Thank you for posting these things. I was a baby when these guys started out, but I know so much about what they brought to the rock landscape. This was one of those songs I liked but wasn't a "hit" as (record) people sometimes predict. Seeing this and reading what people are writing about the times back then are phenomenal to read. Great band, great songwriters, great musicians they are.
It's ironic that Peter Cetera thought Terry Kath mailed it in with his guitar playing on this song. But, I find Kath's playing to be very good on this song personally. I guess that's why Peter Cetera is a successful musician and I'm just an arm-chair music critic.
@scoutee39 No, you're right and Cetera never said that. The original solo was very cool. Cetera said he was proud of the song but didn't appreciate Kath saying if anyone asked he would deny ever having played on it. I think it was "guy" ribbing Cetera took too much to heart.
I think the studio version of this song has probably the greatest guitar solo ever recorded....and this live version ain't nothin' to sneeze at either.
They were so good in the beginning, they rocked! But after terry Kath died they started to go downhill with some of the mainstream pop they played! 25 or 6 to 4, questions 67 & 68, lowdown, were fantastic!
I put the top down on my Miata, plug my iPod into my radio, start up my Topless playlist. Lowdown is number one on my list and when I say it captures the spirit of driving around topless better than any other song ever written. If I ever get to song number two during my drive, it's a miracle. Say what you will about Cetera but I will always think he is an absolute genius songwriter as I do about Lamm and Pankow. But heck, Kath, Seraphine, and Loughnane wrote some darn great stuff too.
Terry's death was initially ruled an accidental suicide. I don't remember if that was ever changed. He died about five months after Elvis Presley. Terry's death was a horrible loss. Rumor had it that after he died, the band almost split up.
Thanks so much for the post. It's so nice to see the guys when they were still edgy and hungry, you know, before "if you leave me now..." and the horn section bought matching Rolls Royce's. They are such amazing musicians, and Danny Seraphine is by far one of the most UNDER estimated drummers of all time. Could have done with out the Kaleidescope effect on TK's solo. Don't know who said it, but I thought his solo on the album version was pretty damn good.
wrestling heretic I heard PC say he liked dialogue because that song gave him alot of freedom to wing it abit they change it up a bit if you see several versions of that song
maybe they came straight from the ranch to Tokyo. Probably more bad advice from thier manager that japanese chicks dig cavemen. Jimmy Pankow more than makes up for it though with his cammos, he with the horn love you long time,no?
so nice to the see the real band play the real songs that they wrote. TK and PC in beards gives them that caveman look dontcha think?. but don`t think it was ever easy.
This is a great performance of this song, but I couldn't quit chuckling at the caveman thing--that's hilarious! Isn't there a geico commercial where the caveman actually has on an outfit similar to peter's??
me recuerda mis dias de juventud cuando bailabamos al ritmo frenetico y salvaje de chicago transit authority con todos sus integrantes originales pete daniel y terry esta cancion ojala alguien tenga un mejor video aunque por supuesto se le agradece infinitamente a drhey19 su contribucion muchas gracias
Cetera ..........Was and always will be remembered as THE VOICE OF CHICAGO...........Even my parents remember CHICAGO with " the guy with the high voice"........These were the good old days............
Terry's solo here is a lot better than the original "Chicago III" version. I've always liked this song, though. There's nothing wrong with inserting a bit of melody here and there as you rock and roll....and if it's true that Peter didn't really like Chicago's music...well, I'm disillusioned by that...if he didn't like their music, why didn't he leave earlier? Oh yeah, almost forgot, Peter Needed to be a member of a Top Rock Group for a while before going solo...
Because, dear, sweet but not very adorable Janey, it's for audience recognition, since the songs he sang with the group are better than his solo shlock he puts out year after year. To me, Peter is Mr. Sellout #1.
Because he sings songs by Chicago, you know, that famous band he used to be in that everyone's heard of, you know, that band. It can't be because his solo material is any good, 'cos it isn't..
I got from the interview that Terry figured there were already 3 songwriters and the band didn't need a 4th. Maybe Terry wasn't pleased with the song, but he didn't diss it like Peter did "Old Days". But Terry's guitar on the original version was lame.
Peter said in the Group Portrait 4 CD booklet that Terry played guitar on the song in the studio version like he didn't give a shit how he played it. Peter was very disapointed how it sounded. That was Peter's first top 40 song that he had written. It peaked at #35 on the Billboard Rock Chart in 1971 off of Chicago III. I did hear the song on American Top 40 The 70's with Casey Kasem.
