Chicago XXVI -- The Live Album

Artist: Chicago
Label: Chicago Records
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Live
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 703404302625
EAN: 0703404302625
ASIN: B00001IV8J

Release Date: 1999-10-12

Chicago XXVI -- The Live Album

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Tracks:

The Ballet: Make Me Smile/So Much To Say,....So Much To Give/Anxiety's Moment...
(I've Been) Searchin' So Long
Mongonucleosis
Hard Habit To Break
Call On Me
Feelin' Stonger Everyday
Just You 'N' Me
Beginnings
Hard To Say I'm Sorry/Get Away
25 Or 6 To 4
Back To You
If I Should Lose You
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher

Similar Items:

Chicago Xi
Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
Chicago 19
Chicago VI
Chicago 18

Customer Reviews:

How do they keep making it new?.......2007-04-24

First of all, to all of you critics who only accept a band's original studio recordings, this IS live and this IS Chicago in 1999! You WILL hear different voices.

What you will also hear is great and new harmony. You will hear new life to some of the most classic rock hits of what could have been an era gone by. You will hear a 13:29-minute-long melodic and creative blending of Make Me Smile / So Much To Say / Anxiety's Moment / West Virginia Fantasies / Colour My World / To Be Free / Now More Than Ever. You will hear guitar rifts with more of an edge than the original studio versions. You will hear clear and impressive horns. You will hear some of the most crisp guitar and vocals of any live cd. None of that "over there somewhere" sound as on so many live cds these days.

And hey, what other Chicago live cd/album has Feelin' Stronger Every Day? Just You 'N' Me turns into a cool jazzy piece (with flute) that sounds much like Traffic. And for a special treat, you'll get Michael MacDonald (of Doobie Brothers fame) singing Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher.

Here is the track list and song lengths:
the blend (see above) 13:29
I've Been Searchin' So Long 4:39
Mongonucliosis 3:39
Hard Habit To Break 5:16
Call On Me 4:33
Feelin' Stronger Every Day 4:24
Just You 'N' Me 6:17
Beginnings 6:17
Hard To Say I'm Sorry / Get Away 5:38
25 Or 6 To 4 5:53
Back To You 3:41
If I Should Ever Lose You 4:30
Your Love Keeps Lifting Me 4:10

How many other bands who started in the late 60s, endured with new hits into the 80s? How many bands survived the loss of their most recognizable singer?

I have the often-repackaged 8-song live Chicago cd, and the 4-cd Carnegie Hall set, and the top-drawer Live In Japan (I paid $90 for it, and it is worth it). Chicago XXVI doesn't replace those last two productions, but it is definitely worth having for your listening pleasures!

Chicago has brought their road show my way for several years, most recently with Earth, Wind & Fire. Wow, what a show! 3 1/2 hours of energy, as if these guys were still in their 20s! This summer they tour with America.

My opinion is not that they have too many live cds. They need to release a very new one, with the energy that they rocked us with on '04, '05, and '06. Give us a track list stuffed with just the best stuff, including those mesmerizing long live renditions. My next $90 is ready!

Chi's Best Live Album.......2006-06-26

I love this CD. I don't know about the studio tricks, though. I don't doubt that some in-studio editing happened on this, but when I saw them live at DTE Energy Theatre a few years back, they did not sound much different than this.

Sorry folks - I love and miss Terry, Peter, and Danny (is that the three of them parachuting out of the plane in the cover picture? Maybe it is the three wind players? I know - I'm reaching!) - - - but, this present line-up is the best ever. None of the Original Seven can ever be replaced, but today's Chicago is made up of members that want to be in Chicago, that care about the legacy of Chicago but who also want to keep the sound relevant and current.

In my Night and Day review, I state that the present era of Chicago began then. This is the era where they finally get it together after several personnal shake-ups. It represents the culmination of a search that began with CTA, and never really was completed, which is - What Is Chicago? I really feel like they have it altogether now. Sadly, the industry doesn't seem to care, but no matter . . .

This era of Chicago will last until the industry and fan base does rediscover Chicago, as they did Tony Bennett a decade ago. Chicago will be "cool" again, before the remaining original members all retire (and I have hopes that Chicago as a band and concept will outlast any one member). But I predict another revival for Chicago within ten years.

Buy this CD, listen and enjoy it. I disagree with Robert Lamm: This IS Chicago.

Meanwhile - I look forward to seeing them one week from today, again at DTE!

WORTH IT FOR "BACK TO YOU".......2006-04-01

This may sound crazy, but I think it's worth the price of the Cd just for the new studio cut "Back to You", which to me is one of my favorite Chicago songs. I also love the studio cut "If I Should Lose You."

