Chicago VIII

Chicago VIII is the seventh studio album, and eighth album overall, by American rock band Chicago, released in 1975. Following the experimental jazz/pop stylings of Chicago VII, the band returned to a more streamlined sound on this follow-up.

Chicago VIII
Studio album by
Chicago
ReleasedMarch 24, 1975
RecordedAugust – September 1974
StudioCaribou Ranch, Nederland, CO
GenreRock
Length39:18
LabelColumbia
ProducerJames William Guercio
Chicago chronology
Chicago VII
(1974)		 Chicago VIII
(1975)		 Chicago IX: Chicago's Greatest Hits
(1975)
Singles from Chicago VIII
  1. "Harry Truman"
    Released: February 1975
  2. "Old Days"
    Released: April 1975
  3. "Brand New Love Affair"
    Released: July 1975
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

Background

After five consecutive years of constant activity, the members of Chicago were feeling drained as they came to record Chicago VIII at producer James William Guercio's Caribou Ranch in Colorado in the summer of 1974. While the variety in styles explored on Chicago VIII were reminiscent of Chicago VI, this particular album had a more distinct rock feel, as exemplified on Peter Cetera's "Anyway You Want" (later covered by Canadian singer Charity Brown) and "Hideaway", as well as Terry Kath's Hendrix tribute "Oh, Thank You Great Spirit" and James Pankow's hit "Old Days" (#5). The ballad "Brand New Love Affair, Part I & II" charted at #61.

Preceded by Lamm's nostalgic "Harry Truman" (#13) as lead single, Chicago VIII was held over for release until March 1975 as Chicago VII was still riding high in the charts. While it easily reached #1 in the US, the album had a lukewarm critical reception — still commonly considered, by some, as one of their weakest albums from the original lineup, resulting in the briefest chart stay of any Chicago album thus far. It was also the first album to feature session percussionist Laudir de Oliveira as a full-fledged band member rather than merely a sideman, the first addition to the original lineup.

Inside the original LP package was an iron-on t-shirt decal of the album cover and a poster of the band in a station wagon being pulled over by a policeman.

This album was mixed and released in both stereo and quadraphonic. In 2002, Chicago VIII was remastered and reissued by Rhino Records with two unreleased songs: "Sixth Sense" (an instrumental, or possibly a backing track) by Kath and "Bright Eyes" by Lamm, as well as a version of "Satin Doll" recorded for a Dick Clark's "Rockin' New Year's Eve" special - all as bonus tracks.

Track listing
Side One
No.TitleWriter(s)Vocalist(s)Length
1."Anyway You Want"Peter CeteraCetera3:37
2."Brand New Love Affair, Part I & II"James PankowKath & Cetera4:28
3."Never Been in Love Before"Robert LammCetera4:10
4."Hideaway"CeteraCetera4:44
5."Till We Meet Again"Terry KathKath2:03
Side Two
No.TitleWriter(s)Vocalist(s)Length
6."Harry Truman"LammLamm3:01
7."Oh, Thank You Great Spirit"KathKath7:19
8."Long Time No See"LammLamm2:46
9."Ain't It Blue?"LammKath & Cetera3:26
10."Old Days"PankowCetera3:31
Rhino Box Set Bonus Tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Vocalist(s)Length
11."Sixth Sense (Rehearsal)"KathInstrumental5:07
12."Bright Eyes (Rehearsal)"LammLamm3:41
13."Satin Doll (Live)"Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Johnny MercerInstrumental2:48

Personnel

Additional personnel

  • Caribou Kitchenettes – vocal chorus on "Harry Truman" (John Carsello, Donna Conroy, Laudir de Oliveira, Bob Eberhardt, Steve Fagin, Kristy Ferguson, Linda Greene, Lee Loughnane, Brandy Maitland, Katherine Ogden, James Pankow, Walter Parazaider, Joanne Rocconi, Richard Torres and Angele Warner)
  • String orchestrations on "Brand New Love Affair", "Oh, Thank You Great Spirit", "Long Time No See" and "Old Days" – Patrick Williams

Production

  • James William Guercio – producer
  • Wayne Tarnowski – engineer
  • Jeff Guercio – engineer
  • Mark Guercio – engineer
  • Phil Ramone – mixing
  • John Berg – cover design
  • Nick Fasciano – cover design
  • Anthony Maggiore – artwork and handwriting
  • Reid Miles – poster photography

Charts
Chart (1975) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[2] 27
United States (Billboard 200)[3] 1

References
  1. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r3850/review
  2. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 62. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  3. "Billboard 200: Chicago III". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
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