|
|
Chicago Transit Authority
|
 |
| List Price |
: |
CDN$ 14.99 |
| Our Price |
: |
|
| You Save |
: |
CDN$ 14.99 (100%) |
| |
|
|
| 3 Used |
: | from CDN$ 6.86 |
| 20 New |
: | from CDN$ 6.85 |
| |
|
|
| Availability |
: |
Currently Unavailable |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Editorial Reviews: | | |  | | Having morphed--some would argue devolved--into a predictable ballad machine by the '80s, it's good to be reminded of Chicago's original artistic ethos and vibrant promise. And what better place to start than their spectacular 1969 debut? This digitally remastered edition compiles the double album on a single disc that retains the original LP artwork and features a 16-page booklet with a retrospective essay (based on new band member interviews) by David Wild. Chicago weren't yet the '70s hit-singles factory they would shortly become, and CTA showcases a band whose muscular musicianship and creative restlessness fostered two LPs worth of music that was as aggressive and far-ranging as its singles were friendly and inviting. Tellingly, the hits showcased here--"Does Anybody Know What Time It Is?" "Beginnings," "Questions 67 and 68," and their rhythmically pumped cover of the Spencer Davis Group's "I'm a Man"--were often edited down from the original collection's suite-heavy structure. But those familiar cuts belie the downright progressive and angular nature of much of the rest, which fuses Terry Kath's neo-psychedelic guitar (which careens to noisy, feedback-laden Hendrixesque extremes on "Free Form Guitar") to one of rock's pioneering horn sections with enough experimentalism ("Poem 58") that it frequently overwhelms their undeniable genius with a pop song. Chicago would seldom sound so adventurous after this, one of rock's greatest debut albums. --Jerry McCulley | |
| Custom Reviews: | |
|
| | The debut album for Chicago is awesome, they lost direction after each subsequent release till the zzzzzzs kicked in.
This is a real rock album up there with Electric Ladyland etc.
Terry Kath was an incredible guitarist.
| | | There are, as showed in the reviews for this album, many different people with many different opinions for this album. For example, I admit Chicago (Transit Authority) were more comercial than many other Jazz/Blues/Rock n' roll bands. However this is where peoples opinions are divided over Chicago's greatness. Some find it sickening that Chicago are considered one of the best Jazzy bands, over bands of whom were far more Jazz based, however others realise that they were titled as a Jazz/Blues etc band because their style was unique and fitted into no other catagories and so were named Jazzy.
Those of you who don't like Chicago, that's fine, perfectly exceptable as music is all about pesonel opinions, likes dislikes etc. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions don't you know?
Now, to talk about the music.
Chicago Transit Authority is a great first album for Chicago, displaying everything that would make them great over the forth coming decade. All the songs are superb and all have their individual moments of perfection. The great thing about a band like Chicago is you can feel the emeotion in the music. This is at no point more prominent than in the Trumpet/trombone solo's on Beginnings about four minutes in. It is worth buying the album just for that moment, it is truly beautiful.
In a rather rushed conclusion, If you already have some Chicago, even if it is a latter Chicago 20+, you will love their first album and it is worth every penny. If you have never bought a Chicago album before, you may as well start here as it is just as great as its successors. Superb!
| | | I heard this monstrosity many years ago, they were promoting it in record stores, hoping for massive sales. I assume they got their wish. This is jazz for the great brainwashed masses. If you want to hear some real jazz-rock, I highly recommend Soft Machine or Climax Blues Band. Yeah I'll concede Chicago were competent musicians, but not much more. I would like to thank Chicago for developing my lightning handspeed in changing the dial. Better yet, listen to John Coltranes My Favorite Things to hear jazz as it should sound. These guys were simply too too commercial for me. Dan Hicks said it best with his tune, Canned Music.
| | | Chicago (or, as they were known on THIS album,"C.T.A"): Tuneless songs...amateur vocals.....a horn section that sounded like it was lifted from a Holiday Inn somewhere south of Atlanta, GA... OK, like Milli Vanilli didn't say, "Girl, You KNOW It's TRUE." But the one thing that blatantly shows (heck, "displays," or better, "throws in your face") just what a bunch of pre-fab commercial nincompoop sludgemongers these creeps were, was their very own self-introduction on the left side of that fold-out album cover: "With this album, we dedicate our lives and our energies to the (giggle) revolution." THIS, from the "band" that gave you "Color My World" and "Does Anybody Know What Time It Is?" But re that "revolution," guess I'd better start rolling some bandages or something, huh? OH......you mean there WASN'T a "revolution?"
| | Great Remastering, Great CD | |
| | This is a classic rock album as other reviewers below state. One earlier reviewer complained about the remastering and I think his stereo must be broken. The Rhino remastering job is excellent. Clear, deep rich bass notes are here and the coldness of digital sound are mellowed by expanded mastering. Music not heard on previous releases is now audible. The highs maybe could have been a bit crisper but they are fine (too crisp can be annoying as many CDs suffer from that). So I give both the CD and the remastering job 5 stars, and I don't give 5 stars on many reviews. (I'll admit a slight bias for this album as I saw Chicago as a kid, before Chicago 2 came out, and the music from this album changed my musical life almost as much as the Beatles did). Thank you Terry Kath for great guitar.
| |
|
|
Home
View Cart
Bookmark This Page
Contact Us
