Chicago VII is the sixth studio album by American rock band Chicago. It was released on March 11, 1974, by Columbia Records. It is notable for being their first double album of new material since 1971's Chicago III and remains their final studio release in that format. It features session percussionist Laudir de Oliveira, who would become a full-fledged band member for the release of Chicago VIII the following year.
Background
While touring in support of Chicago VI in 1973, the band began getting restless and started integrating some lengthy jazz instrumentals into their sets. While audiences' reactions varied, Chicago greatly enjoyed the experience, decided (after years of talking about it) to record a pure jazz-influenced set of tracks, and headed straight to producer James William Guercio's Caribou Ranch studios to cut their ambitious new album.
While the sessions began well, there was soon dissension within the group about the jazz project, with, reportedly, Peter Cetera and Guercio both wary of the commercial risk of such an undertaking.
Personnel
Chicago
- Peter Cetera – bass, lead vocals, backing vocals (6, 8, 9, 12, 13), guitar (12)
- Terry Kath – guitars, lead vocals, backing vocals (6, 8, 10), bass (7, 11, 12, 15), bells (10)
- Robert Lamm – Mellotron (1), keyboards (2), Fender Rhodes (3–8, 13, 15), ARP synthesizer (4), clavinet (6, 14), backing vocals (6, 8, 9, 13), acoustic piano (8, 9, 12, 14), Minimoog (8, 12), lead vocals
- Danny Seraphine – drums, percussion (7, 12), hi-hat (11), bass drum (11)
- Lee Loughnane – trumpet, flugelhorn (3, 5), backing vocals (6, 8, 10, 13), lead vocals (10)
- James Pankow – trombone, percussion (8), backing vocals (8, 9), timbales (9)
- Walter Parazaider – tenor saxophone, flute (1, 2), soprano saxophone (3), alto saxophone (9)
- Brass arrangements (4) by James Pankow and Robert Lamm; (2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12–15) by James Pankow
Additional musicians
- David Wolinski – ARP synthesizer (3, 8, 12), acoustic piano (10), Mellotron (11), Fender Rhodes (11)
- Wayne Tarnowski – acoustic piano (11)
- James William Guercio – acoustic guitar (7), bass (10), guitar (12)
- Ross Salomone – drums (15)
- Laudir de Oliveira – percussion (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11–13, 16), congas (2, 4, 6, 8)
- Guille Garcia – percussion (7), congas (9, 11, 13, 15)
- Jimmie Haskell – strings (8)
- Bobbi Roen, Camelia Ortiz, Diane Nini, Hank Steiger and Julie Nini – background party noises (9)
- Al Jardine, Carl Wilson and Dennis Wilson – backing vocals (12)
- The Pointer Sisters – backing vocals (15)
Production
- Produced by James William Guercio
- Engineered by Wayne Tarnowski and Jeff Guercio
- Strings recorded by Armin Steiner at Sound Labs (Hollywood, CA).
- Mixed by Phil Ramone
- Cover Photo – John Berg and Nick Fasciano
- Photography – Urve Kuusik
Charts
Weekly charts
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1974–1975)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
| 13
|-
|-
!scope="row"|Japanese Albums (Oricon)
|align="center"|36
|-
|-
|}
Year-end charts
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1974)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"|US Billboard 200
|align="center"|25
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1975)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"|US Billboard 200
|align="center"|69
|}