Classic Rock / Blues

[Tusk]

Another rock band that changed it's style through the decades but ended up 'softening' up by the '80s (Along with Chicago and Styx)

Started off as Jefferson Airplane


Became Jefferson Starship


Then became less rock... more commercial

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You can't say Rock and Roll and Classic together without mentioning the Boston Bad Boys themselves....

Anyone for 'Walkin' the Dog'?


Or maybe You'd prefer some "Sweet Emotion"?


Or maybe you can't wait to get "Back in the Saddle" again?


One HELL of a Beatles' cover


Not enough? You want more? Then you can just "Dream On"


Some cool cats those Aerosmith boys

[midnightblues]

and they have bin togeather 40 years, kinda

[My Alter Ego]

LOL Now I'm curious...which ABBA album?

Odds are it was either "Arrival" or "ABBA, the Album"...My bet is it's Arrival

I have remnants of my large record collection too... I don't know what happened to most of them, probably 'borrowed' by friends over the years...

Are Chicago considered classic rock? I used to love listening to them... I believe my first slow dance with a girl in AZ was to "Colour My World"

Tusk, Chicago considered itself "rock and roll with a horn section" and, certainly in the Terry Kath days, they were more of a rock group: listen to "Listen" or "Question 67 and 68" or "25 or 6 to 4" (this group seemed to have a thing about adding numbers to their song titles -- I never did understand the connection) . To me, "Color My World" was an oasis in a sea of noise: that lovely flute solo in it -- so unexpected for the times and so sweet! The guitar riff in the beginning of "Beginnings" is pretty darn sweet as well, in addition to the rest of the song, as it kept adding a new musical line until the melody/singing began. For those of us who wanted horns, groups like Chicago, B,S, & T, and Chase (very briefly) were absolute godsends!

[Tusk]

Tusk, Chicago considered itself "rock and roll with a horn section" and, certainly in the Terry Kath days, they were more of a rock group: listen to "Listen" or "Question 67 and 68" or "25 or 6 to 4" (this group seemed to have a thing about adding numbers to their song titles -- I never did understand the connection) . To me, "Color My World" was an oasis in a sea of noise: that lovely flute solo in it -- so unexpected for the times and so sweet! The guitar riff in the beginning of "Beginnings" is pretty darn sweet as well, in addition to the rest of the song, as it kept adding a new musical line until the melody/singing began. For those of us who wanted horns, groups like Chicago, B,S, & T, and Chase (very briefly) were absolute godsends!

Yah Chicago was always on the Rock Stations, growing up. It was Cetera that turned the musical course for that group. They were most popular during his 'reign' but that was at the cost of their rock cred.

Relistening to Terry Kath's renditions of "Colour My World" and "Wishing You Were Here", I am struck at how soulful and full of depth his vocals are, incredibly under rated for his vocals... Such a shame he died in such a senseless way...

Cetera was also an exceptional vocalist, his voice was a prettier, lighter tone which was a good contrast to Kath's soulful one. But I think, ultimately, Cetera found his niche in the soft rock/ballad genre so I don't begrudge what happened to Chicago because of him....different groups evolve differently.... Cetera had a huge career even after he left Chicago, after all

The Instrumentation in bands like Chicago and Earth Wind and Fire really added an extra dimension to their songs. That's one of the reasons the Electric Light Orchestra was one of my favorites (3rd favorite after the Beatles and ABBA)

....not many rock groups featured a string section (the band Kansas comes to mind)...the added instrumentation provided a unique and instantly recognisable quality to the group. ELO had many songs that borrowed from the classical music genre.... One in particular, was not hugely popular at the time, had an 'operatic' ending, but has withstood the test of time, and is often used in movies in commercials...."Mr Blue Sky"



"Rockaria" is a song about someone trying to get their Opera/Classical Music loving girlfriend out on the town. With references to Wagner, Beethoven, Puccini and Verde, all the while rocking on a Chuck Berry, "roll over Beethoven" type jam....I really loved this song


Speaking of "Roll Over Beethoven", ELO covered that too


Speaking of Kansas...I spent many many hours listening to their album "Point of Know Return" and the title song



Point of Know Return also featured Kansas' most well known song..."Dust in the Wind"

[midnightblues]

The name Kansas came from all their band members being from Topeka Kansas you notice how the song carry-on starts off with some good rock riffs and then breaks off into jazz that goes back to rock pretty cool how they do it that is musicianship.

[My Alter Ego]

Yah Chicago was always on the Rock Stations, growing up. It was Cetera that turned the musical course for that group. They were most popular during his 'reign' but that was at the cost of their rock cred.

Relistening to Terry Kath's renditions of "Colour My World" and "Wishing You Were Here", I am struck at how soulful and full of depth his vocals are, incredibly under rated for his vocals... Such a shame he died in such a senseless way...

Cetera was also an exceptional vocalist, his voice was a prettier, lighter tone which was a good contrast to Kath's soulful one. But I think, ultimately, Cetera found his niche in the soft rock/ballad genre so I don't begrudge what happened to Chicago because of him....different groups evolve differently.... Cetera had a huge career even after he left Chicago, after all

Cetera didn't just cost Chicago it's "rock" cred. While the group acquired a financial success during the reign of his "signature ballad songs" (such "good wedding" tunes -- I'm recalling a conversation I overheard between the hairstylists while I was getting my hair done a gazillion years ago).

Cetera cost Chicago it's musical cred -- period!! Which is truly too bad, because there was some really good musical "stuff" happening with this splendid group of musicians. The first album alone (Chicago Transit Authority) was extraordinarily good and the second one had a lot of the "right" stuff as well!

And, you're right, Cetera had an "easy listening" quality about his voice (no, that's not what you said, but, in reality, that's what it was about), and while I don't begrudge him his success, the overall cost to Chicago as a group, to me, borders on the unconscionable.

And Terry Kath's death is still too hard for me to address. I know -- it's been years and sounds stupid. I don't grieve about it on a daily basis, but it's just never been something, given the musical aftermath, that I have been able to resolve. There's a part that still aches -- the "what might have been" question. The original formation of this group was so good and signaled so much promise. (That must sound weird to the rest of you. Sorry.)

[midnightblues]

I never did care for Chicago they weren't a mediocre band they were very talented excellent musicianship but it just wasn't my style of music. I think when Pete cetera left the group and went solo he put out some very good tunes excellent music not classic rock more or less on the
soft rock side. He also put out a duet with Amy Grant called The next time I fall.

[My Alter Ego]

The Instrumentation in bands like Chicago and Earth Wind and Fire really added an extra dimension to their songs. That's one of the reasons the Electric Light Orchestra was one of my favorites (3rd favorite after the Beatles and ABBA)

I'm glad that you think that "added instrumentation" added an extra dimension. I hadn't thought of Earth, Wind and Fire as rock (I guess that's not what you've said), but since you've brought them up, Tower of Power was a tower of funk, blues, and r & b (the way I see E,W & F). And well, if we're walkin' down this road, you just can't get better than "You're Still A Young Man." I tried to find a vid from the original group and this was the earliest I could find. No visuals and the (sound) balance is not good, but that trumpet line in the beginning still makes me melt (after, lo so very many years):

[midnightblues]

Don't ya love Classic Rock

[Babbs234]

This is classic and it's rock! Did anyone go to a concert like this in their younger, um I mean formative, years?