'' is the eleventh
Album by
American Rock band
Chicago and was released in 1977. As the successor to ''
Chicago X '', the album marked the end of an era for Chicago in more ways than one.
''Chicago XI'' is notable for feeling like a collection of solo songs rather than the ensemble whole Chicago had been earlier in the 1970s.
Peter Cetera aimed to replicate the success of the
Grammy -winning "
If You Leave Me Now " with "Baby, What A Big Surprise", which proved to be the album's biggest hit, going to #4. This was his only contribution to the album as well as the only song with him on lead vocals, a fact that would soon change.
Terry Kath revived his old live favorite "Mississippi Delta City Blues" for the album, while turning in a touching vocal on
Danny Seraphine 's "Little One". Seraphine also co-wrote "Take Me Back to Chicago", which charted at #63. (Kath's "Takin' It On Uptown" -- which, besides some uncredited backup singers, possibly features only Kath himself -- may have been intended as a solo album "preview" along the lines of Lamm's "Skinny Boy" on ''
Chicago VII ''.)
James Pankow sang lead on his own "Till The End Of Time", as did
Lee Loughnane on his original, "This Time". The once-prolific
Robert Lamm only managed two songs, the sympathetic "Policeman" and "Vote For Me".
While recording ''Chicago XI'', longtime producer
James William Guercio 's smothering artistic control had reached its breaking point, with the band deciding to take their career into their own hands and strike out on their own after finishing the album with him. However, as big a change in their career as Guercio's dismissal would be for Chicago, it would be minor in comparison to the tragedy that awaited them.
On
23 January 1978 , a few short months after ''Chicago XI'''s release, Terry Kath, regarded by many as the soul of Chicago, accidentally and fatally shot himself during a party at a roadie Don Johnson's house. A gun enthusiast, Kath attempted to qualm the guests' surprise when - while reportedly inebriated - he pulled out his gun to clean it by demonstrating that it was unloaded and promptly pointed the gun to his head and pulled the trigger, not realizing a bullet was in the chamber. The remaining members of Chicago were shocked and devastated by Kath's unintentional suicide, and even considered breaking up. After a few weeks of mourning, they decided to move on, thus beginning a new era in the band's history. They would recruit singer/guitarist Donnie Dacus for the follow-up, "Hot Streets."
Upon its September 1977 release, ''Chicago XI'' reached #6 in the US and went platinum.
In 2002, ''Chicago XI'' was remastered and reissued by
Rhino Records with rehearsal recordings of Pankow's "Wish I Could Fly" (backing track) and Lamm's "Paris" as bonus tracks.
#"Mississippi Delta City Blues" (
Terry Kath ) – 4:39
#"
Baby, What A Big Surprise " (
Peter Cetera ) – 3:04
#"Policeman" (
Robert Lamm ) – 4:02
#"Take Me Back to Chicago" (
Danny Seraphine /
David Wolinski ) – 5:17
- ''Featuring Chaka Khan on backing vocals''
#"Vote for Me" (Robert Lamm) – 3:47
#"Takin' It on Uptown" (Fred Kagan/Terry Kath) – 4:45
#"This Time" (
Lee Loughnane ) – 4:44
#"The Inner Struggles of a Man" (Dominic Frontiere) – 2:44
#"Prelude (Little One)" (Danny Seraphine/David Wolinski) – 0:52
#"Little One" (Danny Seraphine/David Wolinski) – 5:40
- ''Tracks 9-11 form the "Little One" suite. Track 9 is an orchestral piece that does not feature Chicago.''
''Chicago XI'' (Columbia 34860) reached in the US during a chart stay of 20 weeks. It did not chart in the UK.
-
Billboard (North America)
-
Billboard (North America)
- Peter Cetera - Bass , Vocals
- Laudir DeOliveira - Percussion
- Terry Kath - Guitars , percussion, vocals
- Robert Lamm - Keyboards , percussion, vocals
- Lee Loughnane - Trumpet , piccolo trumpet, vocals
- James Pankow - Trombone , keyboards, percussion, vocals
- Walter Parazaider - Woodwinds
- Danny Seraphine - Drums , percussion
- David "Hawk" Wolinski - ARP Synthesizer on "Take Me Back To Chicago"; Fender Rhodes on "Little One'
- James William Guercio - Acoustic Guitar s and bass on "Baby, What A Big Surprise"
- Tim Cetera - additional background vocals on "Baby, What A Big Surprise"
- Carl Wilson - additional background vocals on "Baby, What A Big Surprise"
- Chaka Khan - background vocals and incredible preach at end of "Take Me Back To Chicago"
- Dominic Frontiere - orchestral conception & orchestration on "Baby, What A Big Surprise"; orchestration for "The Inner Struggles Of A Man"; string and orchestral arrangements for "Little One"
- The Voices of Inspiration - choir on "Vote For Me"
