Articles by: CelticGal

Chicago, “Take the ‘A’ Train” from ‘Night & Day: Big Band’ (1995): Saturdays in the Park

Chicago, “Take the ‘A’ Train” from ‘Night & Day: Big Band’ (1995): Saturdays in the Park

Closing ‘Night and Day: Big Band’ triumphantly, “Take the ‘A’ Train” makes me wish Chicago had included more big-band covers on their earlier albums.

Chicago, “Sing, Sing, Sing” from ‘Night & Day: Big Band’ (1995): Saturdays in the Park

Chicago, “Sing, Sing, Sing” from ‘Night & Day: Big Band’ (1995): Saturdays in the Park

Usually, “Sing, Sing, Sing” is played in a show-off arrangement to spotlight how fast a group can play together, but Chicago takes a different approach.

Chicago, “If It Were You” from ‘Twenty 1’ (1991): Saturdays in the Park

Chicago, “If It Were You” from ‘Twenty 1’ (1991): Saturdays in the Park

“If It Were You” is a flawless song, yet Chicago left it as an deep cut on 1991’s ‘Twenty 1,’ releasing dull, lifeless ballads as singles instead.

Chicago, “I Stand Up” from ‘Chicago 19’ (1988): Saturdays in the Park

Chicago, “I Stand Up” from ‘Chicago 19’ (1988): Saturdays in the Park

Artificial drum beats are all that prevent “I Stand Up” from fitting right into 1972’s ‘Chicago V’ or 1974’s ‘Chicago VII.’

Chicago, “It’s Alright” from ‘Chicago 18’ (1986): Saturdays in the Park

Chicago, “It’s Alright” from ‘Chicago 18’ (1986): Saturdays in the Park

As other members of Chicago stepped back from writing songs, or stepped out on their own for solo careers, Bill Champlin stepped up.

Chicago, “Prima Donna” from ‘Chicago 17’ (1984): Saturdays in the Park

Chicago, “Prima Donna” from ‘Chicago 17’ (1984): Saturdays in the Park

Did erstwhile Chicago singer Peter Cetera once have a secret ambition to be a movie star? He wrote and recorded two songs on this theme in the early ’80s, including this one.

Chicago, “Only You” from ‘Chicago 17’ (1984): Saturdays in the Park

Chicago, “Only You” from ‘Chicago 17’ (1984): Saturdays in the Park

What if Chicago didn’t hire a singing replacement after Peter Cetera left? “Only You” provides a glimpse.

Chicago, “What Can I Say” from ‘Chicago 16’ (1982): Saturdays in the Park

Chicago, “What Can I Say” from ‘Chicago 16’ (1982): Saturdays in the Park

“What Can I Say” builds on the story that Chicago started with their chart-topping 1976 smash “If You Leave Me Now.”

Chicago, “Live It Up” from ‘Chicago XIV’ (1980): Saturdays in the Park

Chicago, “Live It Up” from ‘Chicago XIV’ (1980): Saturdays in the Park

Almost no information exists about “Live It Up,” a bonus track on the Rhino re-release of 1980’s ‘Chicago XIV.’

Chicago, “I’d Rather Be Rich” from ‘Chicago XIV’ (1980): Saturdays in the Park

Chicago, “I’d Rather Be Rich” from ‘Chicago XIV’ (1980): Saturdays in the Park

Robert Lamm’s “I’d Rather Be Rich” had been sitting around in the vaults for several years before it made the ‘Chicago XIV’ album.