Chicago XI

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Chicago XI
Chicago XI cover
Studio album by Chicago
Released 12 September 1977
Recorded April - June 1977
Genre Rock
Length 44:33
Label Columbia Records
Producer(s) James William Guercio
Professional reviews
Chicago chronology
Chicago X
(1976)		 Chicago XI
(1977)		 Hot Streets
(1978)


Chicago XI is the eleventh album by American rock band Chicago and was released in 1977. As the successor to Chicago X, the album marked the end of an era for Chicago in more ways than one.

Chicago XI is notable for feeling like a collection of solo songs rather than the ensemble whole Chicago had been earlier in the 1970s. Peter Cetera aimed to replicate the success of the Grammy-winning "If You Leave Me Now" with "Baby, What A Big Surprise", which proved to be the album's biggest hit, going to #4. This was his only contribution to the album as well as the only song with him on lead vocals. Terry Kath revived his old live favorite "Mississippi Delta City Blues" for the album, while turning in a touching vocal on Danny Seraphine's "Little One". Seraphine also co-wrote "Take Me Back to Chicago", which charted at #63. (Kath's "Takin' It On Uptown" -- which apparently features only Kath and some uncredited backup singers -- may have been intended as a solo album "preview" along the lines of Lamm's "Skinny Boy" on Chicago VII.) James Pankow sang lead on his own "Till The End Of Time", as did Lee Loughnane on his original, "This Time". The once-prolific Robert Lamm only managed two songs, the sympathetic "Policeman" and "Vote For Me".

While recording Chicago XI, longtime producer James William Guercio's smothering artistic control had reached its breaking point, with the band deciding to take their career into their own hands and strike out on their own after finishing the album with him. However, as big a change in their career as Guercio's dismissal would be for Chicago, it would be minor in comparison to the tragedy that awaited them.

On 23 January 1978, a few short months after Chicago XI's release, Terry Kath, regarded by many as the soul of Chicago, accidentally and fatally shot himself during a party at a roadie's house. A gun enthusiast, Kath attempted to qualm the guests' surprise when - while reportedly inebriated - he pulled out his gun to clean it by demonstrating that it was unloaded and promptly pointed the gun to his head and pulled the trigger, not realizing a bullet was in the chamber. All the remaining members of Chicago were shocked and devastated by Kath's unintentional suicide, and even considered breaking up. After a few weeks of mourning, they decided to move on, thus beginning a new era in the band's history.

Upon its September 1977 release, Chicago XI reached #6 in the US and went platinum.

In 2002, Chicago XI was remastered and reissued by Rhino Records with rehearsal recordings of Pankow's "Wish That I Could Fly" (backing track) and Lamm's "Paris" as bonus tracks.

[edit] Track listing

  1. "Mississippi Delta City Blues" (Terry Kath) – 4:39
  2. "Baby, What a Big Surprise" (Peter Cetera) – 3:04
  3. "Till the End of Time" (James Pankow) – 4:49
  4. "Policeman" (Robert Lamm) – 4:02
  5. "Take Me Back to Chicago" (Danny Seraphine/David Wolinski) – 5:17
  6. "Vote for Me" (Robert Lamm) – 3:47
  7. "Takin' It on Uptown" (Fred Kagan/Terry Kath) – 4:45
  8. "This Time" (Lee Loughnane) – 4:44
  9. "The Inner Struggles of a Man" (Dominic Frontiere) – 2:44
  10. "Prelude (Little One)" (Danny Seraphine/David Wolinski) – 0:52
  11. "Little One" (Danny Seraphine/David Wolinski) – 5:40
    • Tracks 9-11 form the "Little One" suite. Track 9 is an orchestral piece that does not feature Chicago.

Chicago XI (Columbia 34860) reached #6 in the US during a chart stay of 20 weeks. It did not chart in the UK.

[edit] Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
1977 Pop Albums 6

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year Single Chart Position
1977 Baby, What a Big Surprise Pop Singles 4
1978 Little One Pop Singles 44
1978 Take Me Back to Chicago Pop Singles 63

[edit] Personnel

Additional personnel

  • David "Hawk" Wolinski - ARP synthesizer on "Take Me Back To Chicago"; Fender Rhodes on "Little One'
  • James William Guercio - acoustic guitars and bass on "Baby, What A Big Surprise"
  • Tim Cetera - additional background vocals on "Baby, What A Big Surprise"
  • Carl Wilson - additional background vocals on "Baby, What A Big Surprise"
  • Chaka Khan - background vocals and incredible preach at end of "Take Me Back To Chicago"
  • Dominic Frontiere - orchestral conception & orchestration on "Baby, What A Big Surprise"; orchestration for "The Inner Struggles Of A Man"; string and orchestral arrangements for "Little One"
  • The Voices of Inspiration - choir on "Vote For Me"
Chicago
Robert Lamm | James Pankow | Lee Loughnane | Walter Parazaider | Bill Champlin
Jason Scheff | Tris Imboden | Keith Howland
Terry Kath | Peter Cetera | Danny Seraphine | Laudir DeOliveira | Donnie Dacus | Chris Pinnick | Dawayne Bailey
Discography
Studio albums: The Chicago Transit Authority | Chicago | Chicago III | Chicago V | Chicago VI |Chicago VII | Chicago VIII | Chicago X | Chicago XI | Hot Streets
Chicago 13 | Chicago XIV | Chicago 16 | Chicago 17 | Chicago 18 | Chicago 19 | Twenty 1 | Night & Day Big Band | Chicago XXX
Live albums: Chicago at Carnegie Hall | Chicago XXVI: Live in Concert
Compilations: Chicago IX - Chicago's Greatest Hits | Greatest Hits, Volume II | Greatest Hits 1982-1989
The Heart of Chicago 1967-1997 | The Heart of Chicago 1967-1998 Volume II | The Very Best of: Only the Beginning | Love Songs
Christmas albums: Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album | What's It Gonna Be, Santa?
Unreleased album: Stone of Sisyphus
Box sets: The Box
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