Generally, when contemporary performers have taken on retro projects like this one, they have tended to emphasize their fidelity to the sources -- consider Linda Ronstadt hiring arranger/conductor Nelson Riddle to recreate his string backgrounds for albums like What's New.
Chicago takes a different approach to the swing band classics it tackles here -- it Chicago-izes them.
The arrangements are by trombonist James Pankow, who manages to make everything from Duke Ellington's "Caravan" to Glenn Miller's theme "Moonlight Serenade" sound like a lost Chicago track.
Those familiar with the originals, many of which were instrumental hits, may be surprised to hear the lyrics to songs like "Sing, Sing, Sing." Clearly, the group is aiming more at pleasing contemporary fans than evoking nostalgia, and it succeeds in reinventing some well-established standards, even if older fans may find some of these versions radically altered.
| Title/Composers | Performer | Listen | Time | Size | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ChicagoFred Fisher | Chicago | Play | 03:09 | 7 MB | 21 MB |
| 2 | CaravanDuke Ellington, Irving Mills, Juan Tizol | Chicago | Play | 03:25 | 7 MB | 23 MB |
| 3 | Dream a Little Dream of MeFabian André, Gus Kahn, Wilbur Schwandt | Chicago, Jade, Paul Shaffer | Play | 03:15 | 7 MB | 18 MB |
| 4 | Goody GoodyMatty Malneck, Johnny Mercer | Chicago | Play | 04:06 | 9 MB | 27 MB |
| 5 | Moonlight SerenadeGlenn Miller, Mitchell Parish | Chicago | Play | 04:28 | 10 MB | 30 MB |
| 6 | Night and DayCole Porter | Chicago | Play | 05:37 | 12 MB | 35 MB |
| 7 | Blues in the NightHarold Arlen, Johnny Mercer | Chicago | Play | 06:06 | 13 MB | 39 MB |
| 8 | Sing, Sing, SingLouis Prima | Chicago, Gipsy Kings | Play | 03:24 | 7 MB | 24 MB |
| 9 | Sophisticated LadyDuke Ellington, Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish | Chicago | Play | 05:13 | 11 MB | 32 MB |
| 10 | In the MoodJoe Garland, Andy Razaf | Chicago | Play | 03:45 | 8 MB | 25 MB |
| 11 | Don't Get Around Much AnymoreDuke Ellington, Bob Russell | Chicago | Play | 03:40 | 8 MB | 24 MB |
| 12 | Take The | Chicago | Play | 05:36 | 12 MB | 38 MB |
| 51 mins | 118 MB | |||||
| 51 mins | 340 MB | |||||
| Artist | Job | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fabian André | Composer |
| 2 | Harold Arlen | Composer |
| 3 | Bill Champlin | Arranger, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals |
| 4 | Chicago | Primary Artist |
| 5 | Luis Conte | Percussion |
| 6 | Jack Duncan | Percussion |
| 7 | Duke Ellington | Composer |
| 8 | Bruce Fairbairn | Producer |
| 9 | Sal Ferreras | Percussion |
| 10 | Fred Fisher | Composer |
| 11 | Bruce Gaitsch | Guitar |
| 12 | Joe Garland | Composer |
| 13 | Gipsy Kings | Guest Artist, Performer, Primary Artist, Vocals |
| 14 | Tris Imboden | Drums, Harmonica |
| 15 | Jade | Guest Artist, Primary Artist, Vocals |
| 16 | Gus Kahn | Composer |
| 17 | Robert Lamm | Arranger, Keyboards, Vocals |
| 18 | Lee Loughnane | Arranger, Flugelhorn, Trumpet |
| 19 | Matty Malneck | Composer |
| 20 | Johnny Mercer | Composer |
| 21 | Glenn Miller | Composer |
| 22 | Irving Mills | Composer |
| 23 | Erwin Musper | Engineer |
| 24 | James Pankow | Arranger, Trombone |
| 25 | Walter Parazaider | Woodwind |
| 26 | Mitchell Parish | Composer |
| 27 | Joe Perry | Guest Artist, Guitar |
| 28 | Mike Plotnikoff | Engineer |
| 29 | Cole Porter | Composer |
| 30 | Louis Prima | Composer |
| 31 | Andy Razaf | Composer |
| 32 | Bob Russell | Composer |
| 33 | Jason Scheff | Bass, Vocals |
| 34 | Wilbur Schwandt | Composer |
| 35 | Paul Shaffer | Guest Artist, Liner Notes, Performer, Piano, Primary Artist |
| 36 | Billy Strayhorn | Composer |
| 37 | Juan Tizol | Composer |
| Quality | Format | Encoding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | MP3 | 320kps 44.1kHz | MP3 is an audio coding format which uses a form of lossy data compression. The highest bitrate of this format is 320kbps (kbit/s). MP3 Digital audio takes less amount of space (up to 90% reduction in size) and the quality is not as good as the original one. |
| CD Quality | FLAC | 16bit 44.1kHz | FLAC is an audio coding format which uses lossless compression. Digital audio in FLAC format has a smaller size and retains the same quality of the original Compact Disc (CD). |