Chicago’s “Beginnings” is a sensational amalgam of the late ’60s jazz-rock movement. It starts with Terry Kath’s easy listening, pop-rock electric guitar opening then continues in the same direction with composer Robert Lamm’s lounge-lizard lead vocal.
The main arrangement is then jettisoned into the horn section’s rock ‘n roll riff that features one of Chicago’s greatest moments – the magnificent, right-on-the money, trumpet/trombone battle between Lee Loughnane and horn-section leader James Pankow. Finally – as the rest of the band fades into the background – drummer Danny Seraphine, accompanied by several hand-held percussion players, takes the song home.
“Beginnings” is one of Chicago’s crowning achievements. It’s near-perfect arrangement is only marred by the good but too-long coda by Seraphine and friends. Perhaps that is why it has always been eliminated in concert.
Chicago’s original album arrangement on 1969’s Chicago Transit Authority clocked in at a muscular 7:54. The single version was cut to 2:47, leaving off most of the best parts of the song. It’s a travesty that Top 40 radio didn’t embrace the whole track. Knocking a few seconds off of the percussion ending would have done the trick. Radio played “Hey Jude,” and that clocked in at 7:11 – but then, of course, the Beatles got away with anything.
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