“Life Is What It Is” is the only composition to ever come from Chicago percussionist Laudir de Oliveira. Another interesting thing about this song, which was co-written by Marcos Valle, is that it doesn’t sound like it belongs on the stink-fest that is 1979’s Chicago 13.
The opening acoustic guitar chords bring the same semi-Latin feel as “Beginnings,” from the band’s classic debut album, 1969’s Chicago Transit Authority. OK, it’s certainly not in that song’s league, but it’s still a nice bossa-nova oasis in an uninspired desert of mediocrity.
Bassist / lead vocalist Peter Cetera brings his A-Game for one of the few times on Chicago 13. Peter gives it his all on his lead vocal and his rippling bass powers the song along. The horns are nice and mellow but hardly boring. Trombonist James Pankow’s horn chart isn’t like anything he’d done prior to this point in the band’s recorded history – and that’s a compliment. Pankow even contributes a nice little trombone solo – which is nice to hear, as horn solos were becoming more and more rare on Chicago albums as time went by.
The subject matter is as light and breezy as the arrangement and lead vocal. The narrator is musing over the ups and downs of ordinary life in the big city. Let’s not forget Laudir’s important percussion contributions: As usual, he is a master of taste. Unfortunately, like a lot of gifted musicians Chicago has employed over the years and discarded, he was given the boot in 1981 to make room in the budget for another musician (keyboardist / guitarist / lead vocalist Bill Champlin).
As usual, short-term Terry Kath replacement Donnie Dacus’ backing vocal in the middle section is pushed too far up front, since he was Columbia Records’ golden boy. But even that can’t ruin “Life Is What It Is,” which deserved to be a single.
This song, “Street Player” and “Reruns” are about the only things I can recommend on Chicago 13, a turkey of an album. Enjoy this “light and breezy” effort.
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