Search - Chicago :: Hot Streets

Kick back and listen

MORTEN AASTAD | Oslo Norway | 09/11/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Musical historians condemn this album as something worse than the plague. I think part of the reason for that, beyond their dislike of the music on this album, comes from all the upheavals Chicago went through during the recording of this album. The tragic accidental suicide of their singer guitarist, the dropping of the roman numerals for a straightforward album title, showing the band members on the cover, breaking away from their long time producer and so on.



I personally think this is a pretty groovy album. I like the time period (I'm a fan of the 1970's in popular culture), I enjoy the mood of the album, which is slick, but also quite sombre. It's an adult album, like Chicago albums usually are. It might not be as inovative as earlier stuff, but it's a solid piece by real professionals.



Like I said in my title, this is a good album to just kick back and listen to. Close your eyes and relax after a long day at work, have a cold or warm beverage and just let the music wash over you."

Vastly Underrated - Truly The Last "Great" Chicago Album

Duke's Travels | Denver, CO | 02/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"True aficianados and/or longtime fans of Chicago can certainly cite the turbulent year of 1978 for the band: founding member Terry Kath's tragic passing; a shifting of musical trends and tastes; a new producer (Phil Ramone, who was simultaneously finishing Billy Joel's classic 52nd Street album) and the introduction of Donnie Dacus as Terry's replacement. And yet despite all of this chaos, the band produces what is still an underrated gem. I liken it to the 1980 "Drama" album by Yes - a key member is absent, but the band rallies and produces a winner. The remastered sound comes through loud and clear on "Alive Again," one of Chicago's best uptemp rockers since "Dialogue" from Chicago V. Pete Cetera's "Greatest Love on Earth" is the only marginally questionable track on the album, a bit cheesy and contrived (but nowhere as NEAR as bad as the 80s tripe looming on the horizon). "Little Miss Lovin" and the title track are solid, R&B-inflected cruisers. "Take A Chance" features one of Donnie Dacus' better vocal performances. "Gone Long Gone" is a countryish rocker from Cetera. The remaining tracks are also solid, but the album's standout piece is "No Tell Lover," which boasts a gorgeous melody and one of James Pankow's best brass arrangements in years. The song really does sound like a warm summer afternoon in the park.

I saw Chicago for the first time on the tour to support this album (almost 30 years ago!!), and they were absolutely spectacular. Dan Seraphine and Robert Lamm were really the glue of the band in this period. The band would begin to falter and lose focus with the next album (Chicago 13), and ultimately become a robotic manufacturer of cheesy, syrupy adult pop songs. Hot Streets represents Chicago's last great, cohesive and diverse album."