Description: Welcome to Classic Cadillac Records! I visually grade all my records as accurately as possible and will never grade anything above Near Mint unless it's still sealed. Please note that a visual grade can differ from a play grade, and am happy to spot check a record upon request. All orders are shipped within 1 business day (usually sooner) and packed with extra care to ensure fast, safe arrival. Please look closely at all pictures, read all relevant details and ask any questions you may have before buying. I offer a full 30-day return policy on everything I sell, so buy with confidence! 20% restocking fee charged on items returned for reasons other than it not working properly. Thanks for looking!Chicago VIIStudio album by ChicagoReleasedMarch 11, 1974RecordedAugust – December 1973StudioCaribou Ranch, Nederland, ColoradoGenreJazz fusion, jazz, soft rock, progressive rock, symphonic rockLength72:15LabelColumbiaProducerJames William GuercioChicago chronologyChicago VI (1973)Chicago VII (1974)Chicago VIII (1975)Singles from Chicago VII"(I've Been) Searchin' So Long" Released: February 1974"Call on Me" Released: June 1974"Wishing You Were Here" Released: October 1974Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllmusicRolling Stone(not rated)Chicago VII is the sixth studio album (seventh overall) by American rock band Chicago and was released in 1974. It is notable for being their first double album of new material since 1971's Chicago III and remains their final studio release in that format. It features session percussionist Laudir de Oliveira, who would become a full-fledged band member for the release of Chicago VIII the following year.BackgroundWhile touring in support of Chicago VI in 1973, the band began getting restless and started integrating some lengthy jazz instrumentals into their sets. While audiences' reactions varied, Chicago greatly enjoyed the experience, decided (after years of talking about it) to record a pure jazz-influenced set of tracks, and headed straight to producer James William Guercio's Caribou Ranch studios to cut their ambitious new album. Vocals aren't present on the release until track 6, twenty five minutes, twenty eight seconds into the album.While the sessions began well, there was soon dissension within the group about the jazz project, with, reportedly, Peter Cetera and Guercio both wary of the commercial risk of such an undertaking. While the band reasoned that some of the jazzy material was too good to throw away, the others finally relented and accepted including the more pop and rock-oriented songs that the band had composed in the meantime. Almost by accident, Chicago had another double album on their hands.Of the more conventional material, Chicago once again turned in a varied set of songs, with Terry Kath's "Byblos", named after a club that Chicago had played in Osaka, Japan, ranking among his best efforts. Robert Lamm, who was recording a solo album entitled Skinny Boy at the time, turned in several new songs, even donating his solo album's title track, featuring The Pointer Sisters on backing vocals. James Pankow came through with another success, "(I've Been) Searchin' So Long" (#9), and trumpeter Lee Loughnane succeeded on his first try at songwriting with the hit "Call on Me" (#6). Peter Cetera made the biggest strides on Chicago VII, composing "Happy Man" and "Wishing You Were Here" (#11), a lush ballad (signs of the future, taking the band even farther from their original style and sound) that features three of The Beach Boys on backing vocals and which became a big hit in late 1974. "Happy Man" was subsequently covered by Tony Orlando and Dawn on their album To Be With You. Peter Cetera also covered "Happy Man" in 1995 on his solo album One Clear Voice and again in 2005 on his solo album Faithfully which is a re-release of One Clear Voice.Chicago VII is notable for having writing contributions from all (and only) the members of the band, and for having most of the members stretching out in new ways: Loughnane sang lead ("Song of the Evergreens") and wrote a song, Pankow sang backup, Kath played bass, Cetera played guitar, and Walter Parazaider and Danny Seraphine composed.Released in March 1974, Chicago VII - despite its first disc being almost exclusively jazz instrumentals - reached #1 in the US, becoming another big success for the band.The album was mixed and released in both stereo and quadraphonic.Track listingSide OneNo.TitleWriter(s)VocalsLength1."Prelude to Aire"Danny SeraphineInstrumental2:472."Aire"Seraphine, Walter Parazaider, James PankowInstrumental6:273."Devil's Sweet"Seraphine, ParazaiderInstrumental10:07Side TwoNo.TitleWriter(s)VocalsLength4."Italian from New York"Robert LammInstrumental4:145."Hanky Panky"LammInstrumental1:536."Life Saver"LammLamm5:187."Happy Man"Peter CeteraCetera3:34[6]Side ThreeNo.TitleWriter(s)VocalsLength8."(I've Been) Searchin' So Long"PankowCetera4:299."Mongonucleosis"PankowCetera, Lamm, Pankow (briefly at the beginning)3:2610."Song of the Evergreens"Terry KathLee Loughnane5:2011."Byblos"KathKath6:18Side FourNo.TitleWriter(s)VocalsLength12."Wishing You Were Here"CeteraKath, Cetera4:3713."Call on Me"LoughnaneCetera4:0214."Women Don't Want to Love Me"LammCetera4:3515."Skinny Boy"LammLamm5:12
Price: 19.99 USD
Location: Kirkland, Washington
End Time: 2024-11-12T18:16:01.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Return shipping will be paid by: Seller
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Artist: Chicago
Speed: 33 RPM
Record Label: Columbia
Release Title: Chicago VII
Material: Vinyl
Edition: First Pressing
Type: Double LP
Format: Record
Record Grading: Very Good (VG)
Sleeve Grading: Very Good Plus (VG+)
Release Year: 1974
Record Size: 12"
Genre: Rock
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States