STILL SEALED 1974 ORIG = VII = CHICAGO UNDERESTIMATED FUSION PROG ADVENTURE

$

47

                    ORIGINAL 1974 FIRST PRESS
                              = DOUBLE  LP =

CUSTOM SONG TITLES STICKER ON OUTER CELLOPHANE!
      ..|/\|...............................................|/\|..                          
           
                    VII                 ..|/\|...............................................|/\|..                   

          USA - COLUMBIA RECORDS - C2 32810

 " STILL FACTORY SEALED " ...

We acquired as a NEVER OPENED, 100% FIRST PRESSING, NO BAR CODE and contains the original (RARE) custom song titles sticker on outer cellophane!!!

44 YEARS OF AGE ...

ORIGINAL 1974 first print in faux leather gatefold cover... both custom designed inner sleeves should be included

.......................................................................................................................................

GORGEOUS -PERFECT- UN-PLAYED double LP  (scarce song-titles sticker on front) and housed in an expensive manufacturing simulated leather gatefold cover finds CHICAGO in one of their better performances, especially when talking fusion prog, and these guys may have made commercial music - put when they weren't - they jammed with a cohesive flowing unification.

After Chicago had a down year with their 1973 single-album, they rebounded with a double album (just like in the good ol'days) housed in a wonderful carved-in-leather gatefold artwork cover. Things were looking upwards - artistically-speaking, because financially they were never better - sales-wise. The album starts on the instrumental-jamming mode for about 2/3 of the first disc and in the process presents Chicago's finest moments. Prog heads take note!

Not sure you'll find a more perfect vinyl side on the first three Chicago albums than you'll have on the opening side of VII, and it might come as a surprise, but it's mostly drummer Danny Seraphine's doing (with Parazaider's help), both who are not usual songwriters in the band. Out of nowhere rise wild tropical percussions, soon accompanied by a haunting flute complete with Mellotrons and cello and the "Prelude" leads to the "Aire" track a delightful Latino-influenced and the track is a fine instrumental that allows the group to show their chops, including stinging Kath guitar solo over a Lamm electric piano in the second half. Great stuff accounting for near 10 mins, including the prelude, and showing Chicago could indeed drive into heated prog-fusion. The following10-mins "Devil's Sweet" starts on Coltrane (!) grounds with an eerie sax line, before slowly building an ever-changing instrumental track that carries the listener through a series of ambiances and climaxes that make this track just as impressive as "Aire." Simply the best flip-side of Chicago, it's just too bad the second half of "Sweet" is almost marred by a (short) drum solo before returning to the Coltrane sax line at the start of the track.

The flip-side starts quite well too, with "Italian From NY," - an electronic noise that leads the group in a Soft Machine-type of groove with Kath's guitar pulling another interesting solo. The short "Hanky Panky" transforms the previous groove in a more traditional Chicago-type track. Get this: so far, this album has been all instrumental and while "Hanky Panky" is segueing into the Beatle-esque "Life Saver", the vocals start in the second part of that track. And just when you thought Cetera would screw things up, he pulls a slow jazzy tune "Happy Man"? well the track is easily the lesser from the first disc, but it is one of the man's better writings, with Lamm's electric piano doing much over bongos and congas. Perhaps much preferred this song on the second disc along with Pankow's "Searching So Long," actually much worse tune in terms of cheesiness with  arrangements, but more uplifting.

The second LP is certainly not quite as excellent than its twin and it starts with "Mongonucleosis", a Latino-fuelled instrumental light jazz-rock tune that will please everyone, including demanding prog-heads. While Kath's "Evergreens" proves to be his best song since their third album (good guitar solo, but his second song "Byblos", an acoustic ditty is not of the same caliber, even if it evolves electric, it also overstays its welcome. Cetera's second song "Wish You Were Here"  > nothing to do with Floyd, though) is definitely bottom track of the album, a pleading ballad.

"Call On Me" is a normal Chicago-track that would sit fine on V or even on disc1 of the present, but the final flip-side's best moment is Lamm "Women Don't Want To Love Me," a funky brassy track that rivals popular acts of the era's best moments, especially when Kath's guitar solo happens. The closing "Skinny Boy" is also very funky, this time closer to James Brown or Sly Stone. A fairly strong fourth side.

Definitely the band's best effort in their second chapter (mid-70's) and while some would advise to go one LP further.

- Terry Kath / guitar, bass (7,11,12,15), bells (10), lead (11,12,16) & backing vocals
- Robert Lamm / Mellotron (1), keyboards (2,3,16), ARP synth (4), Minimoog (8), piano (6-9,12,14), Fender Rhodes (4-6,13,15), clavinet (6,14), lead (6,9,15) & backing vocals, brass arrangements (4)
- James Pankow / trombone, percussion & backing vocals (8), vocals & timbales (9), brass arrangements (4,6,8,9,13-15)
- Lee Loughnane / trumpet, flugelhorn (3,5), lead (10) & backing vocals
- Walter Parazaider / soprano (3), alto (9) & tenor saxophones, flute (1,2)
- Peter Cetera / bass, guitar (12), lead (7-9,12-14) & backing vocals
- Daniel Seraphine / drums, percussion (7,12), hi hat & bass drum (11)

Prelude To Aire (2:47)
Aire (6:29)
Devil's Sweet (10:09)
Italian From New York (4:14)
Hanky Panky (1:53)
Life Saver (5:18)
Happy Man (3:32)
(I've Been) Searchin' So Long (4:28)
Mongonucleosis (3:28)
Song Of The Evergreens (5:21)
Byblos (6:20)
Wishing You Were Here (4:38)
 Call On Me (4:03)
Woman Don't Want To Love Me (4:37)
Skinny Boy (5:17)

CONDITION:  "FACTORY SEALED" now here is a PERFECT original 1974 issue (no bar code, rare song titles sticker. Thing is, the cellophane wrapper has come open along the spine... we acquired as 100% never opened ... Contains the scarce song titles sticker on outer wrapper. Perfect archive from 44 years ago, you won't find a better copy. Has No delete marks, no split seams, no bends, and no writing