Chicago XI
The last Chicago album to feature guitarist Terry Kath, this alternately personal and political 1977 release includes the hits “Baby, What A Big Surprise” and “Take Me Back To Chicago.”
Original Tracks
Mississippi Delta City Blues (4:41)
(Terry Kath)
Baby, What A Big Surprise (3:06)
(Peter Cetera)
'Till The End Of Time (4:48)
(James Pankow)
Policeman (4:02)
(Robert Lamm)
Take Me Back To Chicago (5:16)
(Danny Seraphine / David Wolinski)
Vote For Me (3:47)
(Robert Lamm)
Takin' It On Uptown (4:47)
(Fred Kagan / Terry Kath)
This Time (4:46)
(Lee Loughnane)
The Inner Struggles Of A Man (2:43)
(Dominic Fontiere)
Prelude (Little One) (0:52)
(Danny Seraphine / David Wolinski)
Little One (5:44)
(Danny Seraphine / David Wolinski)
Bonus Tracks on Rhino Re-issue:
Wish I Could Fly (Rehearsal) (3:46)
(James Pankow)
Paris (Rehearsal) (3:54)
(Robert Lamm)
Chart Information:
Chicago XI - September 1977 LP Chart Position #6
Baby, What A Big Surprise / Takin' It On Uptown [edit]
- Columbia Single #3-10620 (September 1977)
- Hot 100 Chart Position #4
- Easy Listening Chart Position #8
Take Me Back To Chicago [edit] / Policeman
- Columbia Single #3-10737 (May 1978)
- Hot 100 Chart Position #63
- Easy Listening Chart Position #39
Little One [edit] / Till The End If Time
- Columbia Single #3-10683 (January 1978)
- Hot 100 Chart Position #44
- Easy Listening Chart Position #40
Band Members:
Robert Lamm: keyboards, percussion, vocals
Terry Kath: guitars, percussion, vocals
James Pankow: trombone, keyboards, percussion, vocals
Peter Cetera: bass, vocals
Lee Loughnane: trumpet, vocals
Walter Parazaider: woodwinds
Danny Seraphine: drums, percussion
Laudir DeOliveira: percussion
Additional Musicians:
David "Hawk" Wolinski: arp synthesizer on Take Me Back To Chicago; Fender Rhodes on Little One
James William Guercio: acoustic guitars & bass on Baby, What A Big Surprise
Tim Cetera & Carl Wilson: additional background vocals on Baby, What A Big Surprise
Chaka Khan: background vocals & incredible preach at end of Take Me Back To Chicago
Dominic Frontiere: orchestral conception & orchestration on Baby, What A Big Surprise (with PC & JWG); orchestration for The Inner Struggles Of A Man; string & orchestral arrangements for Little One
The Voices Of Inspiration (of Compton, CA), directed by Alexander Hamilton: choir on Vote For Me
Original Production Notes:
Most of the brass arrangements on this album were written by James Pankow with important compositional contributions by all of the guys.
"Mississippi Delta City Blues" Terry Kath--Lead vocal; Brass arrangements by James Pankow
"Till The End Of Time" James Pankow--Lead vocal, and Steinway (Sorry Bobby)
"Baby, What A Big Surprise" Acoustic Guitars & Bass--J.W.G; Electric guitars--Terry Kath; Thank you Tim Cetera and Carl Wilson for helping out with background vocals; Orchestral conception & Orchestration--Peter Cetera, Dominic Frontiere, J.W.G
"Policeman" Robert Lamm--Lead vocal; Brass arrangements by James Pankow and Robert Lamm
"Take Me Back To Chicago" Robert Lamm--Lead vocal; Background vocals and incredible preach at end--Chaka Khan; David "Hawk" Wolinski--Arps; Brass arrangements by James Pankow with a little help from Danny. Special thanks to Hawk for his great contributions to this song. "This piece of music was written in memory of a friend who never had the good fortune that I've had, God Bless Him..." Danny.
"Vote For Me" Robert Lamm--Lead vocal; Walter Parazaider--Baritone sax; Brass arrangements by James Pankow; Special thanks to The Voices of Inspiration of Compton, California directed by Alexander Hamilton.
"Takin' It On Uptown" Terry Kath--Lead vocal; Special Note: This song appears through the courtesy of Cook County Music. Keep your eyes open.
"This Time" Lee Loughnane--Lead vocal; Brass arrangements by James Pankow with contributions from Lee Loughnane.
"The Inner Struggles Of A Man" Orchestration--Dominic Frontiere
"Prelude (Little One)" Terry Kath--Lead vocal; Flugel solo--Lee Loughnane; Conception by Danny Seraphine
"Little One" Terry Kath--Lead vocal; Robert Lamm--Steinway; David "Hawk" Wolinski--Fender Rhodes; Brass arrangements by James Pankow; String and Orchestral arrangement by Dominic Frontiere. Dedicated to Danielle and Christine... My little ones.
