'' is the first live
Album by
American band
Chicago and was initially released in
1971 as a four
LP vinyl
Box Set on
Columbia Records .
While touring in support of ''
Chicago III '', Chicago booked themselves into the
Carnegie Hall for a week in April 1971 and recorded all of their shows. Deciding that most of the songs performed there (virtually, the first three
Double Album s, together with the new "A Song For Richard And His Friends") were worthy of release, producer
James William Guercio compiled a mammoth four LP collection for release as Chicago's fourth album (that distinction being responsible for the album's nickname of ''Chicago IV'').
Columbia were very skeptical on the risk the extended set posed, and with a decrease in royalties to counter that fear (a similar situation befell their
1969 debut ''
The Chicago Transit Authority ''), Chicago released ''Chicago at Carnegie Hall'' that October to a mixed reaction. While the set sold very well, reaching #3 in the US (but failing to chart at all in the UK), the critics found the album too long - and even indulgent with its moments of tune-ups - while also noting that the acoustics of Carnegie Hall were never that impressive. The band themselves have remained divided over the years to the merits of the album.
Despite the poor sound quality, ''Chicago at Carnegie Hall'' went on to become the best-selling box set by a rock act, a record which stood until the release of the ''
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Live/1975-85 '' 5 LP live box set in 1986. It is still the best-selling 4 LP set.
In
2005 , ''Chicago at Carnegie Hall'' was remastered and re-issued on three
CD s by
Rhino Records with much improved sound quality, a bonus disc of eight tracks of alternate takes and songs not on the 1971 edition, plus recreations of nearly all the original posters and packaging.
#"In The Country" (
Terry Kath ) - 10:35
#"Fancy Colours" (
Robert Lamm ) - 5:15
#"Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? (Free Form Intro)" (Robert Lamm) - 6:21
#"Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" (Robert Lamm) - 3:26
#"South California Purples" (Robert Lamm) - 15:35
#"Questions 67 And 68" (Robert Lamm) - 5:36
#"Sing A Mean Tune Kid" (Robert Lamm) - 12:54
#"Beginnings" (Robert Lamm) - 6:27
#"1st Movement" (Robert Lamm) - 2:55
#"2nd Movement (Flute Solo)" (Robert Lamm/
Walter Parazaider ) - 5:00
#"3rd Movement (Guitar Solo)" (Terry Kath/Robert Lamm) - 2:43
#"4th Movement (Preach)" (Robert Lamm/Terry Kath) - 3:09
#"5th Movement" (Robert Lamm) - 2:08
- ''Tracks 9 - 13 form the "It Better End Soon" suite''
#"Introduction" (Terry Kath) - 7:10
#"Mother" (Robert Lamm) - 8:21
#"Lowdown" (
Peter Cetera /
Danny Seraphine ) - 3:58
#"Flight 602" (Robert Lamm) - 3:31
#"Motorboat To Mars" (Danny Seraphine) - 3:00
#"Free" (Robert Lamm) - 5:15
- ''Tracks 17 - 18 form an abbreviated "Travel Suite"''
#"Where Do We Go From Here" (Peter Cetera) - 4:08
#"I Don't Want Your Money" (Terry Kath/Robert Lamm) - 5:23
#"Happy Cause I'm Going Home" (Robert Lamm) - 7:56
#"Make Me Smile" (
James Pankow ) - 3:31
#"So Much To Say, So Much To Give" (James Pankow) - 1:00
#"Anxiety's Moment" (James Pankow) - 1:09
#"West Virginia Fantasies" (James Pankow) - 1:31
#"Colour My World" (James Pankow) - 3:26
#"To Be Free" (James Pankow) - 1:22
#"Now More Than Ever" (James Pankow) - 3:26
- ''Tracks 23 - 29 form the "Ballet For A Girl In Buchannon" suite''
#"A Song For Richard And His Friends" (Robert Lamm) - 6:58
#"25 Or 6 To 4" (Robert Lamm) - 6:35
#"I'm A Man" (
Jimmy Miller /
Steve Winwood ) - 8:51
#"Listen" (Robert Lamm) - 4:16
#"Introduction" (Terry Kath) - 6:37
#"South California Purples" (Robert Lamm) - 12:41
#"Loneliness Is Just A Word" (Robert Lamm) - 2:44
#"Free Form Intro (Naseltones)" (Robert Lamm) - 5:58
#"Sing A Mean Tune Kid (Robert Lamm) - 10:51
#"An Hour In The Shower: A Hard Risin' Morning Without Breakfast/Off To Work/Fallin' Out/Dreamin' Home/Morning Blues Again" (Terry Kath) - 6:00
#"25 Or 6 To 4" (Robert Lamm) - 6:21
#"I'm A Man"
''Chicago at Carnegie Hall'' (Columbia 30865) reached in the US during a chart stay of 46 weeks. It did not chart in the UK.
