Even 45 years later, ‘Chicago XI’ isn’t their best-loved original-lineup album. Yet, for better or worse, it remains one of the most memorable of the era.

“Good for Nothing” is a great song with a great message, but yet still sad – since this marks the end of Peter Cetera’s celebrated tenure in Chicago.

Released 45 years ago today, ‘Chicago VIII’ found the band at a low creative ebb. But these five lesser-known songs make it worth a return visit.

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.

Maybe this is just a ballad to some, but for others Chicago’s “You’re the Inspiration” might have opened them up to a whole new world. It did for me.

“Along Comes a Woman” is another incredible convergence of talent and musical skill between David Foster and Chicago. Unfortunately, change loomed.

The thing that still leaves me scratching my head: How come Chicago never released “Remember the Feeling” as a single?

Chicago’s “Hard Habit to Break” was the promise of great things yet to come, but unfortunately that was never fully realized.

If ‘Chicago 17’ had been released by another artist, I may have liked it more.

“Rescue You” seems more appropriate for 1980’s poorly received ‘Chicago XIV’ than on this otherwise solid collection of songs.