View Full Version : Chicago remaster details...
Claus
05-20-2002, 05:57 AM
Several quick highlights from the article in the June issue of ICE:
1) Remastered by Jeff Magid from the original master tapes for the first time ever;
2) First 3 albums will NOT include unreleased bonus tracks, supposedly because there are no usable outtakes from the sessions as the result of each being a double album (Chicago aka Chicago II will also include single versions of "Make Me Smile" and "25 or 6 to 4");
3) Deluxe 20-page booklets;
4) Initially to be issued only in "digi-smart-paks" like used with Tom Waits Used Songs;
5) The next 3 albums are scheduled for August 20 (Carnegie Hall may arrive 2 weeks earlier);
6) All albums after the first 3 should feature "juicy" unreleased bonus tracks; and
7) No mention that these will be 2 CD sets, as has been reported, but Rhino will call these "Deluxe Editions".
MagicAlex
05-20-2002, 06:49 AM
It'll be great to hear 'Chicago Transit Authority' once more, hopefully tranfered from the original masters. 'I'm A Man' is such a terrific tune. :D
mcow1
05-20-2002, 07:22 AM
Originally posted by MagicAlex
It'll be great to hear 'Chicago Transit Authority' once more, hopefully tranfered from the original masters. 'I'm A Man' is such a terrific tune. :D
Oh yeah, and South California Purples:D
What is it about Chicago Transit Authority that is so appealing to you all? Admittedly, there are a couple of really good songs, but mainly it's a blues guitar practise jam. I dunno, if I wanted to hear a blues solo/jam I can think of alot better artists I'd rather listen to for this style of music.
Everything post the first album is great though, except for the multiple "hits" albums and I do look foreward to the day that anyone can remaster them all without the harshness we've experienced with Chicago so far.
Bob Lovely
05-20-2002, 07:43 AM
Originally posted by Dave
What is it about Chicago Transit Authority that is so appealing to you all? Admittedly, there are a couple of really good songs, but mainly it's a blues guitar practise jam. I dunno, if I wanted to hear a blues solo/jam I can think of alot better artists I'd rather listen to for this style of music.
Everything post the first album is great though, except for the multiple "hits" albums and I do look foreward to the day that anyone can remaster them all without the harshness we've experienced with Chicago so far.
Dave,
I like the first album for overall sound quality as compared to II, especially, and some great Classic Rock and Top 40 tracks including: Introduction, South California Purples and I'm A Man (Classic Rock) and Beginnings and Does Anybody Know What Time It Is? (Top 40). I just ignore those "blues guitar practice tracks" and enjoy the nuggets.
Bob :)
njwiv
05-20-2002, 07:48 AM
Hey, Claus! You stole my post from the ICE board ;-) I guess I should have also posted it here. A couple of pieces of additional information that I posted in response to follow-up questions on the ICE board:
Re: Jeff Magid -- The article says that "Jeff Magid, former production chief for Geffen Records, handled the mastering this time around."
Re: Reproduction of Original Artwork -- The article said that the reissue producers at Rhino were doing their best to reproduce all elements of the original artwork, but appeared to leave some fudge room.
Re: Jewel Boxes -- The article led me to believe that jewel box version would be issued eventually, but it might well be a long wait.
Jay
Claus
05-20-2002, 07:51 AM
sorry... but I thought, I should share this info with other Chicago fans.
Bob,
And how many different artists have done I'm A Man? I can only listen to that song so many times.:rolleyes:
Bob Lovely
05-20-2002, 08:10 AM
Originally posted by Dave
Bob,
And how many different artists have done I'm A Man? I can only listen to that song so many times.:rolleyes:
Dave,
I'm A Man is not my personal favorite on the album. I like it but...A little Chicago history--when the album was first released it did not sell well until tracks started being played on the new emerging album FM stations and college Radio. Their Top 40 hits prowess did not come until later, of course. I remember when I first heard tracks of the album on the radio (FM) I was impressed with what I heard because there was a unique blend to their music. Blood, Sweat & Tears with a more raw, blusey feel. Growing up just 140 miles from Chicago, the group was developing a following in the Midwest from touring in small clubs about the time the album was released.
Bob :)
lukpac
05-20-2002, 08:10 AM
Originally posted by Dave
And how many different artists have done I'm A Man? I can only listen to that song so many times.:rolleyes:
Er...Spencer Davis Group and Chicago. Who else?
njwiv
05-20-2002, 08:10 AM
Originally posted by Claus
sorry... but I thought, I should share this info with other Chicago fans.
Claus,
No offense taken -- I assure you that I was merely joking! I probably should have also posted the information here, but I didn't want to start a firestorm until more information came out about the mysterious Mr. Magid.
Jay
Originally posted by Lukpac
Er...Spencer Davis Group and Chicago. Who else?
Didn't Traffic do it as well? I know for sure I've heard it at a Steve Winwood concert. I'm almost sure that at least one other band has done it. With Winwoods permission of course.
