Hot Streets
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| Hot Streets | |||||
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| Studio album by Chicago | |||||
| Released | October 2, 1978 | ||||
| Recorded | May - June 1978 | ||||
| Genre | Rock | ||||
| Length | 41:53 | ||||
| Label | Columbia Records | ||||
| Producer | Phil Ramone and Chicago | ||||
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| Chicago chronology | |||||
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Hot Streets is the twelfth album by American rock band Chicago and released in 1978. In many ways, Hot Streets marked the beginning of a new era for the band.
After working with James William Guercio since their 1969 debut, Chicago decided to part ways with him following the release of Chicago XI in 1977, finding him too controlling. But undeniably the biggest change was the death of guitarist Terry Kath in January 1978, who unintentionally shot himself at a roadie's house party. Chicago was devastated by his death, and considered calling it a day. Kath was one of the key players who most defined the rhythmic sound of the band, and could not easily be replaced. After the immediate shock waned, they decided they still had something to offer, and carried on.
Phil Ramone, who had mixed some of their earlier albums, was called upon to co-produce their new effort. But before Chicago could begin recording, they had to tend with the difficult process of finding a new guitarist. Donnie Dacus, who had previously worked with Roger McGuinn and Stephen Stills, was chosen, being an accomplished guitarist who would bring his own distinctive style to the group.
Recording that spring took place - after years of work at Guercio's Caribou Ranch in Colorado - in Miami and Los Angeles and by the sessions' end, Chicago felt as though they were a still a strong musical proposition after losing Kath. The Miami sessions featured a guest appearance by the Bee Gees, as the Gibb brothers were recording their album Spirits Having Flown next door at the time with their backup band, which included keyboardist Blue Weaver. They added vocals to the song "Little Miss Lovin'" and Weaver added synthesized strings to "No Tell Lover" and "Show Me The Way", while the Chicago horn section played on Spirits Having Flown, most notably on the hit single "Too Much Heaven".
To mark this new beginning, the band decided to break with tradition by giving their album a proper title, Hot Streets, and feature themselves prominently on the cover art rather than the famous logo. A later marketing study confirmed the fact, however, that the public expected to see the logo on the cover, and it would would return in the form of a high-rise building for the following "Chicago 13."
Released in October 1978, and preceded by the defiant "Alive Again" as lead single, Hot Streets - distinguished by its lean sound - was another hit for the group, who had been concerned that the public might not accept them without Kath. Although it went platinum, and they scored a second big hit in "No Tell Lover", Hot Streets failed to reach the US Top 10, peaking at #12, and signaling that with the advent of punk music and disco, Chicago's current heyday had perhaps passed. However, in the music world, many things are cyclical, and the 1980's would eventually see a commercial rebirth for the group.
In 2003, Hot Streets was remastered and reissued by Rhino Records with an alternate version of Lamm's "Love Was New" sung by Dacus as a bonus track.
Contents |
[edit] Track listing
[edit] Side one
- "Alive Again" (James Pankow) – 4:08
- "The Greatest Love on Earth" (Danny Seraphine/David Wolinski) – 3:18
- "Little Miss Lovin'" (Peter Cetera) – 4:36
- Featuring The Bee Gees on backing vocals
- "Hot Streets" (Robert Lamm) – 5:20
- "Take a Chance" (Lee Loughnane/Stash Wagner) – 4:42
[edit] Side two
- "Gone Long Gone" (Peter Cetera) – 4:00
- "Ain't It Time" (Donnie Dacus/Danny Seraphine/Warner Schwebke) – 4:12
- "Love Was New" (Robert Lamm) – 3:30
- "No Tell Lover" (Peter Cetera/Lee Loughnane/Danny Seraphine) – 4:13
- "Show Me the Way" (Danny Seraphine/David Wolinski) – 3:36
Hot Streets (Columbia 35512) reached #12 in the US during a chart stay of 29 weeks. It did not chart in the UK.
[edit] Personnel
- Peter Cetera - bass, vocals
- Donnie Dacus - guitar, vocals
- Laudir DeOliveira - percussion
- Robert Lamm - keyboards, vocals
- Lee Loughnane - trumpet, vocals
- James Pankow - trombone
- Walter Parazaider - woodwinds
- Danny Seraphine - drums
Additional personnel
- Blue Weaver - synthesizer strings on "No Tell Lover"
- David "Hawk" Wolinski - Fender Rhodes on "Show Me The Way"
- The Bee Gees - background vocals on "Little Miss Lovin'"
[edit] Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Pop Albums | 12 |
Singles - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
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| 1978 | Alive Again | Pop Singles | 14 |
| 1979 | No Tell Lover | Pop Singles | 14 |
| 1979 | Gone Long Gone | Pop Singles | 73 |
| 1979 | No Tell Lover | Adult Contemporary | 5 |
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