Produced by James William Guercio
Recorded & Mixed at Caribou Ranch, Nederland, CO
Engineered by Wayne Tarnowski
- Assisted by Tom Likes
Strings Recorded by Armin Steiner at Sound Labs, Hollywood, CA
Design: John Berg
Inside Photo: Reid Miles
Special Thanks to Tim Cetera & Carl Wilson for helping out on Baby What A Big Surprise; Hawk for his great contributions to Take Me Back To Chicago; Alexander Hamilton & The Voices of Inspiration.
Special Notes:
"Take Me Back To Chicago was written in memory of a friend who never had the good fortune that I've had, God Bless Him" -- Danny
Takin' It On Uptown appears through the courtesy of Cook County Music -- Keep your eyes open
Little One is dedicated to Danielle & Christine
Strings recorded by Armin Steiner at Sound Labs, Hollywood, CA
Rhino Production Notes:
A&R/Project Supervision: Lee Loughnane, David McLees & Gary Peterson
Bonus Selections Mixed by: David Donnelly & Jeff Magid at DNA Studios, Studio City, CA
Remastering: David Donnelly at DNA Studios, Studio City, CA
Product Manager: Mike Engstrom
Editorial Supervision: Cory Frye
Art Direction & Design: Maria Villar
Additional Photos: David Hill / LFI
Project Assistance: Bob O'Neill, Tim Scanlin, Steve Woolard & Steven Chean
Special Thanks: Emily Simon, Bob Emmer, Lynda Lou Bouch, Laurie Gorman, Malinda Ramirez, David Millman, Nina Avramides, Debbie Aronofsky, Lisa Thomas & Steve Brumbach
Original Issue Columbia #JC-34860, September 1977
Rhino Records Re-issue Date: February 25, 2003
THE FOLLOWING MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT SECURED.
Lyrics:
1) Mississippi Delta City Blues - T. Kath
I've got a smile
That I put on
When I'm not at home
When I'm not alone.
But it is so hard
To make that smile
'Cause I know I'll be at home
And alone in a while
And if I look in a mirror
I see my eyes start to tear
I can't help but cry
Since you said goodbye
I've got to hide
What I'm feelin' inside
Can't let them see
How you're hurtin' me.
So I guess that's what I'll do
Won't let them see through
Won't let them know
That you could hurt me so.
I've got a laugh
That I put on
When I'm not at home
When I'm not alone.
But it is so hard
To fake that laugh
When my insides are cryin'
And my heart's torn in half
And all the music I hear
And things I valued so dear
Make me feel so blue
They all remind me of you.
(Now) What can I do
(Now) That our love is through
And my purpose is gone
Still I got to live on.
I guess that's what I'll do
I won't let them see through
I won't let them know
That you could hurt me so.
2) Baby, What a big surprise - P. Cetera
Right before my very eyes
I thought that you were only fakin' it
And like before my heart was takin' it.
Baby what a big surprise
Right before my very eyes.
Yesterday it seemed to me
My life was nothing more than wasted time
But here today you've softly changed my mind.
Baby what a big surprise
Right before my very eyes.
Just to be alone
Was a little more than I could take
Then you came to stay
Hold me in the morning
Love me in the afternoon
Help me find my way.
Now and then just like before
I think about the love I've thrown away
But now it doesn't matter anyway.
Baby, what a big surprise.
3) Till The End Of Time - J. Pankow
Why...do you love me like you do
Baby you deserve much more
Why...after all I've put you through
Would you stick around for more.
Heaven's at my feet now that I've found you
Life seems so complete when I'm around you
No-one else could touch me quite so deeply
No-one's love could satisfy me so sweetly
Love me till the end of time.
Why...even though you know I'm crazy
Do you still believe in me
Why...does a smile come so easy
Baby, since you set me free.
Free from all the weary wasted hours
Free from all those meaningless encounters
Free to live out lives the way we want to
Free to realize just what we've been through
Love me till the end of time.
Heaven's at my feet now that I've found you
Life seems so complete when I'm around you
No-one else could touch me quite so deeply
No-one's love could satisfy me so sweetly
Love me till the end of time.
Love me...only you can love me like you...
4) Policeman - R. Lamm
Everyday he wakes up
As his bare feet hit the floor
Grabs a cup of coffee
Straps his Magnum on once more
Feeds the cat he lives with
Since his wife walked out the door
In nine years he'll retire with a pension.
Everyday he suffers
'Cause he sees all kinds of pain
Sometimes feels helpless
In a world that's gone insane
Then he wins a battle
It restores his faith again
It's only human kindness he is after.
He is a Policeman, you know
All the years and nothing to show
He is a Policeman, you know.
Every night he comes home
With a six-pack all alone
Feeds the cat he lives with
He picks up the telephone
Needs to talk with someone
But the only love he's known
Was lost forever, he is a Policeman.
He is a Policeman, you know
All the years and nothing to show
He is a Policeman, you know
All the years and nothing to show
5) Take Me Back To Chicago - D. Seraphine - D. Wolinski
Take me back to Chicago
Lay my soul to rest
Where my life was free and easy
Remember me at my best.
