4 things about
Chicago What's in a name? Originally called Chicago Transit Authority, the band released their first self-titled album in 1969. Shortly after, the real CTA threatened to take them to court over the name, and Chicago was born. Later, the band almost sued the CTA for using the song Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? to advertise their bus services without prior permission!
Chicago is a big time band
Brass Transit: The Music of Chicago Friday 14 April / 7:30PM Saturday 15 April / 7:30PM Jack Singer Concert Hall Pops Supported by Associate Conductor Supporter: Mary Rozsa de Coquet Program Karl Hirzer, conductor Brass Transit, band Performing songs from the list below: 25 or 6 to 4 / Beginnings / Call on Me / Colour My World / Doctor My Eyes / Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? / Feelin’ Stronger Every Day / Free / Hard Habit To Break / Hard To Say I’m Sorry (Medley) / If You Leave Me Now / I’m a Man / Just You ‘n’ Me / Last Time This Time / Make Me Smile / Questions 67 and 68 / Saturday in the Park / Searchin’ So Long / You’re the Inspiration Concert includes a 20-minute intermission Program and artists subject to change without notice 18 | PRELUDE calgaryphil.com | 403.571.0849
Over the years, the band released more than a few songs alluding to the concept of time. Their single 25 or 6 to 4 is about writing a song in the middle of the night, and the song's title is the time at which the song is set: 3:35 or 3:34AM, or ‘twenty-five or [twenty]-six to four.’ Fans have many different theories about what the lyrics mean — everything from a quantity of illicit drugs to the name of a famous person in code — but lyricist Robert Lamm rejects all theories that it means anything deeper.
Hard times for hard rock Chicago owned the 70s, but they entered the 80s hanging by a thread. Band members struggled with substance abuse, lead guitarist Terry Kath had passed away, they were dropped by their label, and lead vocalist and bassist Peter Cetera was on his way out. Led by a new label, new producers, and new musicians, the band started exploring a new sound. With less of the classic ‘horn rock’, they became known for lush power ballads like You’re the Inspiration. A big part of the shift in their sound happened when they began working with Canadian producer David Foster, a household name for many Calgarians, since he wrote the theme for the 1988 Winter Olympics, Can’t You Feel It?
The band plays on One of the longest-running music groups of all time with almost 30 band members over the years, Chicago defined the ‘horn rock’ genre and combined rock and roll with musical genres from classical music and jazz to R&B and pop music, and even tackled spoken word. The band still tours today, and just released its 26th studio album in 2022 — Born for This Moment.