Bill Champlin was Chicago’s secret weapon during the ’80s. As other band members stepped back from writing songs, or stepped out on their own for solo careers, Champlin stepped up and filled their places, contributing high quality songs like “It’s Alright.”
Here, I have to confess that I’ve never owned a copy of 1986’s Chicago 18, nor have I heard anything from the album except the radio hits. I had no idea what to expect when receiving the assignment to review this song, but I enjoyed it.
Starting out with typical ’80s synths and electronic drums, this Champlin/David Foster co-write sounds a little bit like “Along Comes a Woman” from 1984’s Chicago 17. The lyrics include a lot of clichés, e.g. “all dressed up with no place to go,” “live it up,” “one night at a time” but “It’s Alright” isn’t really about lyrics. It’s about the music and the beat. I was tapping my foot along all the way through.
There’s a pleasant guitar solo halfway through, and the horns pop up time and time again so that we remember it’s a Chicago track. James Pankow employs one of his favorite tricks in the arrangement, writing the trombone in the high register and the trumpet in the low register on the same notes. This ensures the trombone sound is more prominent and almost sounds like Pankow’s soloing.
“It’s Alright” would have been a great lead single from Chicago 18. Whoever decided to go with an unpleasant cover of a Chicago favorite, then a ballad showcasing the new guy? That wasn’t alright!