Take me back to Chicago
Where music was all I had
I tried to be good as I could
And sometimes that made me sad.
Take me back to Chicago, to Chicago
Why don't you take me back
Take me back, take me back
To Chicago.
I still dream of the Lake of peacefulness
The warm summer breeze
'Cause my life was so much simpler then
Street corners and Tastee Freeze.
Take me back to Chicago
'Cause hustlin's not my style
L.A. was just a bit too hard
I wish I could be a child
Livin' back in Chicago, in Chicago
Why don't you take me back
Take me back, take me back
To Chicago.
Take me back to Chicago
Lay my soul to rest
Where my life was free and easy
Remember me at my best.
Take me back to Chicago
'Cause hustlin's not my style
L.A. was just a bit too hard
I wish I could be a child.
Livin' back in Chicago, in Chicago
Why don't you take me back
Take me back, take me back
To Chicago.
Take me back, take me back....
6) Vote For Me - R. Lamm
Vote for me, vote for me
I want the nomination for the Presidency
Vote for me, vote for me
If I am elected, this is how it will be.
I'll cut your tax in half
I'll make the Russians laugh
I'll feed the hungry people everywhere.
I'll bring the railroads back
New trains and new track
From Waikiki to old Delaware.
Vote for me, vote for me
I want the nomination for the Presidency
Vote for me, vote for me
If I am elected, this is how it will be.
I'll give Detroit one year
New cars that run on beer
Or anything except gasoline.
I'm looking to the sun
More power for everyone
And the cleanest sky that you've ever seen.
I'm not going to kid you, there's a lot to do
Little can I promise, it's really up to you
But if we all work together
And I think we can
And if you want some new ideas
Then I'm your man.
Vote for me, vote for me
I want the nomination for the Presidency
Vote for me, vote for me
If I am elected, this is how it will be.
I'll work for global peace
And the sweet release
Of the love and human kindness in us all.
I would give all I've got
You just give me a shot
Somehow, I know that I can win the fall.
7) Takin' It On Uptown - F. Kagan - T. Kath
Walkin' through the fog on a cold and cloudy night
Lookin' through the smog that surrounds the mornin' light
The shades of brown. It gets me down, exactly like my life
I don't deserve the hand I'm dealt: a flush in spades of strife.
I've grown tired of speeches that are nothing but a bore
So I'm rounding up the broken me and headin' on out the door
Without no lag I'm packin' my bag of discontented frowns
And hopping number eighty-six, the first train that is freedom bound.
Got my bag of many frowns and I'm takin' it on uptown.
Big city lights
Funkier nights
Happier days
Goin' my way
It should be right
But I'm still uptight
Hey, I better put down
And get movin' on
I'm through with aggravation
Don't deserve the degradation
I'm putting all the negatives down
To hop the train that's freedom bound for uptown.
Got my bag of many frowns and I'm takin' it on uptown.
8) This Time - L. Loughnane
This time I've found a love to treasure
One that's impossible to measure
The future looks bright, the moment feels so right
Just being near you brings me pleasure.
This time the both of us can see
How we can love and still feel free
You came into sight, I saw a whole new light
I found out what happiness can be.
'Cause Baby
I'd given up
Ever finding
Someone
To share my life
Forever.
This time we'll make it
Baby, we see
Nothing can take it from you and me
This time I feel it, like never before
Each day I love you more.
This time our search for love has ended
All of our goals in life have blended
And baby tonight, I'll love your body, make you feel right
We'll see all our troubles can all be mended.
This time we'll make it
Baby, we see
Nothing can take it from you and me
This time I feel it, like never before
Each day I love you more and more.
9) The Inner Struggles Of A Man - D. Fontiere
*Instrumental*
10) Prelude (Little One) - D. Seraphine - D. Wolinski
Lying here as the morning light shines in
Can't believe the reflections from within
To look at your face takes me to a place
That reminds me of the lovely lady I once loved.
11) Little One - D. Seraphine - D. Wolinski
Little one it's so nice to have you near me
To feel once again the love you bring here
Ooh my little one, I am sorry for the pain you've felt
Say the word and daddy will make it disappear.
Oh my little one
Bring your love here
Little one
I need you near
Little one
Don't live in fear of the future
'Cause I will always be there.
Oh my little one
Music is my life, I hope you understand
Traveling on the road with me you can see the way we live
Oh my little one
I will always cherish these days with you
As time goes by I hope you see the love I tried to give.
Oh my little one
Let your love flow
My little one
Like a flower you'll grow
Someday you'll have your own little one
And you will always be there.
Little one, it's so nice to have you near me
To feel once again the love you bring here
Ooh my little one, I am sorry for the pain you've felt
Say the word and daddy will make it disappear.
Oh my little one
Bring your love here
Little one
I need you near me
Little one
Don't live in fear of the future
'Cause I will always be there.
Oh my little one
Let your love flow
My little one
Like a flower you'll grow
Someday you'll have your own little one
And you will always be there.
My little one...
