Boston’s self-titled debut placed at #36 on the 1977 year-end. Since we talked about that album already, we’ll skip ahead to #35. But first, an aside.
On September 12, 1977, President Jimmy Carter nominated a man named Charles Ferris for chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. After being unanimously confirmed by the Senate in October, Ferris did some good things. He made it easier for women and people of color to qualify for broadcast station ownership, and the agency under his tenure helped encourage a boom in cable television. But his legacy as chairman was defined by deregulation. He argued that public interest was often better served by a competitive marketplace instead of government regulators acting as referees, and that regulations were “nothing but a nuisance” unless they were “improving the market.” In my experience, people in power who think like that do vastly more harm than good, and indeed he spearheaded a campaign of deregulation that would continue to escalate under Ronald Reagan.
Speaking of things that got worse in the Eighties, let’s talk about the band Chicago. On the exact same day that Charles Ferris was nominated, Chicago XI was released. The album was certified Platinum in the U.S. and its first single, “Baby, What A Big Surprise,” peaked at #4 on the Hot 100. It was also the band’s last top 10 single produced by their longtime producer James William Guercio, as well as the band’s last top 10 single before the death of guitarist Terry Kath. We’ll talk more about him when we get to the band’s next album, but let’s stay in 1977 for now.
I don’t have a lot to say about Chicago XI. Not that it’s bad. On the contrary, it just doesn’t give me a lot to say. From what I’ve seen, Chicago XI is fondly remembered by most fans. If not as one of the band’s absolute best efforts, then certainly as a good effort. “Baby, What A Big Surprise” was the result of Peter Cetera trying to write another hit like “If You Leave Me Now.” While it succeeded, I have to assume even listeners at the time could tell that was the goal. It is a decent track, though. And the rest of the album is more of the band’s usual sound, in a good way.
Highlights include “Mississippi Delta City Blues” (not a delta blues song, but a funk song), “Take Me Back To Chicago” featuring Chaka Khan (the title is a bit on the nose, but a great jam regardless), and “Takin’ It On Uptown” (which has awesome guitar work from Terry Kath). I also loved “Vote For Me.” Lower taxes, feeding the hungry, clean energy, world peace, and cars that run on beer? Robert Lamm would’ve had my vote.
And while Terry Kath did not write the album closer “Little One,” he does sing lead vocals on it, which makes the song unintentionally bittersweet. Even more so because it was released as a single in January 1978, the month in which Terry Kath died.
In summary, I recommend Chicago XI.
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