During the period after Twenty-1 was released, fans were clamoring for new music from Chicago. Unfortunately, the anticipated follow-up – an album which would become known as Stone of Sisyphus – was shelved by the band’s label and would not be released for another 15 years. In the meantime, they released a big-band project, two greatest-hits sets (with some new songs) and 1998’s Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album, a collection of holiday songs.
The third song on that release (or the 11th on What’s It Gonna Be, Santa?, the 2003 reissue) was the holiday standard “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” I have always associated this song with the legendary crooner Frank Sinatra, who released an impeccably done version in 1957. Sinatra was even able to convince the songwriter to change the lyrics to the version we know today.
When I first purchased Chicago XXV, I was excited to see this included on the album. However, once “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” started, I was disappointed that Robert Lamm, the resident crooner in Chicago, was not the vocalist. The lyrics are instead handled by the more soulful voice of Bill Champlin.
It isn’t that Champlin does a bad job in his interpretation; he just doesn’t seem to be the ideal choice for this song. His voice doesn’t sound strong and suffers a bit from the over singing he became increasingly accused of by critics during the end of his tenure with the band. Some will surely disagree with this assessment, but opinions are opinions.
Musically, however, the song is classic Chicago. Tight horn arrangements shine throughout “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” with a fantastic guitar solo, and wonderful vocal harmonies. It is a nice example of what Chicago can do to any song it touches. The absence of the smooth voice of Robert Lamm means the track comes up a little short of what it could have been. Chicago is like pizza though: Even when it’s not great, it’s still really good.
- Chicago, “90 Degrees and Freezing” from ‘Chicago XXX’ (2006): Saturdays in the Park - October 23, 2021
- Chicago, “Show Me a Sign” from ‘Heart of Chicago Vol. II’ (1998): Saturdays in the Park - August 14, 2021
- Chicago, “Sophisticated Lady” from ‘Night & Day: Big Band’ (1995): Saturdays in the Park - May 29, 2021
