All things being equal, Chicago’s first album of the ’90s should have been a hit. Bill Champlin and Jason Scheff wrote solid original material for the album. Robert Lamm contributed two songs which hit dead center on the traditional Chicago sound. Back in the producer’s chair was Ron Nevison, who produced all three big singles from 1988’s Chicago 19.
In fact, 1991’s Twenty 1 is arguably better than 19, even though James Pankow and Lee Loughnane provided horn arrangements on all but two songs. Yet, to paraphrase J.D. Souther, “time passes, things change.”
The most significant change in the world of music was the emergence of grunge. Chicago was suddenly out of fashion. Making matters worse was Reprise’s habit of chasing hits through their hit-making formula.
The leadoff song and second single from the album is a great example: Diane Warren’s “Explain It to My Heart” was brought in at the last minute, supplanting the song “Secrets of the Heart.” The record company also asked Humberto Gatica, engineer from Chicago 16, 17 and 18, to produce and mix the song.
The results are what you would expect given the application of the “Hard Habit to Break” formula. Champlin and Scheff’s vocals are strong and work well with the melody. The tune recalls “Look Away” thematically, but employs a more organic feel with David Foster providing a acoustic piano performance and Mike Landau adding his signature guitar sound. Keyboard ringers Steve Porcaro and Robbie Buchanan assist with synth samples and string parts.
What the song lacks is subtlety. The production is ham-fisted and the mix has too much compression. The drumming on this song and in fact, the entire album is a mess. While Danny Seraphine was the official drummer at the start of the recording process, he was not invited to play at all and was dismissed from the band before the release of Twenty 1. Drummer John Keane played on all but one song, which was played by new drummer Tris Imboden. During the remix process by Humberto Gatica, however, all his parts were replaced by drum samples.
Gatica, despite his earlier work with Chicago, did not do the band any favors as the song, and most of this album, sounds stiff, tinny, and soulless. The results boast the distinction of having never been performed live in concert. Twenty 1 was also one of Chicago’s lowest charting albums.
The original Ron Nevison mixes of the album are widely available on the interwebs. Perhaps, if they were used, the album would have sold more. More probable, really, is that the band was a victim of changing times and tastes.
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