Chicago’s “This Time” is a statement of hope for the future, a hope that was sadly snuffed out on Jan. 23, 1978.

The evolution of Chicago’s “Mississippi Delta City Blues” helps us chart the more personal evolution of Terry Kath as a songwriter, arranger and musician.

While Robert Lamm’s voice has held up over the years, he’s rarely, if ever, returned to the creative vocal delivery he used on this Chicago song.

Before Tom Kelly and Bill Steinberg found songwriting success with Heart, REO Speedwagon, Madonna and others, they put out an album as I-Ten.

Toto’s “Only You” is powered by a heart-wrenching vocal by Steve Lukather. He doesn’t merely sing the lyrics; he emotes them.

I know “If You Leave Me Now” was Chicago’s first No. 1 hit, but maybe they should strike it from the setlist permanently.

A Chicago album that starts out so strong with “Once or Twice” ultimately becomes so uneven, thus making “Once or Twice” an unfulfilled promise.

At times, it felt like subtraction by addition when Rhino re-released Chicago’s catalog with bonus tracks. “Sixth Sense” was one of the exceptions.

Steve Lukather’s patented emotional honesty is even more palpable on “2 Hearts” because of the raw edge found on Toto’s ‘Kingdom of Desire.’

Chicago is typically associated with horns, but “Oh Thank You Great Spirit” makes it clear that the rhythm section was the band’s heart and soul.