Yeh I read that as well. Maybe Terry didn't think the song was their best work but I hardly think he tanked it. As a matter of fact, Danny's thumping kick drum and T.K.s solo was the best thing about the song. After he left the band Peter also said "I didn't like their music much anyway"...Peter,Peter...Peter... You wanted to be a solo superstar....congrats, you almost got your wish. You are solo.
That's very interesting. That early there was a schism between Terry who wanted to be loose and free and Peter who wanted everything meticulous and perfect. For a good while they kept each other in balance.
@stardustlounge What he actually said was if anyone asked him he'd deny ever having played on it. They gave Cetera a hard time because they thought the song was weak. Peter did not say he was disappointed. He said he was proud of the song. Go back and read the booklet again. Did you just make this up?Terry tore it up on the solo on the origninal and maybe more so here on the live version.
Thank you for posting these things. I was a baby when these guys started out, but I know so much about what they brought to the rock landscape. This was one of those songs I liked but wasn't a "hit" as (record) people sometimes predict. Seeing this and reading what people are writing about the times back then are phenomenal to read. Great band, great songwriters, great musicians they are.
Mandi7882 1 month ago
It's ironic that Peter Cetera thought Terry Kath mailed it in with his guitar playing on this song. But, I find Kath's playing to be very good on this song personally. I guess that's why Peter Cetera is a successful musician and I'm just an arm-chair music critic.
scoutee39 3 months ago
@scoutee39 No, you're right and Cetera never said that. The original solo was very cool. Cetera said he was proud of the song but didn't appreciate Kath saying if anyone asked he would deny ever having played on it. I think it was "guy" ribbing Cetera took too much to heart.
shelly1fan 1 month ago
la version Chicago_at_Carnegie_Hall Fue la mejor de todas en mi opinion..
paezjean 4 months ago
We "blew off" our jr prom in 1970 to go see Chicago play at the old Chicago Stadium. Left all the girls high and dry. It was GREAT.
jmweed1861 6 months ago
I think this is much better than the Japanese version on "Live In Japan."
aladdin1052 6 months ago
I think the studio version of this song has probably the greatest guitar solo ever recorded....and this live version ain't nothin' to sneeze at either.
stingray1964 7 months ago 3
Low Dow in my life now.
bullfrog2499 7 months ago
They were so good in the beginning, they rocked! But after terry Kath died they started to go downhill with some of the mainstream pop they played! 25 or 6 to 4, questions 67 & 68, lowdown, were fantastic!
junfando1 8 months ago
I put the top down on my Miata, plug my iPod into my radio, start up my Topless playlist. Lowdown is number one on my list and when I say it captures the spirit of driving around topless better than any other song ever written. If I ever get to song number two during my drive, it's a miracle. Say what you will about Cetera but I will always think he is an absolute genius songwriter as I do about Lamm and Pankow. But heck, Kath, Seraphine, and Loughnane wrote some darn great stuff too.
stormm787 10 months ago
Terry's death was initially ruled an accidental suicide. I don't remember if that was ever changed. He died about five months after Elvis Presley. Terry's death was a horrible loss. Rumor had it that after he died, the band almost split up.
StephenB58 1 year ago
@StephenB58 They should have.
txlastrebel 5 months ago
Could someone please post a clean copy of this great song ?
blueticecho 1 year ago
Very well stated, 70sfusion. I couldn't agree more.
Larrymh07 1 year ago
Love this song so much.
SHSMusicKid 1 year ago
Thanks so much for the post. It's so nice to see the guys when they were still edgy and hungry, you know, before "if you leave me now..." and the horn section bought matching Rolls Royce's. They are such amazing musicians, and Danny Seraphine is by far one of the most UNDER estimated drummers of all time. Could have done with out the Kaleidescope effect on TK's solo. Don't know who said it, but I thought his solo on the album version was pretty damn good.
70sfusion 1 year ago
that is what a solo sounds like!!!!!!!!
SharingonMadara 1 year ago
wrestling heretic I heard PC say he liked dialogue because that song gave him alot of freedom to wing it abit they change it up a bit if you see several versions of that song
DeweyNH 1 year ago
Damn, Pete's kinda' fuzzy.
aquarius11 1 year ago
Absolutely wonderful song. One of many that I listen to all the time.