Don't get me wrong, it is a good song. It just has been played to death.......more than once.:)
Didn't Peter Frampton also do it?
lukpac
05-20-2002, 08:47 AM
Originally posted by Dave
Didn't Traffic do it as well? I know for sure I've heard it at a Steve Winwood concert. I'm almost sure that at least one other band has done it. With Winwoods permission of course.
Don't get me wrong, it is a good song. It just has been played to death.......more than once.:)
Didn't Peter Frampton also do it?
Winwood was the lead singer for the Spencer Davis Group...
Perhaps Frampton did it. If so I've never heard it.
Steve Hoffman
05-20-2002, 09:17 AM
Dudes,
The Yardbirds did "I'm A Man"....
Thanks Steve. I was pretty sure there was at least one more.;)
lukpac
05-20-2002, 09:28 AM
Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
The Yardbirds did "I'm A Man"....
Sure, but not the song we're talking about.
The Yardbirds did the Bo Diddley song. Chicago did the Steve Winwood song...
Steve Hoffman
05-20-2002, 09:41 AM
Oh, you mean THAT "I'm A Man".
NOW I see that the title of the thread is about Chicago.
Sorry...:eek:
Uncle Al
05-20-2002, 09:47 AM
Hey Dave - funny you dismiss that first album. I loved it then, love it now - and totally lost interest after the second lp. Terry Kath was an excellennt axeman (Jimi Hendrix cited him as among his contemporary favorites) and the band never seemed to recover their edge after his demise. While I cannot deny the sucesses they had after the initial album - something "edgy" in the arrrangements between the horns, the guitar, the keyboards and all that overdubbed percussion was never again repeated.
MagicAlex
05-20-2002, 05:12 PM
Originally posted by Dave
What is it about Chicago Transit Authority that is so appealing to you all? Admittedly, there are a couple of really good songs, but mainly it's a blues guitar practise jam. I dunno, if I wanted to hear a blues solo/jam I can think of alot better artists I'd rather listen to for this style of music.
Everything post the first album is great though, except for the multiple "hits" albums and I do look foreward to the day that anyone can remaster them all without the harshness we've experienced with Chicago so far.
Dave, I am surprised that you've written the 1st album off that quickly. Especially for someone who loves blues guitar!? I really don't think it sounds like a blues improv by any means, IMO. I like Chicago but honestly from my standpoint the 1st album is primo. They kinda started going 'Pop' after that one.
I will agree that the 1st album is most like Traffic. Do you like Traffic? Progressive Rock?
Originally posted by MagicAlex
I will agree that the 1st album is most like Traffic. Do you like Traffic? Progressive Rock?
Yes actually I do like traffic, as I do own all 4 MFSL's. Now what exactly do you classify as "progressive rock"? Please name some.
Actually I enjoy all of Chicago's work except for the first. (shrug) :)
Michael
05-20-2002, 07:37 PM
Originally posted by Dave
Yes actually I do like traffic, as I do own all 4 MFSL's. Now what exactly do you classify as "progressive rock"? Please name some.
Actually I enjoy all of Chicago's work except for the first. (shrug) :)
Renaissance, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, etc.
ELP, I like their greatest hits, that's about it. I've never heard Renaissonce. I do like alot of Uriah Heep. Is that the same idea?
krabapple
05-20-2002, 07:53 PM
Originally posted by Dave
ELP, I like their greatest hits, that's about it. I've never heard Renaissonce. I do like alot of Uriah Heep. Is that the same idea?
Not really.
Yes, Genesis, King Crimson , ELP, Jethro Tull --- these were the major prog rock
bands of the 70's.
Regarding Chicago, I wonder how the problems with the 2nd album masters (discussed by SH , who IIRC called it the 'worst mastering job' he's heard) will be dealt with?
Uncle Al
05-20-2002, 08:05 PM
Geez - I never thought of CTA as progressive - but I can see the connection...........
I was just a little taken a-back by the "blues jam" statement. I can concurr - but hardly second rate. This was the set that some promo man heard in a club and recommended a contract. Then a producer booked them some studio time - and found that those jams COULD translate to a record. He also heard "Beginnings" and "Does Anybody Really Know.." and realized they could write their own music.
Many bands start off with cover songs on their initial release (I think the Beatles may have relied on a few). I always thought CTA marked "I'm a Man" distinctivly. Their second album better showcased the songwriting talent to come - while retaining the "edge". After that - the knife seemed to dull a bit.
This may be a case where personal musical preference takes precedence. I always enjoyed the interaction of musical forces more than a well crafted pop tune. There is no doubt that Chicago became a prominent force in a well crafted pop record. They did not have THAT kindof talent on CTA - but they had a musical ......... FORCE that told you they were players. I heard that in the initial blast of the horn section in Question 67 and 68, and they never again sounded so pure or un-pressured to come up with a hit.
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