Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. CCVII--Chicago: Till the End of Time

As a child of the seventies, I can tell you there were a whole lot of cool kids who were fans of Chicago, and while I was one of them (fan of Chicago, definitely not a cool kid), they were the kind of band that I was more than happy to own their greatest hits (formidable) without really desiring to get into their catalog.  And then when their ninth studio album rolled around, I thought what the hell and gave it a try--good thing, too, lest I'd have never heard this week's tune. (Aside:  I also bought their twelfth--and it was the last album I ever bought by Chicago....)

Chicago was formed in 1967 in, not surprisingly, Chicago.  Originally known as the Chicago Transit Authority (probably a good career move to shorten that a bit), their first three albums were double LPs (could you imagine anyone trying that these days?), their fourth was a live four LP box set of their sold out week at Carnegie Hall, and released their first ten albums in ten years (again, anyone do that these days?).  Sadly, shortly after the release of their ninth LP, founding member Terry Kath was playing with a gun and accidentally shot himself to death.  After Kath's death the band went from being a socially conscious band into being a pop music juggernaut.  Over the course of the last now more than fifty years, Chicago released twenty-four albums, 23 of which went gold, eighteen platinum, sold over a hundred million albums, and at one time had a string of five consecutive number one LPs.  They have had 20 singles reach the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100.  They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016, and three members have been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.  They've had numerous incarnations, literally dozens of band members, and won a Grammy Award.  Not a bad career for a band that originally dubbed itself "rock and roll with horns."

"Till the End of Time" was released in 1977 on the oh, so cleverly titled LP, Chicago XI.  The song was never released as a single, and the LP was the last of the big picture works they were to release (no doubt related to Kath's tragic death).  It is considered by some to be Chicago's best album.

Written and sung by James Pankow (one of four original members--seven in the initial lineup--still with the band), "Till the End of Time" is your basic blues cum soul love ballad with horns.  Pankow spins the tale of a man who wonders why his woman stands by him, but is oh, so glad she does--and he's asking her to love him till the end of time.  The song is interspersed with trumpet, trombone and saxophone, and some playful piano.  As regular readers (both of you) know, emaycee is a big fan of blue-eyed soul...and this one rivals Van Morrison, Daryl Hall, and Boz Scaggs at their best.  Pankow infuses the song with joy, wonder, and a conviction that this love is all the love he needs.  It closes with some dandy backing vocals embellishing Pankow's fiery vocals as he freelances his way through celebrating their love.  "Till the End of Time" is another in a long line of rock and roll songs that remind us of the glory of love--and the glory of a beautifully crafted pop song.

Liner Notes:  "Why...even though you know I'm crazy/Do you still believe in me/Why...does a smile come so easy/Baby since you set me free..."

Enjoy:

Fuck Donald Trump,
emaycee