As a whole, I think the live album's pretty good. It captures the band's current lineup in concert, which is cool. But, nothing compares to a real Chicago concert, live and in person.

I disagree with those who say the band can no longer play well live. To me, Chicago continues to be INCREDIBLE live. Few (if any) are the bands who could even be compared. They are one of the best concert bands, period.

The only negative thing I could say about a Chicago concert nowadays is Keith's lead vocals. I think Keith is a great guitar player, and, yes, a decent singer. But it is wrong to let him sing multiple tracks live. He is no Jason, Bill, Robert, or Peter. He could be given maybe ONE song to sing. But to let him sing multiple songs that are classic hits- this is insane. No disrespect to Keith, but... let Jason, Bill, and Robert handle the leads.

Glad I Bought It Early!.......2006-02-15

I bought this right after I attended the concert at the Taste of Chicago 1999. I agreed with most of the selections made for the album (I might have even dropped one of the studio tracks for another live track). In my opinion, the best tracks are Mongonucleosis (a jam mixed with a little salsa -- it knocked the crowd out), Beginnings (it may never have sounded better), the Ballet, and 25 or 6 to 4 (Keith just knocked the crowd out with a killer guitar, with a horn riff going on behind him near the end of his solo). The studio tracks were OK, though I might have dropped either of the last 2 for another live track (I'm a Man flat out rocked in Chicago -- I would have included that). Since the tour with EWF appears to have helped sweep this one off the racks, I sure am glad I bought this early!

The Culmination of Years On The Road!!!.......2005-08-17

The last 2 years have seen Chicago team up with Earth Wind and Fire for one of the most unforgettable tours in recent memory. The DVD, "Live From The Greek Theatre" is an amazing snapshot of what both these bands represent, and what they can still accomplish live. A few years ago, Chicago released a mostly live CD of perfectly executed songs from a cataloque as deep as any band's.

The album, Chicago 26, live, is now a hard to find CD. It contains some new studio recordings as well. If you enjoy the audio from the new EWF/Chicago DVD, this CD is the best legal way of owning a part of the show. In fact, this disc goes far in that you get an entire suite from Chicago II, "Ballet For A Girl In Buchanon", which was not in the EWF show. This is great for FM radio buffs, and for deep cut Chicago fans. The band plays their live stuff like most bands do studio.

Jason Scheff continues to improve, and does a rousing "Call On Me" with Lee, Jimmy and Walter pushing the horn section with clarity and precision. Scheff is argued back and forth as the wrong replacement for Cetera, who took leave of his own free will. Scheff can also play smooth fluid and even funky bass guitar. Cetera was a strong bass player, but Scheff exemplifies the musicianship that Chicago has pioneered since 1967.

"Hard Habit To Break" is a hard song to pull off minus Cetera. Bill Champlin is such a strong vocalist, he ends up taking Scheff along for the duration of the song which allows the listener to not worry about Cetera's absense. "Mongonucleousis" is a jam included in the EWF concert and originally is found on Chicago VII. The fact that this instrumental is here, shows the band's dedication to their loyal following. Plus, it's a kickin' song.

"Feelin' Stronger" and "I've Been Searchin'" are well executed with Scheff feeling more at home then when he joined in 1986. The horns again are killer with Lee Lougnane pulling some huge notes down. Scheff may be most at home with "Just You N' Me", where his Cetera at age 19 sounding tenor fits this older gem with more dexterity than an aged Peter Cetera might do. Robert Lamm may have picked Jerry Scheff's son (former Elvis bass player) for this very reason-to have Chicago sound like Chicago for years to come.

"Beginnings" is the only Lamm tune to find it's way on this collection and is every bit as impressive as their Carnagie Hall version which nearly fills an album side. This version is far more polished and shows more intelligent improvisation. "Hard To Say I'm Sorry/Get Away" is a great meld between Scheff and Champlin. This track features Champlin's harmony vocal originally, as well as Bill's soulful "Get Away" reprise. The horn jam at the end is totally fat and intense.

"25 or 6 to 4" showcases the youthful guitar playing of Keith Howland who could be Chicago's best guitarist since the late Terry Kath. Howland is fluid, and he does some jazz fusion and classic rock style jamming. He doesn't over embellish or steal the show. Yet his presence is felt throughout.

The last 3 tracks are new studio tunes that are the band's best new material since 1988, (except "Hear In My Heart from 1997). Scheff shines on "Back To You", a stripped down love song that showcases a less produced Chicago-but a more satisfying sound overall. The same kind of production is found on "If I Should Ever Lose You". The odd ball song on this disc, and soon to be a collector's item is the great Jackie Wilson tune, "Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher", featuring former Doobie Michael McDonald on lead vocal backed by a funked up Chicago. A wierd combination that bears fruit and shows how diverse and humble this band is.

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