Every time I listen to “In the Country” from 1970’s ‘Chicago II,’ I feel the freedom of the solitude and being alone in my thoughts, the gentle breeze tousling my hair.

A new cohesiveness sets apart “Movin’ In” and, inevitably, the entire second album that followed Chicago’s brilliant debut.

With ‘Someday,’ Chicago’s Robert Lamm made the first of many political statements – and he did so with an exclamation mark.

“Afraid of Love” isn’t just one of the best deep cuts found on Toto IV; it’s one of Toto’s catchiest, most accessible album tracks ever.

Chicago made numerous love songs, some of them hugely popular, but few were as personal – and none were as challenging – as “Free Form Guitar.”

When people scoff in disbelief that Chicago used to open for the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, I pull out “Poem 58.”

Co-written by Toto’s Steve Lukather and Bobby Kimball, ‘Good For You’ was one of the strongest songs not to be issued as a single from ‘Toto IV.’

Where better to begin a multi-writer, song-by-song examination of the music of Chicago than the aptly named “Introduction” from their debut release?

“Make Believe” is one of the reasons I’m still longing for the day that Toto and Chicago tour together.

I’d argue ‘Hydra’ did more to establish Toto’s style and sound than their debut. The complex and entertaining “Lorraine” is exemplary of that.