Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Chicago
Label: Columbia Records
Released: 1972
Length: 45:16
Rating: 4.5/5
»Chicago V« was the first album from American jazz-rock fusion champions Chicago that didn’t come out as a double LP. Unlike their earlier efforts, with their epic suites, it went for somewhat more compact compositions, which noticeably trimmed the scale of the new studio project. One of the quirks of this record is that most of the songs were written by vocalist and keyboardist Robert Lamm, while vocalist and bassist Peter Cetra didn’t contribute a single composition, which, until his departure in the mid-eighties, happened for the last time in the Chicago story. Still, Cetera shone on vocals and bass across a good number of tracks, while the closing, acoustic-leaning piece »Alma Mater« was sung by guitarist Terry Kath. »Chicago V« was a massive commercial hit, and thanks mostly to »Saturday Park« it took them to the top of the charts of the day for the first time.
With this one, Chicago got even more commercially appealing, and you can hear it right away on the funky jazz-rock opener »A Hit By Varese«, dedicated to the cult French avant-garde composer Edgard Varèse. Apart from an instrumental tangle among the horn section in the middle part, though, it’s far from any kind of avant-garde feat. Still, it’s one of the better moments on »Chicago V«, and it’ll go down well even today with those who worship the early, more experimental era as well as those who swear by the later, thoroughly radio-friendly AOR phase. »All Is Well« is more than obvious proof that Chicago must have been listening to some Yes back in 1972, because the ‘angelic’ vocal harmonies in the chorus are uncannily reminiscent of that legendary English prog rock band.
On »Now That You’ve Gone« the funk rhythmic influences return, which is no surprise, since funk had just become the ‘hot stuff’ among plenty of (jazz) rockers too. Both parts of »Dialogue«, which carry a sharp socially critical message and a critique of the Cold War conditions of the time, feature excellent vocal harmonies and sung ‘dialogues’ between Lamm and Cetera, who were for a long time the driving engines of this legendary band. On »While the City Sleeps« you can hear that Cetera used a wah-wah pedal on bass, while Kath served up an exceptionally juicy guitar solo. The aforementioned »Saturday in the Park« was a hugely successful single and is probably the most recognizable track on this album. The dynamic »State of the Union«, surprisingly socially critical by usual Chicago standards, is another one of the highlights of »Chicago V«, with rhythmic shifts, horn section, guitar passages and vocal feats all in ideal harmony. »Goodbye«, another one with Cetera on lead vocals, is a tasty and dramatic genre mix before the melancholic close of the album with the aforementioned »Alma Mater«.
In 1972, with »Chicago V«, Chicago were on top of the American jazz rock scene. It was without a doubt one of their best efforts, with just the right amount of rich horn arrangements, melodic guitar passages, dynamic rhythmic leaps and mighty vocal harmonies. Throughout the seventies and later too, Chicago followed various musical trends and at this stage they were clearly fired up by funk, which didn’t last very long, since »Chicago VI« was already a totally different story again.
Lineup
Peter Cetera – bass guitar, vocals, backing vocals
Terry Kath – electric and acoustic guitar, vocals, backing vocals
Robert Lamm – keyboards, vocals, backing vocals
Lee Loughane – trumpet, horn, percussion, backing vocals
James Pankow – trombone, percussion, backing vocals
Walter Parazider – saxophone, flute, percussion, backing vocals
Danny Seraphine – drums, percussion
Production
James William Guercio
Track List
1. A Hit by Varèse (4:56)
2. All Is Well (3:52)
3. Now That You’ve Gone (5:01)
4. Dialogue (Part I) (2:57)
5. Dialogue (Part II) (4:13)
6. While The City Sleeps (3:53)
7. Saturday In The Park (3:56)
8. State Of The Union (6:12)
9. Goodbye (6:02)
10. Alma Mater (3:56)
