10 Albums: Chicago Transit Authority

My first concert was seeing Chicago play Memorial Hall in Kansas City, KS. The band, previously known as Chicago Transit Authority (only to have the real Chicago Transit Authority threaten legal action if the name wasn't changed), by that point had released three double albums and a multi-disc live album from their multi-night appearance at Carnegie Hall in New York.

This first album stands out as Chicago's best. The original lineup of Terry Kath, Robert Lamm, Danny Seraphine, Walt Parazaider, Lee Loughnane and James Pankow brought a sound to rock-and-roll that was similar to Blood, Sweat & Tears, but with more rock influence given Kath's guitar playing prowess. (Jimi Hendrix once famously told band members that "he (Kath) is better than me!" Kath died in 1978 of an accidental gunshot wound to the head.)

This debut album was yet another great record from 1969. It was unique in that it was a double album--unheard of at the time for debut albums. The album netted a Grammy nomination for the band and stayed on the Billboard 200 chart for 171 weeks, beating the previous record of 155 weeks for a rock album's longevity.

Initial sales of Chicago Transit Authority were slow but FM radio helped push out songs that would be later released as singles--"Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?," "Beginnings," and "Questions 67 and 68." All made it to the Billboard 100, eventually, with "Time" and "Beginnings" both reaching number 7 on the chart.

I loved this band's early work given the blend of horns, guitar, keyboard and drums. Their initial focus on politically-focused lyrics evolved into a softer, ballad-heavy sound that helped the band sell over 40 million units--one of the most successful U.S. rock bands ever. It's the early stuff, though, that is still listenable today for me.

Chicago Transit Authority--another album from my formative music-listening years.