Robert Lamm gets sole writing credit for the last two songs from 1974’s Chicago VII, and proceeds down a very funky path with both. The results are somewhat mixed.
Lamm’s clavinet moves “Woman Don’t Want to Love Me” over a somewhat awkward backbeat. Peter Cetera’s bass is simply too obtrusive, competing with the funky drum licks of Danny Seraphine instead of complimenting them. The James Pankow/Robert Lamm-arranged horn parts seem almost an afterthought, and they ultimately verge on being intrusive.
Put simply, Chicago’s “Woman Don’t Want to Love Me” could have used a little more musical space. Even Terry Kath’s acoustic guitar steps on his fine distorted electric guitar rhythm.
That said, Kath takes a turn on the wah-wah that is good, dirty fun, before Cetera returns for another vocal pass. Perhaps the song would have benefitted from Lamm or Kath handling the lead vocal, and providing a more forceful delivery – albeit in a lower key.
The fact that “Woman Don’t Want to Love Me” is a lesser song on Chicago VII is a testament to how strong the rest of the album really is. As it is though, this would have made a find addition to a Robert Lamm solo album, albeit with a less caffeinated arrangement.
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