“Reruns” is one of only two listenable songs on 1979’s worse-than-not-so-good Chicago 13. It’s happy, upbeat arrangement belies its subject matter.
The song is actually about a broken relationship that the protagonist wants to resurrect because he doesn’t feel he should be punished forever for hurting someone who appears to be his former love.
“Reruns” is pure pop, and would only count as pleasant filler on a stronger album – but, unfortunately, it’s one of this LP’s assets. Robert Lamm’s singing is appealing, James Pankow’s horn chart is top drawer and the latter is what really makes this track a decent piece of music.
Sadly, “Reruns” is another reminder of where Chicago was heading in their not-too-distant future. Lamm, their best composer, caught the same disease that infected the rest of the band, and it prevented him from writing his often unique, sometimes high-brow or avant garde work.
“Reruns” may actually be better than I’m giving it credit for. After all, we know the man who gave us “A Hit By Varese,” “25 or 6 to 4,” “Does Anybody Really Know What Time Is,” and even “Hot Streets” is capable of higher-quality work.
Could it be I’m holding that against Lamm and the song?
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