Chicago - Chicago II (1970) [MFSL Remastered 2015]
EAC | FLAC | Tracks (Cue&Log) ~ 407 Mb | Mp3 (CBR320) ~ 170 Mb | Scans included | 01:08:17
Jazz-Rock, Soft Rock, Prog-Rock | Label: Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab | # UDSACD 2133
EAC | FLAC | Tracks (Cue&Log) ~ 407 Mb | Mp3 (CBR320) ~ 170 Mb | Scans included | 01:08:17
Jazz-Rock, Soft Rock, Prog-Rock | Label: Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab | # UDSACD 2133
The Chicago Transit Authority recorded this double-barreled follow-up to their eponymously titled 1969 debut effort. The contents of Chicago II (1970) underscore the solid foundation of complex jazz changes with heavy electric rock & roll that the band so brazenly forged on the first set. The septet also continued its ability to blend the seemingly divergent musical styles into some of the best and most effective pop music of the era. One thing that had changed was the band's name, which was shortened to simply Chicago to avoid any potential litigious situations from the city of Chicago's transportation department – which claimed the name as proprietary property. Musically, James Pankow (trombone) was about to further cross-pollinate the band's sound with the multifaceted six-song "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon." The classically inspired suite also garnered the band two of its most beloved hits – the upbeat pop opener "Make Me Smile" as well as the achingly poignant "Color My World" – both of which remained at the center of the group's live sets.