NovaBossa69 2 years ago
maybe they came straight from the ranch to Tokyo. Probably more bad advice from thier manager that japanese chicks dig cavemen. Jimmy Pankow more than makes up for it though with his cammos, he with the horn love you long time,no?
retrograder22 2 years ago
Thats Walt in camos! DUH!
adorablejaney 2 years ago
realized dat after looking at this on full screen, slap me upside the head anytime dorable1
retrograder22 2 years ago
LOL will do xxx
adorablejaney 2 years ago
so nice to the see the real band play the real songs that they wrote. TK and PC in beards gives them that caveman look dontcha think?. but don`t think it was ever easy.
retrograder22 2 years ago 3
This is a great performance of this song, but I couldn't quit chuckling at the caveman thing--that's hilarious! Isn't there a geico commercial where the caveman actually has on an outfit similar to peter's??
jennebe27 2 years ago
me recuerda mis dias de juventud cuando bailabamos al ritmo frenetico y salvaje de chicago transit authority con todos sus integrantes originales pete daniel y terry esta cancion ojala alguien tenga un mejor video aunque por supuesto se le agradece infinitamente a drhey19 su contribucion muchas gracias
pumas6100 2 years ago
Cetera ..........Was and always will be remembered as THE VOICE OF CHICAGO...........Even my parents remember CHICAGO with " the guy with the high voice"........These were the good old days............
ceterababe 2 years ago
It is a great song....why they do not usually paly this son in concerts?
cmachado100 2 years ago
1:47 DANG!
thisgoestoeleven11 2 years ago
Yea, its a great song.
ALaudun 2 years ago
Terry's solo here is a lot better than the original "Chicago III" version. I've always liked this song, though. There's nothing wrong with inserting a bit of melody here and there as you rock and roll....and if it's true that Peter didn't really like Chicago's music...well, I'm disillusioned by that...if he didn't like their music, why didn't he leave earlier? Oh yeah, almost forgot, Peter Needed to be a member of a Top Rock Group for a while before going solo...
cdadave83814 2 years ago
Why does he still do Chicago songs? Hmmmmmmmmm
Check your facts!
adorablejaney 2 years ago
Because, dear, sweet but not very adorable Janey, it's for audience recognition, since the songs he sang with the group are better than his solo shlock he puts out year after year. To me, Peter is Mr. Sellout #1.
cdadave83814 2 years ago
in your humble opinion...only! wonders why he sells out all his concerts? hmmmm
adorablejaney 2 years ago
Comment removed
cdadave83814 2 years ago
Because he sings songs by Chicago, you know, that famous band he used to be in that everyone's heard of, you know, that band. It can't be because his solo material is any good, 'cos it isn't..
cdadave83814 2 years ago
well, it's a good song
melenadeplant 2 years ago
78? in dc..what a show.. three levels on stage carpet etc.. and loud.. capital centre.. great..thanks for this
lothy59 2 years ago
I got from the interview that Terry figured there were already 3 songwriters and the band didn't need a 4th. Maybe Terry wasn't pleased with the song, but he didn't diss it like Peter did "Old Days". But Terry's guitar on the original version was lame.
flashpenguin86 3 years ago
Peter said in the Group Portrait 4 CD booklet that Terry played guitar on the song in the studio version like he didn't give a shit how he played it. Peter was very disapointed how it sounded. That was Peter's first top 40 song that he had written. It peaked at #35 on the Billboard Rock Chart in 1971 off of Chicago III. I did hear the song on American Top 40 The 70's with Casey Kasem.
stardustlounge 3 years ago 5
Yeh I read that as well. Maybe Terry didn't think the song was their best work but I hardly think he tanked it. As a matter of fact, Danny's thumping kick drum and T.K.s solo was the best thing about the song. After he left the band Peter also said "I didn't like their music much anyway"...Peter,Peter...Peter... You wanted to be a solo superstar....congrats, you almost got your wish. You are solo.
drumlord123 3 years ago 3
and still touring writing playing
and fit!
you seen whats left of "Chicago" recently? lounge lizards
and i loved them...No Terry no Peter = no Chicago
adorablejaney 2 years ago
Comment removed
WrestlingHeretic 1 year ago
@drumlord123
It's worth noting, too, that Seraphine co-wrote the song.
WrestlingHeretic 1 year ago
@stardustlounge
That's very interesting. That early there was a schism between Terry who wanted to be loose and free and Peter who wanted everything meticulous and perfect. For a good while they kept each other in balance.
WrestlingHeretic 1 year ago
@stardustlounge Terry knew from the beginning that Peter was going to "clean up" Chicago.
JohnFordDanceTroupe 1 year ago
@stardustlounge What he actually said was if anyone asked him he'd deny ever having played on it. They gave Cetera a hard time because they thought the song was weak. Peter did not say he was disappointed. He said he was proud of the song. Go back and read the booklet again. Did you just make this up?Terry tore it up on the solo on the origninal and maybe more so here on the live version.
shelly1fan 1 month ago
Rare to see this one live..filmed. Thank you for posting it and in such great quality.
- Ian
EmergencyIan 3 years ago 2
burnin solo by terry!!!though somewhere i read, that he hated this tune..
ladiezroom 3 years ago