Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority (Japanese SHM-CD)
I've always been fascinated by the sophistication of this album, particularly since it's Chicago's first, issued in 1969, forty years ago. For a major portion of their early production, Chicago was an esoteric band--only (strangely) more commercial types such as Blood, Sweat & Tears and Chase incorporated horns into rock so thoroughly, melding it with a jazz sensibility. Truly, this was "fusion" at its finest.
Even today, forty years later, this album sounds great...almost contemporary. With the Japanese pressing and SHM-CD remastering, however, it puts the whole sound into another realm. The major songs, here..."Introduction", "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?", "Beginnings", "Questions 67 and 68", as well as the reworking of the Spencer Davis Group's "I'm A Man"--all in their full album length and glory--make this one a must.
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