Chicago 16
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| Chicago 16 | |||||
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| Studio album by Chicago | |||||
| Released | June 7, 1982 | ||||
| Recorded | January - April 1982 | ||||
| Genre | Rock, Adult Contemporary | ||||
| Length | 41:51 | ||||
| Label | Full Moon/Warner Bros. | ||||
| Producer | David Foster | ||||
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| Chicago chronology | |||||
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Chicago 16 is the sixteenth album by American rock band Chicago and was released in 1982. The album marks the beginning of a new era for Chicago. It is the first album in a decade-long association with new label Warner Bros. Records; the band's first project to be produced by David Foster; and their first bona fide hit album since 1978's Hot Streets, making Chicago possibly the first band to experience a significant and lengthy "second wind" in commercial fortunes, even eclipsing their considerable 1970s successes.
The band had realized in 1981 that their commercial appeal and image were at an all-time low. So they brought on Bill Champlin as keyboard player and singer, a man who successfully replaced Terry Kath vocally in the band's sound. But it was through drummer Danny Seraphine that producer David Foster would make contact with the band.
Once they agreed to Foster producing their new album (The band had considered him for 1980's Chicago XIV), Foster radically redefined Chicago's sound for the 1980s, with all of the latest technologies and techniques and introducing the significant use of outside songwriters and studio players. (Four members of Toto lent their expertise to the sessions.) Given the use of the new recording technology on this album, it's fitting that the album cover features the famous band logo grafted onto a silicon computer chip.
Of all the band's members, Peter Cetera benefitted most from the stylistic changes, having much in common musically with Foster. Their adult contemporary leanings permeated much of Chicago 16, swaying the band further from their ensemble jazz and rock roots and successfully introducing Chicago to a new and younger audience. The Foster/Cetera partnership helped steer Chicago through uncharted waters. The band was moving to a new label after an entire career at Columbia, and was doing so with a new member (Champlin,) and without the late Terry Kath. Robert Lamm was also unavailable for the majority of the album's production due to personal issues, and the once-prolific writer only shared a sole partial writing credit on the release. Percussionist Laudir DeOlivera had also left the band between Chicago XIV and 16.
Upon its June 1982 release, Chicago 16 proved a big hit album, especially as "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" became the band's second #1 US single, and the album ultimately went platinum, reaching #9, rescuing Chicago's career in the process. The single would also be included in its lengthier form "Hard to Say I'm Sorry/Get Away" (featuring the hard rocking 'Get Away' tag) on the "Summer Lovers" movie soundtrack. "Love Me Tomorrow" would prove to be another hit single from the album, with the song featuring a lengthy orchestration at the end.
The Rhino remaster does not include the full length versions of "What You're Missing" and "Love Me Tomorrow," instead replacing them with their single edits. However, it does include a Bill Champlin demo called "Daddy's Favorite Fool", as a bonus track.
[edit] Track listing
- "What You're Missing"* (Jay Gruska/Joseph Williams) – 4:10
- "Waiting for You to Decide" (David Foster/Steve Lukather/ David Paich) – 4:06
- "Bad Advice" (Peter Cetera/David Foster/James Pankow) – 2:58
- "Chains" (Ian Thomas) – 3:22
- "Hard to Say I'm Sorry/Get Away" (Peter Cetera/David Foster/Robert Lamm) – 5:06
- "Follow Me" (David Foster/James Pankow) – 4:53
- "Sonny Think Twice" (Bill Champlin/Danny Seraphine) – 4:01
- "What Can I Say" (David Foster/James Pankow) – 3:49
- "Rescue You" (Peter Cetera/David Foster) – 3:57
- "Love Me Tomorrow"* (Peter Cetera/David Foster) – 5:06
- "Daddy's Favorite Fool"** (Bill Champlin) - 3:52
"*" indicates a single edit replacing the full version on the Rhino re-release
"**" indicates a bonus track on the Rhino re-release
Chicago 16 (Full Moon/Warner Bros. 23689) reached #9 in the US during a chart stay of 38 weeks. It also peaked at #44 in the UK.
[edit] Personnel
- Peter Cetera - electric bass, acoustic guitar, vocals, background vocals
- Bill Champlin - pianos, keyboards, guitars
- Robert Lamm - pianos, keyboards, percussion, background vocals
- Lee Loughnane - trumpet, flugelhorn, cornet, percussion, background vocals
- James Pankow - trombone, percussion, background vocals
- Walter Parazaider - saxophones, flute, clarinet
- Danny Seraphine - drums, percussion
Additional personnel
- David Foster - keyboards
- Chris Pinnick - guitar
- Steve Lukather - guitar
- Michael Landau - guitar
- David Paich - synthesizer
- Steve Porcaro - synthesizer programming
- Dave Richardson - lyric assistance on "What Can I Say"
[edit] Charts
Album - Billboard (United States)
| Year | Chart | Position |
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| 1982 | Pop Albums | 9 |
Singles - Billboard (United States)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
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| 1982 | Hard to Say I'm Sorry | Pop Singles | 1 |
| 1982 | Hard to Say I'm Sorry/Get Away | Adult Contemporary | 1 |
| 1982 | Love Me Tomorrow | Pop Singles | 22 |
| 1982 | Love Me Tomorrow | Adult Contemporary | 8 |
| 1983 | What You're Missing | Pop Singles | 81 |
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