Chicago - "Now" Chicago XXXVI (2014)

Formát: CD, Album, Digipak, 36. album kapely
Žánr: Rock, Pop Rock

Chicago je velice úspěšná americká skupina, původně vycházející z chicagského elektrifikovaného blues. V prvním období označována jako jazzrockový soubor, blízký Blood, Sweat & Tears, postupně se ale stále více blíží komerčnímu popu. V 70. letech už převažují vokály a smyčcové aranže.

Skupina vznikla v roce 1966 v Chicagu na základech souboru The Missing Links (později The Exceptions, The Majestic a The Big Thing), nejprve pod názvem Chicago Transit Authority (2 roky).

Na popud jejich pozdějšího dlouholetého manažera Jamese Williama Guercia se v roce 1967 stěhují do L.A. Debutové dvojalbum bylo velice úspěšné a velkého komerčního ohlasu dosáhly všechna alba Chicaga až do konce 70. let, a to především v USA. Sólové album Roberta Lamma (1974) neuspělo. Oliveira hrál v kapele v letech 1973 - 82.

Největším světovým hitem skupiny byla balada If You Leave Me Now (1976, 1. v americké i anglické hitparádě). V roce 1977 odchází manažer Guercio a v lednu 1978 umírá Terry Kath, jehož nahrazuje Donnie Dacus (pouze na 2 roky). V roce 1981 natáčí 1. sólové album Peter Cetera (skupinu opouští v roce 1985). V té době začíná s Chicagem, jako doprovodný zpěvák a klávesista, působit Bill Champlin. S kapelou spolupracovalo i několik kytaristů, např. Chris Pinnick.

Comeback se skupině daří v roce 1982 albem “16”. Dostavil se i americký hit č. 1 - Hard For Me To Say I´m Sorry. Post Petera Cetery obsazuje v roce 1985 Scheff. V roce 1988 mají další hit č. 1 v USA - Look Away. V roce 1990 odchází Danny Seraphine, kterého vystřídal Keane. Od alba Night & Day s kapelou bubnuje Tris Imboden.

Acoustic Guitar – Jason Scheff (tracks: 6)
Alto Saxophone – Larry Klimas (tracks: 3, 4, 11), Ray Herrmann (tracks: 2), Walt Parazaider (tracks: 7, 8, 10)
Arranged By – Hank Linderman (tracks: 2, 7, 8, 10, 11), Jason Scheff (tracks: 1, 6), John Van Eps (tracks: 11), Keith Howland (tracks: 5), Keith Howland (tracks: 9), Phil Galdston (tracks: 2), Robert Lamm (tracks: 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11)
Arranged By [Horns] – Harry Kim (tracks: 1), James Pankow (tracks: 5), Jeff Babko (2) (tracks: 9), Lee Loughnane (tracks: 3), Robert Lamm (tracks: 2, 4, 7, 8, 11), Trent Gardner (tracks: 3, 4, 5, 10)
Backing Vocals – Hank Linderman (tracks: 10), Jason Scheff (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9), Keith Howland (tracks: 1), Lee Loughnane (tracks: 1, 3, 7), Lou Pardini (tracks: 1, 5, 9), Robert Lamm (tracks: 1, 3)
Baritone Saxophone – Schiela Gonzalez (tracks: 1)
Bass – Jason Scheff (tracks: 2, 3, 5, 7-11), Verdine White (tracks: 1)
Drums – Dorian Crozier (tracks: 1), Tris Imboden (tracks: 2-11)
Electric Bass – Jason Scheff (tracks: 4, 6)
Electric Guitar – Tim Pierce (tracks: 6)
Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Keith Howland (tracks: 9)
Engineer – Keith Howland (tracks: 5, 9)
Fiddle – John McFee (tracks: 10)
Flugelhorn – Dan Fornero (tracks: 1), Harry Kim (tracks: 1), Lee Loughnane (tracks: 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10)
Guitar – David Williams (16) (tracks: 1), Hank Linderman (tracks: 2), Keith Howland (tracks: 2-5, 7-11), Michael O'Neil (tracks: 1)
Keyboards – Jason Scheff (tracks: 4), Lou Pardini (tracks: 3, 9), Philippe Saisse (tracks: 1), Robert Lamm (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10)
Lead Guitar – Keith Howland (tracks: 1)
Lead Vocals – Jason Scheff (tracks: 1, 4, 6), Lee Loughnane (tracks: 7), Lou Pardini (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 8, 11), Robert Lamm (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11)
Lyrics By – Gerry Beckley (tracks: 7), Greg Barnhill (tracks: 1, 6), James Pankow (tracks: 6), Jason Scheff (tracks: 1, 6, 9), Keith Howland (tracks: 5, 9), Lee Loughnane (tracks: 3), Phil Galdston (tracks: 2), Robert Lamm (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11), Tris Imboden (tracks: 5, 9)
Music By – Gerry Beckley (tracks: 7), Greg Barnhill (tracks: 1, 6), James Pankow (tracks: 6), Jason Scheff (tracks: 1, 4, 6, 9), John Van Eps (tracks: 11), Keith Howland (tracks: 5, 9), Lee Loughnane (tracks: 3), Lou Pardini (tracks: 8), Phil Galdston (tracks: 2), Robert Lamm (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11), Tris Imboden (tracks: 5, 9)
Organ – Lou Pardini (tracks: 9)
Percussion – Luis Conte (tracks: 1, 6), Walfredo Reyes Jr. (tracks: 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 11)
Piano – Jason Scheff (tracks: 6)
Producer – Chicago (2), Hank Linderman (tracks: 2, 7, 8, 10, 11), Jason Scheff (tracks: 1, 6), John Van Eps (tracks: 11), Keith Howland (tracks: 5, 9), Lee Loughnane (tracks: 3), Phil Galdston (tracks: 2), Robert Lamm (tracks: 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11)
Programmed By – John Van Eps (tracks: 11), Robert Lamm (tracks: 10)
Soprano Saxophone – Ray Herrmann (tracks: 2)
Synth – John Van Eps (tracks: 11), Robert Lamm (tracks: 3), Steve Lu* (tracks: 6), Trent Gardner (tracks: 5)
Synth [Bass] – Jason Scheff (tracks: 4)
Synth [Guitar] – Robert Lamm (tracks: 8)
Tenor Saxophone – George Shelby (tracks: 1), Ray Herrmann (tracks: 5, 9), Schiela Gonzalez (tracks: 1)
Transcription By [Horns] – Lee Loughnane (tracks: 5), Nick Lane (tracks: 2, 4, 7, 8, 11)
Trombone – Arturo Velasco (tracks: 1), James Pankow (tracks: 2, 5-11), Nick Lane (tracks: 3, 4), Trent Gardner (tracks: 5)
Trumpet – Dan Fornero (tracks: 1), Harry Kim (tracks: 1), Lee Loughnane (tracks: 2, 5, 9, 10, 11)
Vocals – Keith Howland (tracks: 5, 9)