Chicago 13

Even though Terry Kath was gone from this world, the boys still knew how to get their groove on! Donnie Dacus, guitarist on "Hot Streets" and this album, proved that. Plus, this has the late great Maynard Ferguson on it! And if that's not cool enough, it has TWO versions of "Street Player on it; both including Ferguson's amazing trumpet talents and Chicago's 70's boogie woogie groove. But don't think that's the only good song on here, Each song has it's own uniqueness creativity to it; that's what makes it such a good album for any classic Chicago fan!

In an era when even the Rolling Stones went disco, it perhaps comes as no surprise that Chicago--in the search for fresh material--turned to Bee Gee territory themselves. The recently re-mastered Rhino re-release of CHICAGO 13 has given me a chance to re-evaluate one of Chicago's most unpopular collections, and I've found that it's the disco album that isn't.I think "13" is a better set than the previous year's HOT STREETS, but I also think that--as an attempt to update their classic jazz-rock sound--it suffers from the too-many-cooks syndrome. As with HOT STREETS, much of the blame has traditionally fallen on guitarist/vocalist Donnie Dacus. The single, "Must Have Been Crazy," is a Dacus tune, featuring his strained vocals and rhymes, and it's as bad a song as any Chicago's been associated with. Perhaps not coincidentally, CHICAGO 13 marks his departure from the group. But Dacus wasn't really as bad as many (including me) have said, and "13" doesn't sink or swim on his strengths and weaknesses."Street Player" is the opener. As the only overtly disco tune, it *is* famously lame, and even some monster horn lines and a guest appearance by famed trumpet master Maynard Ferguson can't save it. Still, one song with a disco-influence does not a disco album make, and "13" should not be unfairly categorized on the basis of "Street Player" alone.Sadly lame, too, however, are Pete Cetera's "Mama Take," Bobby Lamm's "Paradise Alley," and Jimmy Pankow's "Runaway" (my vote for Jimmy's worst song--not something I write with joy, either).There are some bright spots. Cetera groans convincingly on the bluesy "Aloha Mama." Lee Loughnane and Walt Parazaider contribute "Window Dreaming," the best tune on the CD by far (it even showcases a great Dacus guitar solo). "Loser With a Broken Heart" proves that not ALL Cetera ballads are bad. And percussionist Laudir de Oliveira makes his writing debut with the latin-influenced "Life Is What It Is," a nice surprise (though it features a surprisingly sub-par Pankow trombone solo--again, not written with any glee).The Rhino remaster features two bonus tracks: the single edit of "Street Player," and a Dacus tune called "Closer to You" which blows "Must've Been Crazy" away (why wasn't THIS ONE picked instead?). The liner notes are briefer here than on previous Rhino re-releases; perhaps the band really had little to say.All things considered, CHICAGO 13 undoubtedly documents a struggling group. While its reputation as a disco set is very much unwarrented, fans of the very early Chicago sound will likely be disappointed even today.

I bought this album when it first came out in 1979. At the time, it did not receive great reviews and was not regarded as one of Chicago's better works. However, as I listen to it again, it's not that bad. It's not "classic" Chicago, but still not a bad album. One of the added tracks "Closer to You" should have been on the original album. That's one where you scratch your head and say "why didn't they put that on the album". The sound of that song takes me back to the late 70s, which was a great time in my life. I may be biased. I am a big fan of Chicago. To me, "old Chicago", "new Chicago", it's all good.

Chicago you can't go wrong

love tge album been looking dir for this a long time

Good Album

I liked it all...Chicago my best band ever.

This album is really cool , you get to listen to alot of music from Chicago's begining , the influence of the disco era and the very signature use of trumpets AHHHHHHHHH and also the I dont know how may times mashed up , mixed , destroyed , recreated , reinvented SREET PLAYER.Remixed by The Bucketheads in the 90's ( THE BOMB )Reinvented by Nicola Fasano in 2008 (75 ' Brazil street)Destroyed by Pit Bull in 2009 ( I know you want me or ome stupid title like that)

deliverd very quickley in good condition very pleased thanks

Perfect condition.

Street player is great, but the bonus 12 inch version (also great) is taken from vinyl. Rest of the album is OK

Like many critics, not by far the best Chicago effort. But you can find few nice numbers. The soul and the guitaristics talent of Terry Kath, are missing. Not to put down Donnie Dacus talent. But Something big is missing, and for me the Soul of the band was Terry Kath. Street Player ( which is also the title of the autobiography of Danny Seraphine....Many years later). Is the only song for me that shows a bit of a hit single, with the little help of Jazz Icon Maynard Ferguson. I bought it back in CD just to complete my collection of the band. But it wont play much in my house....I just wanted to have Street player ( the song) even if it got that disco favor to it........

Witzig - dieses Chicago Album wurde von Kritik und Fans in der Luft zerrissen, weil es zu mainstreamig war (und das nach Hits wie ,If You Leave Me Now'!). Ich finde es beeindruckend, vor allem wegen der Stilvielfalt die die Band hier bietet. Sicher von Jazz und Fusion gibt es hier nur mehr Elementarteilchen zu finden, aber es zeigt wunderbar, dass diese Band eigentlich alles konnte, nur wollten Sie sich auf diesem Album halt nicht festlegen.Gespielt ist das alles sowieso ganz hervorragend und die Kompositionen sind durchwegs sehr sehr gut. Welches Hit Potential ihre Version des Rufus Originals ,Street Player' hatte, wurde 1995 nochmals durch den House Hit ,The Bomb' von den Bucketheads bewiesen, der größtenteils aus samples dieser Aufnahme bestand.Natürlich ist dieses Lied Disco, aber verdammt gut gemachter, mit tollen Bläsersätzen, einem jammenden Mittelteil und einem herrlichen Gitarrensolo. Auch ,Window Dreamin' und ,Reruns' gehen nochmals in diese Richtung, wenn auch ein wenig poppiger. Ebenso ,Run Away', das aber auch mit einem schönen Rock-Riff punkten kann.Auf dem Bläserfreien ,Must Have Been Crazy' zeigen Sie dann, dass Sie auch den country-rock der Eagles im Joe Walsh style perfekt drauf hatten. Das Robert Lamm Original ,Paradise Alley' ist wiederum herrlichster New Orleans Funk im Stile von Allen Toussaint. ,Aloha Mama' klingt wie ein 70er Jahre update des Cab Calloway sounds und ,Life Is What It Is' hat karibisches Flair. Achja und ,Mama Take' integriert auch noch ein wenig Folk.Ganz positiv hier: die Cetera Schnulzen fehlen. Selbst dass leicht schmachtende ,Loser With A Broken Heart' geht sich noch aus und wird nicht im Schmalz ersoffen wie später dann ,Hard To Say I'm Sorry' bspw.Ein herrlich abwechslungsreiches Pop Album auf höchstem Niveau wurde ,Chicago XIII' und wahrscheinlich das letzte wirklich durchgängig gute Album der Band. Für Jazz und Fusion Fans ist das freilich zu leichte Kost, aber wie wandelbar diese Band war - und trotzdem immer wie Sie selbst klang - wird hier sehr beeindruckend unter Beweis gestellt.