The Beachago tapes

[ESQ Editor]

In the Fall 2006 edition of ESQ we interviewed Al Jardine, Peter Cetera, Robert Lamm, Walt Parazaider and Billy Hinsche. The article was researched and written by Jeff Bleiel.

[bgas]

Just got the Rhino solicitation for this set. 

http://www.rhino.com/shop/product/chicago-live-in-75?eml=rn/041111/chicagotext1

I like Chicago, but the Rhino blurb makes it sound like they were appearing solo; tho it's obvious that their onstage energy was brought on by their touring with the BBs.  ( at least it is to me)
Nice of them to have included a bit of what made them so great on the tour.

>>
After releasing its eighth consecutive gold album in just six years, Chicago embarked upon a massive stadium tour in 1975 that’s considered to be one of its finest. The shows found the group at the pinnacle of its prowess, combining the jaw-dropping musicality and contagious onstage energy that made Chicago one of the most successful acts in American pop history.

This two-disc set contains two hours of previously unreleased performances recorded June 24-26 at the Capital Centre in Largo, Maryland. The collection is presented in a hardbound slipcase accompanied by a foldout poster that features rare photos from the tour. <<

[alanjames]

I wanna buy it, but only if the BB's are included.

[The Shift]

Clicking on the audio samples on the Rhino site I hear no BBs evidence.

Anyone else?

[Bill M]

I think the BBs would only be on the last 2 tracks, & no I don't hear them in the samples.

Very curious about this.  Still wondering if it's sourced from Guercio's masters, or from some different source.  It seems as though it's being packaged / marketed as if the BBs weren't there at all.  Would they / could they have mixed the BB vocals out, to try to make this a Chicago-only release?  Might there be some sort of contractual / royalty thing preventing them from using the BBs?

I've only heard the Largo show(s) from an audience source, which this isn't.  But the mix on the samples sounds a bit thin to me.  I realize it's hard to judge, just from a short & compressed sample.  Still, I'm very curious.

[Mikie]

Might there be some sort of contractual / royalty thing preventing them from using the BBs?

That's what I was thinking. Because as noted above, the two bands were on stage together playing more than just two songs! I saw the Beachago gig one month before this in Oakland, and I remember Chicgao and The Beach Boys up there for a whole lot longer than two songs!

[Andrew G. Doe]

Example of the joint Beachago set:

WISHIN' YOU WERE WERE (w/Beach Boys)
GOD ONLY KNOWS (w/Chicago horn section)
DARLIN' (Peter Cetera on lead, w/Chicago horn section)
SATURDAY IN THE PARK (w/Beach Boys - Carl lead vocal)
CALIFORNIA GIRLS
FUN, FUN, FUN
FEELIN' STRONGER EVERY DAY (Peter Cetera and Mike Love on lead)
JUMPIN' JACK FLASH

[drbeachboy]

Did The Beach Boys perform all 3 days, June 24, 25, 26? I checked Eric's Aniversario's site and only the June 24th show is listed.

[Bill M]

Excellent point.
Perhaps this particular show was Chicago only.

[drbeachboy]

From the looking at the cover it seems that the tracks were culled from all three shows, not just one particular show.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Excellent point.
Perhaps this particular show was Chicago only.

No.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Did The Beach Boys perform all 3 days, June 24, 25, 26? I checked Eric's Aniversario's site and only the June 24th show is listed.

Eric's site is outstanding, but it doesn't list all the shows the band played.  Try here: shows & sessions 1975

[Mikie]

AGD, note venue:

In 1975 it was known as "Oakland Stadium", or "Oakland Coliseum", Oakland CA. May 24, 1975, Day On The Green #1: Chicago, The Beach Boys, Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, New Riders Of The Purple Sage.

It later became Oakland-ALAMEDA County Coliseum.

I was there! 

[Awesoman]

You can hear samples of each track of this album on Rhino's website.  I can't really tell if I hear the Beach Boys on "Wishin' You Were Here" and there is absolutely no mention of them anywhere for this product. 

