What does it say about the state of this band when Chicago doesn’t even phone it in for the best track on ‘Chicago XXXVI: Now’?

Like so many goodbyes, nobody knew “Better” would represent Bill Champlin’s last released original recording with Chicago.

‘Chicago XXX’ hadn’t lived up to its cross-genre promise – that is, until “Lovin’ Chains” finally offered a fizzy, long-hoped-for combination of mindsets.

“Already Gone” shows once again that ‘Chicago XXX’ isn’t a bad album. It’s a good album that was just ruined by poor production.

“Come to Me, Do” is perhaps the best track Robert Lamm has contributed to Chicago since “Over and Over” on 1986’s ‘Chicago 18.’

“Where Were You” stands out for what’s not there: A gaggle of hired-hand sessions guys meant to bolster Chicago musically.

This checks all of Chicago’s boxes, including prominent horns and alternating lead vocals. Where “90 Degrees and Freezing” fails is in the production.

I love the country/rock mixture of this Chicago song. Collaborating with Rascal Flatts in the studio helped take “Long Lost Friend” to another level.

Chicago and Rascal Flatts combine to create a beautiful country-pop ballad that gives people hope about finding love or being in love again.

There has been only one time that I purchased an album on the day it was released, and that was 2006’s ‘Chicago XXX.’ It didn’t work out.