Something Else! offers a once-in-a-while feature titled On Second Thought in which writers go back and reconsider music they may not have enjoyed the first time around. This is one of those occasions.
When 2014’s Chicago XXXVI: Now came into the world, I discussed how much I hated this album on another website. Unfortunately, I only gave it a cursory listen because I believed so much of their work from the ’80s and beyond was simply awful. However, because of my contributions to Saturdays in the Park, I was forced to go back and re-listen to this album, and I’ve come to the conclusion that I was quite unfair to Chicago.
It’s not a perfect record, but XXXVI: Now is closer to Chicago’s original vision than anything they’ve produced since the ’70s, and that’s ironic since there are only three original members still working with the band today. This minor revival occurred because of Robert Lamm, who has a composing credit on 7 of the 11 tracks.
He was always Chicago’s best and most prolific composer in the early years. When not stifled by the commercial considerations that hampered them over these many creatively destitute decades, Lamm proved he’s still the man they should turn to when they need a first down in a fourth-and-long situation.
“Another Trippy Day” doesn’t possess a lot of the progressive jazz-rock traits of the group’s superlative early golden era but Lamm still injects enough pop-jazz into his arrangements with unique horn charts and suitably appropriate vocals to at least remind current listeners of what Chicago once meant to fans during the days of All in the Family, Woodstock, Richard Nixon and the Vietnam War.
This song has more modern soundscapes – including drum loops actually referenced in the lyrics – but “Another Trippy Day” was born of the same mood Robert Lamm was in when he wrote “Wake Up Sunshine” way back in 1970. Lamm is alive and well, and looking for the day to begin. The horn chart is excellent and the bridge – sung by Lou Pardini – adds some extra spice to the proceedings.
“Another Trippy Day” is the final song from Chicago’s last non-holiday album. If they don’t release another one, it’s really not a bad way to go out.
