Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority

Label: Columbia
Genre: Rock with Horns
Year: 1969
Recommended by: Jeff Sherry

Chicago claims to be "Rock with Horns". I believe that may be true on their later albums, but this is really Jazz and Blues with a slant towards rock. You can't be rock with horns and have every song be just under ten minutes.

Many of the songs just take too long to get where they are going with out redeeming itself by the end of the song. That is no reason not to like the album as a whole, but it makes it difficult to listen to it from beginning to end. You need to listen intently to get full enjoyment. I feel that way with every song, with one exception. "I'm a Man" is great. They it's not a Chicago original, but it works perfectly.

I'm surprised Chicago hasn't been sampled by more hip hop songs, although they have been plenty of times. Here is a fun new site to waste your time! It let's you know what samples are in every song.

Also, Chicago Transit Authority is a better name and the CTA should have just gotten over it.