About bloody time. I've had the full album for years on a (very) good quailty boot. but an official version is great news, particually if Chicago fans are unaware of it:-

May 21, 2008
Stone of Sisyphus (Chicago XXXII) will finally be released on june 17th by Rhino records!




Sisyphus has attained legendary status among rock critics, Chicago fans, those who ve heard parts of it and those who have only read about it. from liner notes by Bill DeYoung Formed in its namesake city in 1967, Chicago is the first American band ever to propel albums into Billboard®'s pop Top 40 for five consecutive decades, and is among the most successfully charting U.S.-grown acts of all time. Now, another page in the band s history is revealed with the long-awaited release of STONE Of SISYPHUS, the once shelved album that has attained legendary status among fans and critics alike. Recorded in 1993 and originally intended as Chicago XXII, the disc marked a return to the genre-transcending, adventurous fusion of sounds that defined the group s 1970s-era heyday.
Three tracks from it surfaced on Rhino's 2003 Chicago box, but the album itself is previously unissued now, this momentous release also features four incredibly rare bonus tracks.Recorded in 1993 and previously unreleased. Legendary underground fan and critical favorite for fifteen years, produced by Peter Wolf.
Features the album's original eleven tracks plus four bonus rarities. Highlights include the title track, "All The Years", and "Mah-Jong". "Bigger Than Elvis", features contributions from musicians who worked with Elvis Presley including Jerry Scheff on bass (father of Chicago bassist Jason Scheff)
and The Jordanaires (the gospel group that often accompanied Presley) on backing vocals.


Only problem is WTF have they left out original album cut "get on this"? Killer rock song (well rock by Chicago standards). Buggers the mind why its been left out, but believe me, this is so much better then their XXX album (which was crap). True, I love early 90's and the producer behind the album is my all time fav producer, but its a damn good album nonetheless.

They really did sound refreshed and full of life on this album. And the real horns made a comback aswell.

"Stone of sisyphus" (Lamm sounds good on the verses, whilst one time guitarish Dwayne Bailey kills the chorus- supurb track)

http://www.youtube.com/wa...AQzZL_upN4
[Edited 6/9/08 15:35pm]

thesexofit said:

VERY COOL!! Glad 2 see that this record will see the light of day finally! I know alot of people felt that CHICAGO lost it with "ballads" and when Cetera left, but Scheff has been a great artist with them, has been in the group now longer than Cetera was, and brought a great bass sound to the band.

Even though I'm not a huge fan of Chicago's latter-day music (I prefer their 70s material) I've always been a little curious about this unreleased album.Might have to check it out.

I think I never heard a song by them. I guess the first time I read about them was here.

The thing is that alot of bands from the 70's got swayed by their labels to just do ballads or at least that was what singles got released, i mean everyone from Chicago to Heart were pushed into ballads once they had a few hits in that arena, they were suddenly paired with the ballad makers of the day.

Matronik said:

Its funny but i think Chicago is one of the most under-rated and overlooked bands ever, and yet are always on peoples "best" lists and yet arent in the RNR hall of fame, it amazes me.

lastdecember said:

Were they big here in Europe? Or were they just an american success?

"Stone of sisyphus"



Still a couple of MOR sounding ballads, but then, Chicago have been doing that long before even Foster came in, and no diane Warren LOL.

"Lets take a lifetime" is nice in a Bobby Caldwell sorta way (its not a power ballad):-




Best tracks are "all the years" (autobiographical?), "Stone of sisyphus" (co-written by short term guitarish Dwayne Bailey, who had a hand in the awesome track "get on this", which as I said, they have oddly left out off the Rhino release?),

"bigger than Elvis" is a Jason led power ballad musically, but lyrically its a touching tribute to his Dad, and with the right promotion, coulda been a big hit for them. Lamm's "sleeping in the middle of the bad" is another highlight. Excellent song. And Jason and Lamm sing the shit out of "the pull" (sounds like a Peter/ina wolf co-write, but my boot doesn't give me the credits LOL,), killer track, awesome production.

Last 4 tracks are kind of average and typical Chicago filler, but the first 7 are pretty much excellent. "Cry for the lost" is the same as Champlins solo version a few years later called "proud of our blindness", but his solo version is better and the arragement suited the track better (apparantly the track was offered to Michael Jackson?).

Lamm also put "all the years" on a solo album aswell (along with Chicago 18 outtake "when will the world be like lovers",), but both sound better with Chicago, particually the still unreleased "when will the world be like lovers", which is one of my fav ever Chicago tracks....


Anyway, I may have to wait to get it (i do have the whole album anyway), and its definately less commercial then say Chicago 16, 17, 18, 19, 21. I love most those albums, but also loved the direction they were going with "stone of sisyphus". Just a shame they didn't develop it more after this....(and am still pissed no "get on this" )

Matronik said:

Just USA. Cetera hit big in UK with "Glory of Love", but UK wise, just a couple of top 10 hits, and "if you leave me now" may of made no.1 actually? Awful song, but anyway...

Personally I think WB England or whomever missed an opputunity. Sure Chicago's brand of AOR was never gonna be as big as it was in the US, but seems little effort was made overseas.

thesexofit said:

Yeah i agree, theres nothing like FINALLY getting a release of a "shelved" record and seeing that tracks you know were going on the album still DONT MAKE IT!! On the ballad front, its never really bothered me that Chicago has done them, it was a great balance for them, i think there has always been this "backlash" on any band that does other types of music to do a ballad, i mean we can name countless 70's bands that have gotten hit by this "backlash" from critics.

thesexofit said:

The only Peter Cetera song I have is the duet he has with Cher!

Matronik said:

Yeah, Cher did some AOR ala Chicago in the late 80's. Damn good AOR it was to. Cetera had left around 1985.

thesexofit said:

I like Cher alot.

Sounds like it's from the middle of "shitty Chicago" when they tried to go retro and get back to rocking out. They've bored me so much I don't even care any more.

PFunkjazz said:

Fair enough comment. Producer Peter Wolf is extremely commercial, but can at times produce and/or co-write some slightly less poppy stuff, this album being one of them.

You wont get a song like "beginnings" on here (love that song), but even their earlier 70's stuff was MOR at times. "colour my world" "make me smile" "just you n me" "saturday in the park".... The soft, more MOR like songs had pretty much been a staple on their albums long before David Foster got the blame for commercialising Chicago.
[Edited 6/9/08 17:12pm]

I should have stopped at VII, but got fucked over by VIII then IX. I'm bitter as well.
[Edited 6/9/08 17:20pm]


No that was X not IX
[Edited 6/9/08 17:22pm]

This is awesome! I've never heard the album, but I've always wanted to. I'll definitely be buying this.

PFunkjazz said:

I get confused aswell. I dont own all their 70's stuff, but I much prefer their 80's stuff really. Which obviously you dont LOL.