When Peter Cetera left Chicago in 1985 (Cetexit?), the band decided to replace him with a bassist who could sing in the tenor range, continuing the three-lead singer model they’d had since the first album.
But what if they hadn’t? What if they had just hired a stage bass player and carried on with only two singers?
“Only You” from 1984’s Chicago 17 provides a glimpse into that alternate history. Robert Lamm and Bill Champlin trade vocals on this pleasant lite-soul song co-written by James Pankow and David Foster. Pankow also contributes a nice horn arrangement, putting the trombone front and center as he always does, and someone adds a subtle synth bass line.
Cetera’s contribution is limited to a few harmony parts on the chorus, but “Only You” doesn’t suffer from his absence. It gave Lamm and Champlin a chance to shine, while giving us a fun look at what might have been.
