I interviewed Toto bassist Shem Von Schreck last year and he mentioned that 1986’s Chicago 18 was one of his favorite albums. At first, I was surprised but as I examined the album, I recalled it had a lot to offer.
Yes, some of the production choices now sound dated, but at the core, the album had strong material from Robert Lamm, Bill Champlin, and newcomer Jason Scheff. Unfortunately, three of the four songs released from this album were by outsider composers – and the second single, “If She Would Have Been Faithful,” was hands down the weakest.
The track’s worst element is its lyrics. Steve Kipner and Randy Goodrum are fantastic writers, but the lyrical core of “If She Would Have Been Faithful” has aged poorly. I guess many male-centered breakup songs can seem problematic depending on one’s objective point of view.
Musically, the song key seems to be at the top of Scheff’s range, so it doesn’t serve his vocal talents. The inclusion of the call and response backing from Bill Champlin also feels like a poor attempt by producer David Foster to rekindle a “Hard Habit to Break” vibe. The Chicago horns make a brief and joyless appearance, and Jeremy Lubbock’s string arrangement is equally flaccid.
Of course, the song did reach No. 17, but quantity doesn’t mean quality. I would have lobbied for “When Will the World Be Like Lovers” to replace “If She Would Have Been Faithful,” but the producer and record company wanted hits and this album had two. Still, I would submit that “If She Would Have Been Faithful” is the low mark on a rather strong Chicago album.
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