This song is important to me. It sort of marked my passage into the land of self-taught music land and opened up a deeper appreciation of music that continued to blossom throughout high school. I had this on Chicago’s Greatest Hits Album Vol 1, stolen from my parents. That album got me through some harder times in high school, and it has a lot of sentimental value to me now.
In 7th grade band I had picked up the quad toms as my instrument for pep band and marching band. We had also acquired a new band director–Mr. K. K was an impeccable teacher and role model. When I picked up the toms and he handed me the music, it was, at least to my eyes, BLACK BLACK BLACK. It looked impossible and was riddled with 16th notes, which I had never experienced before. After screwing up a few songs, he singled me out in front of the entire band and asked me what was wrong. I mumbled some nonsense and rehearsal continued, much to my embarassment.
I spent my entire night learning all the different ways to play 16th notes and it was 25 or 6 to 4 that I framed my learning on. It had the toughest quad solo of all the pep band songs (with the exception, perhaps, of Crazy Little Thing Called Love). To be honest sauce, in retrospect the solo isn’t that difficult. But that experience would frame all of my future practice sessions, locked up in my room and locked up in my determination and passion. And people think music education is worthless!
So, enjoy! Chicago is an awesome band with a full sound and unique and clear lyrics.
