Chicago At The John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts, Washington D.C. (9/16/1971)

In 1970, when I first heard “25 or 6 to 4” on my transistor radio, I instantly became hooked on the legendary rock band CHICAGO and have faithfully followed them since - including seeing them in concert 25 times. I have enjoyed every iteration of the band and the music they continue to make. But when my copy of CHICAGO’s newly-released “Chicago at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts 1971 Live Concert” arrived, it was like a joyous family reunion of sorts. The original members - Robert Lamm, Terry Kath, Peter Cetera, Jimmy Pankow, Lee Loughnane, Walt Parazaider, and Danny Seraphine - are all together once again performing what was some of the most innovative rock music around. And it remains quite innovative as each member’s musical chops are showcased. This recording, very well-engineered by Lee Loughnane and Tim Jessup, reminds old and new fans just what masters of their musical craft these guys were and are. The live 1971 performance is a welcomed addition to CHICAGO’s massive and impressive library. And for those like me who were hooked on CHICAGO’s early years, you will feel like this album is a special reunion with some dear musical friends who mentored many of us as musicians, including this guy who, at 64, continues to enjoy playing trumpet and cranking the sounds of CHICAGO in my car, office, and home. Well done, CHICAGO! 🎺

For those who weren't happy with the original mix of Carnegie Hall and couldn't afford the remixed sixteen disc box set, here is an outstanding substitute.Recorded near the end of their Chicago III tour, here is a complete set, including some songs from Chicago V.The horns (and the rest of the instruments) are mixed as well as they are on the studio albums, and they sound fantastic.

What a marvelous set. The boys are on fire here. Swingin' Tight and Precise. I don't know how much digital fidgeting had to be done with this recording, but the soud is smooth and gorgeous. This is GREAT

Though most of these songs appear on Chicago at Carnegie Hall, It's nice addition to your collection if you're a true Chicago fan.

Another debatable Chicago release by Rhino. First, it was the bootleg caliber ‘Live In ’75.’ Then came the ‘VI Decades Live’ box set which also has sound quality issues. The ‘Chicago at Carnegie Hall Complete’ 16 CD box was a nice upgrade over prior mixes. But the original and more affordable “highlights” version (known as Chicago IV) was not reissued. Now we have ‘Live 1971.’ Recorded only 5 months after the 8-show Carnegie gig in April, the set list differs from the Carnegie run by only 5 tracks. ‘Poem For The People’ (Chicago II) is added. Four songs yet to be studio recorded for Chicago V are also thrown in: ‘Goodbye,’ ‘A Hit By Varese,’ ‘Saturday In The Park’ (sung by Cetera not Lamm), and an unfinished ‘Dialogue.’ ‘Goodbye’ was previously released on the VI Decades box. The ‘Live 1971’ sound quality is in line with the new Carnegie but there is the redundancy. Is this offered for those unable to afford the OOP ‘Carnegie Complete?’ Was Live 1971 recorded because of band member dissatisfaction with the Carnegie tapes? True, Terry Kath fans welcome anything not previously released. But, yet again, we ask, “hey Rhino, where is ‘Live In Japan?’” That 1972 recording is highly regarded by the original band members and fans. It was pulled from a 3-concert stay in Osaka. Using the ‘Carnegie Complete’ format (one set per CD), ‘Live In Japan Complete’ would make for a 6-disc box set. The Chicago V tracks were, by then, honed, road tested, and well received. Thus, ‘Live 1971’ is puzzling because it mostly mirrors Carnegie and the Chicago V tracks were an unknown work in progress. It gets 4 stars because of Terry Kath and Danny Seraphine. The vinyl version of Live 1971 is 4 LPs as was the original vinyl Carnegie first released in October, 1971.

I have been a Chicago fan since the late 1960's and have seen them so many times in concert that I have lost count. I was really looking forward to this release but am disappointed in the mix. I know Lee also worked on the Carnege Hall remix/remaster as well but in my view the remix on both this and the Carnege Hall set the vocals get lost behind the music. With today's technology it would have been so simple to pull the vocals forward from the music. Hence my two-star review.

This is what Chicago was all about. Terry Kath WAS Chicago!!!. Thank you for releasing this. MORE TERRY KATH PLEASE

When will record companies get a clue, and stop jamming CDs into cardboard sleeves (which only serve to scratch the discs)? Oh well, another new release that I'll have to move to standard jewel boxes myself.Having said that, the show and recording itself is outstanding. The band was still working on the songs for Chicago V. This early performance of Dialogue features Kath and Lamm, rather than Kath and Cetera on vocals. Conversely, Cetera sings lead on Saturday in the Park. These rarities, as well as the performance itself, makes this a must-have for fans of early Chicago.

J’ai toujours aimé ce groupe qui a commencé sous le nom de Chicago Transit Authority en 69 qui mélange rock et cuivres. Des musiciens exceptionnels dont le guitariste Terry Katz , très sous estimé. Il a participé jusqu’au Chicago 7 car le groupe numérotait ses albums. Ensuite j’ai abandonné le groupe après son décès en 78 car la formation a pris une direction plus pop et commerciale - rappelez vous le tube If you leave me now- Ce nouvel opus montre le Chicago inventif des premières années avec les titres marquants de cette époque épique des 70s. Le son est excellent et le prix très correct. Si vous aimez cette période,un conseil : foncez.

Grandi Chicago

Déjà un superbe objet de trois CD, il manque évidemment le booklet, mais ça ne se fait plus. Qualité sonore remastérisée (1971) très bonne, des envolées de Terry Kath absolument énormes. Un disque (enfin 3) absolument nécessaire aux fans (de la première période).

Ceci est le premier disque de Chicago que j'achète depuis ... 1974 ! En effet, ils n'avaient plus rien sorti digne d'intérêt depuis VII. Il s'agit ici d'un enregistrement public (inédit à ma connaissance) datant 1971 lorsque le groupe était au sommet de son Art, mêlant habilement jazz, rock et chansons "cuivrées". Avec un triple CD à moins de 20€ on en a vraiment pour son argent et pratiquement tout le répertoire d'époque du groupe est représenté. Mais tout n'est pas parfait: le son est plutôt étouffé et manque de dynamique, le mixage souvent un peu "confus", et la prestation semble très "retenue", comme si le groupe hésitait à se donner à fond pour des raisons inconnues. Les interventions généralement flamboyantes du guitariste Terry Kath sont ici plutôt discrètes (ou bridées ?). A titre de comparaison le Live de Tanglewood de 1970 "explose" littéralement et aurait été un bien meilleur choix, d'autant plus qu'il existe une video de cette performance et la prise de son est de bien meilleure qualité. Cela reste néanmoins du bon Chicago, mais pas le meilleur.Autre détail (très) irritant: le conditionnement très "cheap" dans une pochette cartonnée à 3 volets dont il est IMPOSSIBLE d'extraire les disques sans déchirer la pochette et marquer les CD's de vilaines empreintes digitales: les disques sont réellement COINCÉS dans la pochette et il faut exercer une force extrême pour les sortir... si vous réussissez à attraper le bord ! Un conseil: une fois extraits ne les replacez plus dans leurs logements. On aurait aussi apprécié un petit livret informatif illustré de quelques photos d'époque, mais rien, nada...Je suppose qu'à ce prix on ne peut pas tout avoir.Malgré tout le rapport qualité/prix reste très favorable et l'achat recommandé, surtout si vous êtes un fan (de la première heure) de ce groupe.