[Andrew G. Doe]

AGD, note venue:

In 1975 it was known as "Oakland Stadium", or "Oakland Coliseum", Oakland CA. May 24, 1975, Day On The Green #1: Chicago, The Beach Boys, Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, New Riders Of The Purple Sage.

It later became Oakland-ALAMEDA County Coliseum.

I was there! 

Thanks - it's a complete pain in the ass when venues change name. 

[Malc]

Just picked this up and the BB's get a few mentions throughout the set and, yes, I think the boys ARE there for "Wishing You Were Here" but mixed way down ... but no sign of Mike's co-lead on "Feeling Stronger Every Day" ...

[PS]

How is the overall sound quality? From the snippets on the Rhino site, it almost sounds like a high quality audience recording style tape, with a lot of hall ambience and a muddy bass - a "you are there" soundstage rather than a close miked, direct soundboard mix. Is it an exciting soundstage for that band circa 75? or a muddled one?

[Ian]

Mikie-My review of the 1975 Oakland show (Hayward Daily Review May 30 1975) states that Bobe Seger opened the show  "He did a strong version of Katmandu from his latest Capitol LP" and that he was followed by Richard Torrance and Eureka.  Then Chicago and the BBs.  No mention of Commander Cody or the New Riders. 

[Ian]

Mikie-I went and poked around in my archives.  Commander Cody was not at that show.  He played at the second day on the green a few weeks later with the Grateful Dead and the Doobie Brothers-and with Elton John in attendance.

[Ian]

Ah-I found the source of your confusion.  The BBs and the Dead headlined another show at the Coliseum on June 8 1974 and that had Commander Cody and the New Riders as opening acts.  But that show had no Chicago

[Malc]

How is the overall sound quality? From the snippets on the Rhino site, it almost sounds like a high quality audience recording style tape, with a lot of hall ambience and a muddy bass - a "you are there" soundstage rather than a close miked, direct soundboard mix. Is it an exciting soundstage for that band circa 75? or a muddled one?

Sounds fine to me ... but it has received mixed reviews over sound quality. Personally, I'm not one who studies the ins and outs of bass and treble but I would agree that it's not 100%. Certainly, those with far higher opinions of quality has voiced their disapproval ...

From the Chicago website: "So, I'm listening to 75 for the first time now. Initially, I have to say that I was VERY disappointed with the sound.  Aside from some really iffy notes by Peter (especially on Anyway You Want It and some bad ones in Call On Me), there was just SO much reverb and the low end was SO prominent it made the vocals and guitars hard to really get into...like listening to an album that's at the end of a metal tunnel.  I couldn't get into it at all.  And then I changed the preset in iTunes to "Treble Booster."  For me, if fixed the whole problem.  Suddenly I can really hear the vocals and guitars and melodies again and the bass end isn't so grating.  It's like a whole new experience.  I'm jamming out to Ain't It Blue for the first time live.  Man, I love this song.  One of the underrated ones.  Oh, and I thought that I had heard enough versions of the Ballet, but Terry's guitar on Now More Than Ever (the part before it goes back to Make Me Smile) was different and awesome"

Subsequently, if you are a fan of Chicago (and not just for the BB connection) I'd say it's a must-have - if not, then probably not worth bothering with  

[Mikie]

Mikie-My review of the 1975 Oakland show (Hayward Daily Review May 30 1975) states that Bobe Seger opened the show  "He did a strong version of Katmandu from his latest Capitol LP" and that he was followed by Richard Torrance and Eureka.  Then Chicago and the BBs.  No mention of Commander Cody or the New Riders. 

You are correct, Ian. May 24, 1975, Day On The Green #1, Oakland Stadium - Bob Segar, Richard Torrence, Eureka, Chicago, Beach Boys. Still have my poster framed behind glass. One of my all-time favorite Beach Boys concerts.

June 8, 1974, Day On The Green #1, Oakland Stadium - Commander Cody, New Riders Of The Purple Stage, Beach Boys, Greatful Dead. I was there too - fantastic concert. After The Beach Boys left the stage, about 1/4 to 1/2 the crowd went home!