Oh, a double record. Dad, you shouldn’t have. Really. You shouldn’t have. I almost pulled out the Swole Ear Constitution on this one, but then I thought back to Wilco Week, where I willingly (w)listened to tWo double-whammies. My only option is to stop whining and tough it out. It’s also important to keep in mind that Chicago II was released in the wonderful era of shorter records. All in all, the album’s time of an hour and four minutes isn’t too bad, and is even considerably shorter than other (single) records that I’ve covered.
In addition, it helps just a bit that Chicago II is actually a solid piece (pieces?) of music. I know, I’m probably not supposed to like this album. It’s old and it’s kind of jazz-filled. Part of Fancy Colors sounds like it was ripped from an episode of Sesame Street, with its spastic flute action. Maybe it’s got something to do with the (very late) time of day (night (early morning, actually)) that I’m listening to this. Maybe I just don’t care any more and like everything. I sure hope that is (not) the case. (Parenthese(s)).
What the hell? I just got to 25 or 6 to 4, the album’s eighth track, and heard an all-too familiar guitar riff. Chicago must have acquired a time machine and traveled to the early nineties, just to steal Green Day’s riff from Brain Stew for the first 15 seconds of this mid-record track. Understandable. It is extra catchy.
Well, I can’t possibly recommend this band now. They plagiarize. If high school has taught me one thing, it’s that plagiarism should earn you nothing less than life in prison.
Swole Ear 
That riff has been ripped off a thousand times, but I think Brain Stew only bears a modest resemblance. There are better examples. I just can’t think of them. Either way, I never would have guessed that the swollen ear would like jazz rock. Time to try Miles Davis and we’ll see what you’re really made of.
Let me tweak your memory J$. That riff goes back to a song recorded by The Spencer Davis Group and sung by 18 year old Stevie Winwood in 1966 called “Gimme Some Loving” – or perhaps something even older.
The only similarity between a Chicago album and one by Miles Davis is that both involve instruments made of brass. Maynard Ferguson or someone like that would be a lot closer to Chicago if you must continue to think of them as jazz-rock.
Do I smell a Blood, Sweat and Tears album in the offing for a DRT?