Originally called The Big Thing, in 1967, Chicago was also known as Chicago Transit Authority, before settling on the name Chicago in 1969. Consisting of original members Robert Lamm, James Pankow, Lee Loughnane, Terry Kath, Walt Parazaider, Peter Cetera and Danny Seraphine, this jazz-oriented rock group moved to Los Angeles in the late 1960's.
Chicago first hit Billboard's weekly Top 40 charts in 1970 and continued to do so 35 times, between 1970 and 1991. Best known for their albums, Chicago had five consecutive number one albums and 25 of their 32 albums have been certified platinum. They had twenty top 10 singles and three of them went to number one.
Chicago Transit
Bass player and vocalist, Peter Cetera, has had a successful solo career since 1986, topping the charts twice and he has teamed up with Amy Grant and Cher on two top 10 singles.
The band suffered a terrible blow in 1978 when guitarist Terry Kath died at the age of 31, while playing Russian roulette.
According to their official website, Chicago has received Grammy's Lifetime Achievement Award, multiple American Music Awards and they even have their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Below is a list of Chicago's twenty biggest hits, according to the Billboard charts:
1. Hard To Say I'm Sorry - 1982 - This song was featured in the movie "Summer Lovers."
2. If You Leave Me Now - 1976 - Their first number one single.
3. Look Away - 1988
4. Hard Habit To Break - 1984
5. You're The Inspiration - 1985
6. Will You Still Love Me? - 1987
7. I Don't Want To Live Without Your Love - 1988
8. Saturday In The Park - 1972
9. Just You 'N Me - 1973
10. 25 Or 6 To 4 - 1970 - Chicago rerecorded this song with a completely different sound in 1988, but failed to crack the weekly Top 40 with it.
11. Baby, What A Big Surprise - 1977
12. What Kind of Man Would I Be? - 1990
13. Old Days - 1975
14. Call On Me - 1974
15. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? - 1970
16. Beginnings - 1971
17. Colour My World - 1971 - This was the flip side of Beginnings, but it was originally the "B" side of Make Me Smile.
18. Make Me Smile - 1970 - Their first top 40 hit.
19. (I've Been) Searchin' So Long - 1974
20. You're Not Alone - 1989
According to Billboard's latest list of Top 100 artists, Chicago was the highest scoring American band, coming in at #13.
Chicago is enjoying their latest tour in 2010.
Top 20 Chicago Hits
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/319855/carl_megill.html
0 comments:
Post a Comment