Chicago Transit Authority

LP I  Side A

1. Introduction
    T.Kath
2. Does anybody really
    know  what time it is ?
    R.Lamm
3. Beginnings
    R.Lamm

LP I  Side B

4. Questions 67
    and 68
     R.Lamm
5. Listen
    R.Lamm
6. Poem 58
    R.Lamm

LP II Side A

7. Free form guitar
    T.Kath
8. South California
    Purples
    R.Lamm
9. I' m a man
    S.Winwood, J.Miller

LP II Side B

10. Prologue,
      August, 29,1968
      J.W.Guercio
11. Somday
      (August 29, 1968)
      J.Pankow, R.Lamm
12. Liberation
      J.Pankow

Produced by
James Wiliam Guercio

Engineer
Fred Catero

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Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is a full name of a group better known as Chicago. The group released an
eponymous album in 1969. James William Guercio, the producer, on the last page of the booklet wrote:
"Call them Chicago"
Obviously, that name was much easier to remember (by the way, check out this link) I remember that
when looking at Chicago's stuff I noticed their tendency to simplify the names (for instance, consider the
albums  titles). Is it something bad? I don't think so. The name still pops out in my mind. The album never
topped the hits lists. However, for me CTA  as one of the most significant albums from that time. Why do I
regard it so highly? I d say that the music is pervaded by the spirit of the late 60s. And that s what s most
valuable about  CTA . Listening to it, you can almost sense the soul of the counterculture from that time.

"Does anybody really know what time it is?"  That's the question
Maybe "Prologue", "Someday"  and  "Liberation" would provide good answers.

"Prologue" includes fragments of the Democratic Convention (29.08.1969). "Liberation" - an awesome
instrumental freeform.
"Cloudy every morning, sun don't ever shine ...
I thought his was a warm place, I must be in the wrong  place"

Well, the description might fit almost every place under the sun. But why is it called "South California
Purples"? The end of the 1960s saw the demise of the hippie (so, California!) culture. In Europe, "I'm
a man"  (previously recorded by Spencer Davis Group) appeared on the hit charts. The fans of roaring
carengines would be glad to hear "Free form guitar". A true masterpiece. Terry Kaith's playing can rival
even Hendrix! Unfortunately, nine years later, on 23.01.1978, he played in Russian roulette. The artwork
on both  the CD edition and European LP edition of  CTA  differs from the original American LP. The front
side of the LP contained a small logo of the band, while the back side had a bigger logo on it. In the CD
version and European LP edition, the logos were set in a different order   the bigger one was on the front
side and the smaller logo was included on the reverse side of the booklet.  Below, the list of CD editions of
the album.

CD Columbia, No. C2K00008, US, year: 1985
CD CBS, No. CDCBS 66221, Europe, year: 1986
CD Columbia,  No. CGK 8, US, year: 1988
CD Columbia,  No. CK 64409, US, year: 1992
CD Chicago, No. CRD-3001, US, year: 1995
CD Mushroom, No. MUSH 32037.2, Australia, year:1996
CD Rhino, R2 76171, US, year: 2002
CD Rhino, 8122-76171-2, Germany, year: 2002
CD Warner Music Japan, WPCR-13625, Japan, year: 2008
CD FruitGum, FRCD 001, Australia, year: 2008
CD CNR, 2002618, Netherlands, year: 2009

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