When I mention the name of the band, Chicago, you’re likely to become awash with warm remembrances of their hits throughout the ‘late ’60s, the ’70s, and into the ’80s. Yes, they were quite a band. Blending Jazz and Rock with incredible and thoughtful lyrics, Chicago became a band that everyone knew and loved.
Their first album, The Chicago Transit Authority, delivered three hits that included “Beginnings”, “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?”, and “Questions 67 & 68”. It wasn’t long after those that the radio airwaves were blasted with “Dialogue”, “25 Or 6 To 4”, “Colour My World”, “Just You N Me”, “Saturday In The Park”, “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day”, “Make Me Smile”, “Wishing You Were Here”, and many others. And it really didn;t matter much your preferences as chances were good you loved Chicago. Even if you didn’t like everything they did, you liked something.
On June 16, Rhino Records will assemble a 9-disc Box that will feature all of their Quad (4-channel mixes of he ’70s) re-releases of heir original albums. What makes this better is that all of the existing Quad remixes will be newly remastered using 196 kHz/24-bit Dolby Master HD technology to provide the highest quality audio in both Stereo and 4-channel Quad. The 4-channel Quad will be able to be played back over current 5.1 Surround setups.
The Box is called Chicago Quadio Box, with the title a clever play on the Quad style remixes from the ’70s. The first eight studio albums are in this box as well as the band’s ‘best of’ package, Chicago IX: Chicago’s Greatest Hits. For more value, the box will contain any posters and other items that the original albums came with (Chicago VIII had an iron-on patch!). The box itself will be a rigid two-piece case.
As for me, I’m pretty excited, especially for Chicago V, my all-time favorite Chicago album that never tires me.