Chicago XIV
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| Chicago XIV | |||||
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| Studio album by Chicago | |||||
| Released | July 21, 1980 | ||||
| Recorded | March - May 1980 | ||||
| Genre | Rock | ||||
| Length | 38:58 | ||||
| Label | Columbia Records | ||||
| Producer | Tom Dowd | ||||
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| Chicago chronology | |||||
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Chicago XIV is the fourteenth album by American rock band Chicago and was released in 1980. Recorded at a time of waning interest in the band, Chicago XIV remains Chicago's poorest selling album and was a commercial flop--- though by no means an artistic failure. It is also notable for being their last studio album with Columbia Records.
After the commercial and critical disappointment of Chicago 13, and the departure of guitarist Donnie Dacus, Chicago decided that a new strategy was in order. Instead of incorporating another guitarist into the band, they instead hired on Chris Pinnick as a session player and live performer. They also tried a new producer, this time Tom Dowd, who had worked with Aretha Franklin, Cream, Eric Clapton, and Toto. With Dowd taking the reins, and with Chicago abandoning the ill-advised dance club atmosphere that permeated the last album, the team recorded a lean, more streamlined record which would, predictably, be called Chicago XIV. It may have been a response to the under-produced, New Wave efforts on the radio at the time. The album was easily the least orchestrated effort to date. Still, it wasn't a perfect marriage, with Dowd having to shepherd a group whose members were not all on the same wavelength or headspace.
With Peter Cetera taking an even greater role in the band, his compositions were largely insipid romantic ballads, giving Chicago XIV a decidedly adult contemporary sound. Robert Lamm served as Cetera's foil, turning in the rockers "Manipulation" and "I'd Rather Be Rich" (a song from 1975) and James Pankow also delivered the uptempo - if downbeat - "The American Dream". It was, by most accounts, an improvement over Chicago 13, but Chicago's image was out of touch in 1980 and once the new album was released, it became clear that any attempt to win back their fans would be in vain.
Poorly promoted by Columbia Records, a label that was increasingly disappointing Chicago, Chicago XIV went unnoticed upon release and bombed, only reaching #71 in the US, and disappeared quickly, despite its charms. There were no singles hits again, although "Thunder And Lightning" came close. Realizing that the relationship had soured considerably, Columbia Records excused Chicago from its recent multi-million contract, and let them go. Percussionist Laudir DeOliveira, with Chicago since 1973, decided to explore other options and would leave the band in 1981, realizing that the Latin percussion evident in the latter half of the previous decade no longer fit the band style.
In 2003, Chicago XIV was remastered and reissued by Rhino Records with three outtakes from the sessions, "Doin' Business", "Live It Up" and "Soldier of Fortune" as bonus tracks.
Contents |
[edit] Track listing
[edit] Side one
- "Manipulation" (Robert Lamm) – 3:45
- "Upon Arrival" (Peter Cetera/Robert Lamm) – 3:48
- "Song for You" (Peter Cetera) – 3:41
- "Where Did the Lovin' Go" (Peter Cetera) – 4:06
- "Birthday Boy" (Danny Seraphine/David Wolinski) – 4:55
[edit] Side two
- "Hold On" (Peter Cetera) – 4:15
- "Overnight Cafe" (Peter Cetera) – 4:19
- "Thunder and Lightning" (Robert Lamm/Danny Seraphine) – 3:32
- "I'd Rather Be Rich" (Robert Lamm) – 3:08
- "The American Dream" (James Pankow) – 3:19
Chicago XIV (Columbia 36517) reached #71 in the US during a chart stay of 9 weeks. It did not chart in the UK.
[edit] Personnel
- Peter Cetera - bass, vocals
- Laudir DeOliveira - percussion
- Robert Lamm - keyboards, vocals
- Lee Loughnane - trumpet, vocals
- James Pankow - trombone
- Walter Parazaider - woodwinds
- Danny Seraphine - drums
Additional personnel
- Chris Pinnick - guitar
- Mark Goldenberg - guitar
- David "Hawk" Wolinski - keyboards
- Ian Underwood - programming
[edit] Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
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| 1980 | Pop Albums | 71 |
Singles - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
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| 1980 | Thunder and Lightning | Pop Singles | 56 |
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