Track Listing

1. You're The Inspiration
2. If You Leave Me Now
3. Make Me Smile
4. Hard Habit To Break
5. Saturday In The Park
6. Wishin' You Were Here
7. The Only One
8. Colour My World
9. Look Away
10. Here In My Heart
11. Just You 'N' Me
12. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?
13. Will You Still Love Me?
14. Beginnings
15. Hard To Say I'm Sorry/Get Away

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24168 in Music
• Released on: 1997-04-22
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import

Amazon.com
An unusual collection of only 16 songs (14 hits and two new ones) from a group that has written more prom themes than any band in history, The Heart of Chicago showcases the group's ability to sing about love from every phase of their career. (Not sure what else they might've sung about, but their anti- war compositions don't register here). "Baby, What a Big Surprise," "Feelin' Stronger Everyday," and "25 or 6 to 4" are those songs that have never left the radio. The digital remastering might be triumph of sorts; however, the absence of liner notes to accompany them leaves the band's story sadly untold. --Rob O'Connor

Customer Reviews

The one fans need to own
I will be the first to say, I am not a Chicago enthuiast. I don't own every single release they put out. But, I am smart enough to know that these guys are a great band. I am not a huge fan of their late seventies and early eighties material, but their early stuff is to die for.

And 'Heart of Chicago 1967-1997' is the one set Chicago fans need to own. Featuring 14 classic songs that I hear on the radio all the time and 2 new songs (Well, they were new in 1997), this import release is all the casual Chicago fan like myself will ever need.

However, I am wondering why '25 or 6 to 4' is omitted. That is a real mystery and quite a shame, because that is one of their best songs. It's one of my favorites, no doubt.

But, it's got the fan favorites. 'Saturday In The Park,' 'Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?,' 'If You Leave Me Now,' and 'You're The Inspiration' all appear on this set. Elektra gets credit for remastering this, because the sound quality is excellent!

Overall, if you don't own this set, buy it. This is the one Chicago record a casual fan or just a fan of Chicago in general must own.

Highly recommended for any Chicago fan. A great compilation. ENJOY!!!

Hard Reviewing Habit to Break.......
People. They brought your poor Metamorpho to the witness stand. They made me swear on the bible to tell the truth. I was o.k. with it so far. Then the prosecuter asked, "Do you like and listen to Chicago"? I began to sweat. Persperation ran down my forehead. My mind raced. I was frantically looking for an easy way out. I always tell the truth, but in this case, I feel they were trying to trick me. So, I said, "No. I never listen to Chicago"! To make a long story short, the Judge found me in contempt of court and your poor Metamorpho had to serve 15 days of hard time! Yes! And if you think ironing inmates clothes with all those tatoo clothes stains in them is easy - you're crazy! At least as crazy as me trying to get out of this quagmire!

I don't know what it is about them. Are they America's band? Are they the Dallas cheerleaders of rock? Somebody please explain. They only thing I know is that - they are played EVERYWHERE! If you haven't heard a Chicago tune yet it only means you have yet to be born. And, I warn you, entering this world is a tricky proposition at best!

But, back to this c.d. I believe this c.d. and the companion c.d. "The Heart of Chicago 1967-1998, Vol 2" are the only ones you'll need by them. Oh yes, that Christmas one as well. But, I leave myself open to other viewpoints simply because I feel, without knowing for sure, that there may be other songs in their vast archives that are just as excellent. And, I am sure that there are.

Chicago are guy love ballads. Simple as that. Melodic, not overly saccharin, honest straight forward. They are the bearers of heartfelt love, heartfelt vulnerability, and masculine need in it's most tender aspect. The reason behind the success is that women love the romance here. And men know that romantic side of themselves, inwardly, towards their women. So the whole thing works on many levels. It also helps a great deal to know that these are very well produced, pop songs that employ unobstrusive forays into cohesive sound. Complete, pleasant sonic excursions masterfully done. In short, perfect pop confections that are infectious. Nothing more, nothing less.

This c.d. includes such mainstays as "You're the Inspiration", "Hard Habit to Break", "Color My World", "Wishing You Were Here", "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is", as well as many other Chicago favorites.
Mind you, we are only half done here because there is a companion piece to this c.d. And that is essential because all their hits can't be covered with just one disc. Impressive. And I will not argue with success.

Whether or not these tunes approach the highest form this genre has to offer is not the point. "Witchcraft" by Sinatra, may not be his best effort. But it is good and pleasant to listen to. Same holds true for Chicago. They achieved a niche in American popular music and, whether good or bad, they achieved it and will forever be listened to. An accomplishment no matter how you see it. I rate it 5 stars. And especially good when the Seerest in your life comes for a quiet, mood inspired evening.

To the court - hard to say I'm sorry ------Metamorpho ;)

A Good Bunch Of Songs
The Heart Of Chicago 1967 - 1997 (RED) is a great bunch of songs. The love song "You're The Inspiration" is about how much a loved one can inspire you to do anything but especially love. "If You Leave Me Now" is a sad love song about a woman about to leave her husband and he is begging her not to go. What a classic love song and it brings back a lot of memories from 1976. "Saturday In The Park" is a happy song about a couple taking a walk in the park and seeing all the sights from a man selling ice cream and it seems like the 4th of July to him. "Just You & Me" is about a couple spending their time together with no one else around to bother them. Early classics like "Beginnings" and "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" are true Chicago classics that sound as good today as they did some 37 years ago. "Colour My World" is a true classic love song. A fine collection of songs from one of rocks classic groups Chicago.