25 or 6 to 4
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| "25 or 6 to 4" | ||
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| Single by Chicago | ||
| from the album Chicago | ||
| B-side(s) | "Where Do We Go From Here" | |
| Released | June 1970 | |
| Format | 7" | |
| Recorded | August 1969 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 4:50 (album version) 2:53 (single version) |
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| Label | Columbia Records | |
| Writer(s) | Robert Lamm | |
| Producer(s) | James William Guercio | |
| Chart positions | ||
| Chicago singles chronology | ||
| Make Me Smile / Colour My World (1970) |
25 or 6 to 4 (1970) |
Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? (1970) |
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| Along Comes a Woman (1985) |
25 or 6 to 4 / One More Day (1986) |
Will You Still Love Me? (1986) |
"25 or 6 to 4" is a song written by Robert Lamm for the rock band Chicago. It was recorded for their second album Chicago (1970) with Peter Cetera singing lead vocals. The song was edited and released as a single in June of that year, climbing to #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. This recording features a guitar solo by Chicago guitarist Terry Kath, and has been included in numerous Chicago compilation albums.
An updated version of "25 or 6 to 4" was recorded for the 1986 album Chicago 18 with James Pankow listed as co-writer. Featuring new band member Jason Scheff on lead vocals, the single reached only #48 on the U.S. chart.
[edit] Meaning
Chicago fans have long argued about the real meaning of the song. Lamm himself says that the title is "just a reference to the time of day", and that "the song is about writing a song. It's not mystical" [1]. The lyrics "Waiting for the break of day" suggest that the title refers to 3:54 a.m. (6 minutes to 4) or, alternatively, 3:35 or 3:34 a.m. (as in 25 or 26 minutes to 4:00).
Others speculate that the song is about a choice between the real world represented by the "break of day" (6 to 4) or the illusionary world created by taking drugs ("Should I try to do some more"), specifically LSD since "25" is often used as a slang term for LSD-25; hence the title "25 or 6 to 4".
[edit] References
- ^ Chicago History, Chapter VI. Official Site of Chicago the Band. Retrieved on November 24, 2006.
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| 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 |
