“Nice Girl” is an anomaly in Chicago’s recorded repertoire. It features a rare lead vocal and a composing credit by long-time now-ex guitarist Keith Howland. Two other former second-generation members – bassist Jason Scheff and drummer Tris Imboden – shared the writing chores along with Howland.
As with several other songs on 2014’s Chicago XXXVI: Now, “Nice Girl” falls squarely into the jazz-rock realm. While it won’t remind you of their 1970s glory days, the beat, live drums and vocals are far removed from the sound of their horrid post-Peter Cetera power ballads of the late ’80s and ’90s. If “Nice Girl” came on the radio, I wouldn’t change the station.
Howland is a good enough singer to get the job done with some secondary help from Scheff. The guitarist also proves his taste runs toward jazz-rock fusion with one of the most original solos to appear on a Chicago song in many years, and Scheff gets a chance to show he is quite a good bass player when unchained from the era that held his talent in check. The horn chart is typical Chicago – meaning it suits the mood of the song, although it features Ray Herman instead of the now-retired Walt Parazaider on saxophone.
“Nice Girl” is about someone who the protagonist very much wants in his life, but appears to be sending mixed signals to. He sings, “I love her madly” (Doors fans, please take note), yet the most profound thing he can say about her is that she’s a “nice girl.” Clearly, the lyrics can use some work.
No one other than Chicago’s most fanatical fans likely remembers this song – or this album – anymore. Still, it’s good to see that when the group decided to shed the decades-old false personality they sported for commercial reasons (and rediscovered some of their roots), Chicago could still make music that a listener can enjoy.
