inspiration – choir on “Vote for Me”