Chicago, The #13 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Four

 

(Continued from Part Three)

Columbia Records reacted by dropping the band.  They released the compilation Chicago XV in 1981.  Chicago enlisted the help of producer David Foster and signed with Warner Brothers Records.  Keyboardist, guitarist, and singer Bill Champlin joined the group, with de Oliveira leaving.  Foster continued to emphasize power ballads rather than the horn section.

Chicago released the album Chicago 16 in 1982, with Foster not only limiting the horns but bringing in studio musicians, including several members of Toto.  Cetera wrote this with Foster, who also played piano.  "Hard To Say I'm Sorry" gave the group their second #1, was a million-seller,  and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

"Love Me Tomorrow" reached #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

 

The album went to #9 and went Platinum.  In 1984, the album Chicago 17 became one of the group's biggest and was a marked comeback. Chicago won the American Music Award for Favorite Popular/Rock Band, Duo, or Group.  "Hard Habit To Break" reached the Top 10 in nearly every country and was nominated for Record of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the Grammy Awards.  The vocals of Cetera and Champlain blend particularly well, which is a credit to Foster's production.

  "You're The Inspiration" ruled the Adult chart and peaked at #3 overall.

 Chicago 17 has sold over six million copies in the U.S. alone.  Cetera by this point was the chief songwriter and lead vocalist.  He wrote this along with guitarist Mark Goldenberg--"Along Comes A Woman".

Cetera, however, wanted to have an arrangement similar to Phil Collins and Genesis, where Cetera could record solo albums in between tours.  The group declined the offer, and Cetera left the group in 1985 to enjoy a fantastic solo career.

Chicago auditioned several musicians to replace Peter, deciding on Jason Scheff, son of Elvis Presley's bassist in later years, Jerry Scheff.  

 Pinnick also left the group prior to recording the next album, replaced by session guitarists.  In 1986, Chicago released the album Chicago 18, the group's first with Scheff as lead singer.  He belted out the hit "Will You Still Love Me?", helping take it all the way to #2 on the Adult chart and #3.    

The follow-up single, "If She Would Have Been Faithful" made it to #9 on the AC chart.

 Dawayne Bailey came to Chicago by way of Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band and toured with Chicago to promote their album.  The group also replaced Foster with two other experienced producers in  Ron Nevison and Chas Sanford.  Chicago took the Diane Warren-penned song "Look Away" was a multi-format #1 in both the U.S. and Canada and sold over one million copies. 

Warren said the song was inspired by a friend who worked in her building.  The woman had divorced her husband and they remained friends.  It was clear that the man was hoping to get back together, and he was devastated when he found out she was going to marry someone else.

 

"Look Away was Billboard's #1 song for the entire year.  "I Don't Wanna' Live Without Your Love", the first to feature Chaplain on lead vocals, rose to #3 in the United States and #4 in Canada.

 Chicago landed their 21st career Top 10 hit with "You're Not Alone", another song to feature Champlain.

 

The band released the album Chicago 19 in 1988, which included "We Can Last Forever", one of Scheff's best-written songs.

In 1989, the band released their compilation album Greatest Hits 1982-1989, which contained the new single, "What Kind Of Man Would I Be?"

Original member Seraphine was fired by the group in May of 1990, with Tris Imboden, Kenny Loggins' drummer, taking his place.  Chicago released the album Twenty One in 1991.

In 1992, Chicago received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  The next year, the group completed their album Stone of Sisyphus, but executives of Reprise Records rejected the album, so Chicago left the label.  The release of the album was held up for 15 years, but finally, an arrangement was made so that Rhino Records could release the album in 2008.

After their tour in 1994, Chicago signed with Giant Records and released the album Night & Day: Big Band, with remakes of songs by some of the jazz greats:  Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, and Sarah Vaughan.  The group hired guitarist Bruce Gaitsch for this album, and Joe Perry of Aerosmith also helped out.  In 1995, Chicago chose Keith Howland as the group's permanent guitarist.

 

The band released the box set The Heart of Chicago 1967-1997, including the new song "Here In My Heart". 

In 1998, the group released Chicago XXV:  The Christmas Album as well as the live album, Chicago XXVI.

In 2002, the compilation album The Very Best of Chicago:  Only The Beginning, was released and sold over two million copies in the U.S. alone.  Chicago toured in 2004, 2005, and 2009 with another supergroup, Earth, Wind & Fire, and also had short residencies at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2006.  They also toured with Huey Lewis and the News.  In 2006, the group released their first album of new material in 15 years--Chicago XXX.  The album failed to catch on but did receive some airplay.

In 2008, the long-shelved album Stone of Sisyphus was finally released as Chicago XXXII.

Drew Hester, percussionist and drummer with the Foo Fighters, filled in for Imboden, who was ill, and then stayed with Chicago as a percussionist.    In 2009, Champlin was fired and replaced by keyboardist Lou Pardini, who previously had worked with Stevie Wonder and Santana.

Chicago toured with the Doobie Brothers in 2010, 2012, and again in 2017.   They released the holiday album Chicago XXXIII:  O Christmas Three in 2011.  In 2014, the group released XXXVI:  Now in 2014 and released a double live album, Chicago at Symphony Hall, in 2015. 

Chicago teamed with Earth, Wind & Fire for wildly successful tours in 2015 and 2016.  Chicago was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.

Scheff left Chicago in 2016, with Jeff Coffey becoming a full-time member.  Neil Donell replaced Coffey in 2018.  Jeff Parazaider stopped touring at this time, was replaced in live shows by saxophonist Ray Hermann.  In 2017, CNN aired the documentary Now More Than Ever:  The History of Chicago.

On June 15, 2017, Cetera, Lamm, and Pankow were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.  In 2018, Imboden and Coffey left the group, with percussionist Walfredo Reyes, Jr. hired as the new drummer, Neil Donell assuming lead vocalist duties, and Brett Simons brought in on bass.

Chicago released the box set Chicago:  VI Decades Live (This is What We Do), featuring the group's live shows throughout their career.  The band also released the Christmas album Chicago XXXVII:  Chicago Christmas in 2019.

Chicago received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys in 2020.

The supergroup has collected 50 hits over their career, with 23 of those reaching the Top 10 and 3 #1's.  Among adults, Chicago charted 44 career hits with 24 Top 10's and 7 #1 smashes.  They have won three Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, plus being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame Award, two American Music Award, a Billboard Music Award and a People's Choice Award.  They have sold over 122 million albums.