Search - Chicago :: At Carnegie Hall

Chicago At Carnegie Hall - The Way It Was Meant To Be.

Louie Bourland | Garden Grove CA | 08/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The wait is finally over. Chicago's legendary four-album document of their sold-out week at Carnegie Hall is at last, reissued and remastered. In addition to the material that was included on the original 1971 album, there is a complete disc of unreleased material from the concerts as well as the original packaging and replicas of the original posters and booklet which came with the LP. Granted, THIS is the ultimate reissue of this classic live album.

As for the music itself, it is full of the raw energy that made Chicago so great during its early days. Instead of the short snappy pop songs and romantic ballads, you get extended jam-band cuts such as "In The Country", "South California Purples", "Sing A Mean Tune Kid" and "It Better End Soon". Additionally, there are stellar renditions of "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" (complete with a six-minute 'Free Form Intro' from Mr. Chops, Robert Lamm), "Questions 67 and 68", "25 or 6 to 4", "Beginnings" and the band's plea for Nixon's resignation, "A Song For Richard and His Friends". All seven of Chicago's original band members are given due time in the spotlight and are full of the energy and vigour of an excited young band during their first shot of fame. Terry Kath's extended guitar solos on the aforementioned "Purples" and "Sing A Mean Tune Kid" are some of his best guitar solos on record full of freedom and endless invention.

As for the bonus material, there are tunes which were not released on the original "Carnegie Hall" album as well as alternate performances of several tracks on the original album. The "Naseltones" free form intro included here is another Robert Lamm piano improvisation which goes into a boogie motiff that has a slight hint of Dave Brubeck in its groove. In addition, "Listen" and Terry Kath's "Hour In The Shower" are rock solid and are worthy additions to the original album.

Hands down, this is an awesome trip down memory lane for those who were there to remember it, those who bought the album when it originally was released and those who discovered it years later and couldn't get enough of it. This is the early Chicago in their prime as they used to be.

Hats off to Chicago and Rhino Records for such a stellar reissue of this classic concert.



On a personal note: I saw Chicago in concert in 1991 and to be honest, they were absolutely horrible. It was the worst concert I've ever attended. This Carngegie Hall concert beats the heck out of that 1991 concert by a huge longshot."

Danny Seraphine and Terry Kath, You Guys Are Missed!!

JESSE R. MC Glown | Enterprise, AL | 09/26/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was introduced to the first half of this landmark recording as "Volume I & II" on an 8-track tape cartridge (!) Quite the nostalgia trip. I must confess, I can't hear a significant difference between the remastered CDs and the original CD release of a few years ago...but of course the newly mixed, previously unreleased tracks are wonderful. I'm a little surprised that they didn't do some tasteful crossfading between these songs--even a bit of canned applause between numbers would've created the sense of one typical night during this unprecedented week. Fragmented as this bonus disc is, however, it's a real treat for Carnegie Hall fans. I'm truly disappointed, however, that they didn't take full advantage of the eighty minutes a CD allows...given all of those performances, alternate takes of three or four more numbers could've easily fit on that disc! I suppose a bit of marketing comes into play: a few years fron now, it'll be released yet again as a five or six CD set, broken down into invividual performances from each night...the Late, Great Terry Kath is NOT the only person who shines throughout this effort: Danny Seraphine's drumming has to be heard to be believed! This entire set is a showcase for his phenomenal chops during this era...it's almost impossible to believe that this is the same guy whose drumming morphed into the generic tripe heard on Chicago 16 and 17. This album represents Chicago arguably at their peak...at least before David Foster got his hands on them and turned the boys into a hit factory."

THE Chicago recording to own, bar none

M. A Fortes | San Francisco, CA | 08/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Anyone looking for the best example of Chicago as a great band has it right here. Their improvisational powers are at a peak, their best early hits are here, there's fire and passion in the vocals of Terry Kath and even the usually sedate Robert Lamm, and the guitar playing of Terry Kath is in sharp relief for all to hear. He really was one of the great unsung guitar heroes.



Best of all, the sound of the horn section has been improved over the original recording. The sound is much more robust. Maybe now that infamous "kazoos" assessment can be laid to rest.



The packaging is also superb -- it's essentially a mini replica of the original box set, complete with all 3 posters and an expanded booklet with new liner notes.



The 4th disc of unreleased performances has further delights -- "Sing A Mean Tune Kid" is a bit less jazz and a bit more rock in its alternate version, Kath's singing is more controlled in the alternate "Introduction," and now we get to hear top-notch live versions of "Listen," "Loneliness Is Just A Word" and "An Hour In The Shower."



This set has been slagged a lot over the years, but I've always held firm that it's really an amazing document of a powerful live rock band. Before the platinum pop balladry, before the loss of key band members, before their respectability eroded in the 1980s, THIS was Chicago -- a band that could hold their own in the company of greats like the Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, and other contemporaries who exelled when stretching out on stage. Don't pass this one up!"