Search - Robert Lamm :: Skinny Boy

Its what you're expecting.

deadslug09 | Virginia Beach, VA. | 05/27/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you don't like Chicago, you're not going to like this album. If you are someone who has been listening, loving and buying for 32 years this album is essential to your collection. Skinny Boy the song first appeared on Chicago VII. That song is fantastic on very many different levels. Ok, thats one song what about the rest? Remember all the "other" songs on all of your Chicago albums? The ones you like, but don't necessarily make the radio? The ones that define you as a fan? These are those songs. The calling card horns, high shrill voice of a Cetera, Champlain, or Scheff aren't there. Lamm holds his own well. Buy it!"

Refreshing

J. Conrad Guest | 03/04/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This cd is very good. The strings are well done throughout, as well as Terry Kath's unique bass playing, and Robert's wonderful keys and vocals. Buy it, you won't be disappointed."

For Novelty Seekers Only

J. Conrad Guest | Northville, MI United States | 11/14/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Admittedly not some of Lamm's better work, even he admits that. I bought this album when it was first released, back in 1974, and enjoyed it for what it was: a novelty. Today it sounds rather dated and really only serves as a measuring stick to how far Lamm has come both as a songwriter as well as a vocalist.



I recently saw version 2.0 of this disc at another site, with six additional tracks, so I purchased it merely out of curiosity. All of the additional tracks seem to be from the Skinny Boy sessions, but only two are perhaps noteworthy. The first, Sing to Me Lady, was probably left off the original release because of its similarity to Love Song, but in my opinion the latter should have been left off in deference to the former. The other is a jazz version (keyboards, bass, drums and vocal) of Song for Richard and His Friends, one of my favorite Chicago tunes. No studio version of this song was ever released, but two live versions appear on the Carnegie Hall and Live in Japan albums, both currently available on CD. Those rocked-up versions, with guitarist Terry Kath's free form guitar ably simulating the sounds of war, contrast strikingly with this jazz version. Close your eyes and you can nearly smell the cigarette smoke and hear the sounds of a cocktail lounge.



Of the tunes that appeared on the original release, notable cuts include Crazy Way to Spend a Year, Skinny Boy (although the Chicago version on Chicago VII is superior), A Lifetime We, and City Living.



If you're looking for Lamm's best work, you may be disappointed with this compilation, but novelty seekers may enjoy it if only to fill out their Chicago collection."