TheMadStratter
Strat-Talker
Cetera had pop hits w/Chicago long before DF came into the picture.
Terry Kath playing "25 or 6 to 4" back in 1970 with Chicago.... OMG!
- Thread starter ButchA
- Start date
El Gobernador
fezz parka
Old Days was the beginning of the Pete Show. Guercio was still producing. VII, X, and XI saw the rise of Pete as the hit maker. The Phil Ramone produced stuff was weak IMO. So was the Tom Dowd record.16 had Foster at the helm.
I'm a big fan...and I know this history...cold.
dspellman
Senior Stratmaster
There's a Russian/Ukrainian band called Leonid and Friends that does Chicago (including CTA) and Kath proud these days. In fact, they've been featured on the Chicago website. The guitar player is a Kath devotee and has him down pat. Honestly, I think they're probably better than the current incarnation of Chicago themselves. If you check out the videos, keep an eye out for the seriously hot female singer that joined the group. The drummer (Igor) is a spectacular machine.
I have some familiarity with Chicago including the fact that our band covered them (I played B3 and piano/Fender Rhodes88) as contemporaries.
I have some familiarity with Chicago including the fact that our band covered them (I played B3 and piano/Fender Rhodes88) as contemporaries.
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Tone Quest
Senior Stratmaster
Killer guitar solo.
dspellman
Senior Stratmaster
I think Leonid, the bass player, organized them to do just ONE song in a studio for him. That blossomed to the point where their covers have four and five million views, and they're still relatively unknown. They've done a couple of visits to the US recently (I'm not sure if they've been able to make their currently planned east coast visit). They're just as good in person. Ksenia showed up in a black catsuit. Now that's a visual. Their lead singer, the little guy that does the Cetera stuff, is involved with defending the Ukraine (I think he's from Kyiv). Hope he makes it out okay.
ButchA
Strat-Talker
I looked up that Russian group called Leonid & Friends. They are actually very serious, very skilled, musicians, hailing from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, etc....
These guys actually can play (AND SING) Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, and other 70's "horn bands" absolutely note for note!!! Better yet.... Not be all crazy acting or profiling or whatever it is, but.... Let me tell you... These Russian "MoFo's" can play! Holy {expletive}!!!
Imagine yourself having to sing "CKAHF KDKLALF DKAHJF FKAKHF WOURKD CKLCXKLA...." and you have absolutely no idea (W)hiskey (T)ango (F)oxtrot you are actually singing, but to the native ears (USA = English language), we can hear it absolutely clear as a bell, just like Robert Lamm or Peter Cetera or Terry Kath originally sang the song in English! That right there takes amazing skill!!
These guys actually can play (AND SING) Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, and other 70's "horn bands" absolutely note for note!!! Better yet.... Not be all crazy acting or profiling or whatever it is, but.... Let me tell you... These Russian "MoFo's" can play! Holy {expletive}!!!
Imagine yourself having to sing "CKAHF KDKLALF DKAHJF FKAKHF WOURKD CKLCXKLA...." and you have absolutely no idea (W)hiskey (T)ango (F)oxtrot you are actually singing, but to the native ears (USA = English language), we can hear it absolutely clear as a bell, just like Robert Lamm or Peter Cetera or Terry Kath originally sang the song in English! That right there takes amazing skill!!
IMMusicRulz
Strat-Talker
Terry Kath was one of the greatest guitarists ever. The guy clearly knew what he was doing once he plugged in his SG and his Tele. Being a Hendrix fan, Terry also made some good use of a Strat through a Dunlop pedal. Even Hendrix was quite surprised and admitted that Terry was way better guitarist than him.
dspellman
Senior Stratmaster
They're also certifiable crazies, as anyone who spends a meal in a diner with them will soon find out.
52 year old rerun for me. I was there when it came out. Never gets old for moi.
Glad you discovered what real talent & musicianship gets you.
Glad you discovered what real talent & musicianship gets you.
I just discovered that Tanglewood video from 1970 of Chicago, including 25 or 6 to 4. Absolutely awesome to see Terry Kath get a chance to wail like that-he was just a fantastic player! But what often gets overlooked is his singing voice – he had such an amazing soulful voice that he was called “the white Ray Charles “! Check out the vocals on “Make Me Smile”, especially on the chorus. Just oozes soul!
Stratafied
Dr. Stratster
And a great voice too.
crankmeister
Most Honored Senior Member
That op song sounds exactly like “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You”
ButchA
Strat-Talker
So true.... 100% proof that firearms and alcohol DO NOT mix, as you all know the story from January 1978, out in California.
"Terry Kath and the guys were hanging out, at one of the Roadie's apartments. Terry Kath was a gentle "firearms enthusiast" as it was documented. They were partying, getting drunk, dabbling in a little this 'n that... And tragically, Terry Kath started waving his 9mm handgun around, and the guys all told him to put it away. Terry Kath (drunk out of his mind) pressed the magazine release, ejecting the loaded mag. But he failed to remember he still had a live round in the chamber. His famous last words were: "What's the matter? You think I'm gonna blow my brains out?" and proceeded to hold his 9mm up to his temple and squeezed the trigger. BOOM.... The world lost an amazing guitar player, and, Chicago as a band, was never the same."
I lost a friend the same way. It’s not loaded see?
