Search - Chicago :: Live 25 Or 6 to 4

Early, raw Chicago

kireviewer | Sunnyvale, Ca United States | 03/27/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This concert recording has been floating around for a long time under many different names. On some of the CDs, the titles of the songs are not correct and the song order is wrong. Here, they are all correct.



This is from a concert before Chicago II was released. It does feature many songs that would wind up on Chicago II (this is probably why the titles were not correct on some versions of the album).



The group is still relatively new, and has that raw sound a new, eager band.



The sound quality is only fair. It is like a good bootleg. The mix is also poor and the balance leans heavily to the right side. But, it isn't so bad that you can't listen to it repeatedly. In some respects, it is better than many live recordings released today, especially anything by Dave Matthews, or the original CD releases of Yes concerts. On the plus side, there isn't much audience noise.



This album is heavily guitar oriented with Terry Kath getting in guitar solos on almost every song and a couple of long ones, including one about 8 minuts long on Liberation. Although the horns and the rest of the band are here, no one else takes a solo shot, like they will on Chicago IV.



I didn't like this CD when I popped in my stereo at home and played it in the background. But, playing it in my car and driving around, I appreciated it more. Still, all of these songs are available on Chicago IV. But, if you want to hear them played a little differently, with a little more raw energy and with poorer fidelity, you can get them here."

Not Terrible

Harold Fairbanks II | Houma, LA | 04/09/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Not terrible, recorded well, great bass sound, nice and distorted and LOUD. Band sounds drunk or at least trippin' on something. Good vocals, strong Cetera vocals...but man does he hit some bass clunkers. Overall a good, powerful live album. This band is capable of MUCH more, but this cd gets extra points JUST because its a 70's live album not RUINED by digital reverb, digital clipping, digital keyboards, direct-box recorded bass guitar, or the dreaded "VH1 concert emptiness".



Plus, it was only 50 cents BRAND NEW!"