Chicago III - CHICAGO***

Sing A Mean Tune Kid/Loneliness Is Just A Word/What Else Can I Say/I Don't Want Your Money/Flight 602/Motorboat To Mars/Free/Free Country/At The Sunrise/Happy 'Cause I'm Going Home/Mother/Lowdown/A Hard Risin' Morning Without Breakfast/Off To Work/Fallin' Out/Dreamin' Home/Morning Blues Again/When All The Laughter Dies In Sorrow/Canon/Once Upon A Time/Progress/The Approaching Storm/Man v Man The End

Yet another double LP from Chicago making it three in a row. Unfortunately, the inspiration takes quite a dip with this one, and they would never again reach the heights of their first two album releases. Includes the US Top Twenty single Free. (US:2 UK:9)

"Mostly awful, dissonant jazzy ramblings and schmaltzy lyrical pop. Loneliness is a good track with a really enjoyable Hammond solo. The rest is never up to the standard of the first two albums - way behind them in fact. Disappointing."

"The boys from Chicago have provided us with the third two record set in a row and while it's strong moments are stronger than their previous album, the weak moments are weaker and the pompous moments should not even be talked about. Word of advice, avoid side four all together as they attempt to get experimental and dabble in a bit of poetry and the classics as well."

"With this release, Chicago had produced three double-LP sets within two years, which cluttered the market and drained the band members' creativity. The result was a fall off in quality and sales, though Chicago III did manage to stay on the charts for over a year, selling a million copies. The hits are Free and Lowdown, neither of which are among the group's best."

"Chicago III, the band's third double album in as many years, features plenty of good music, but suffers for its lack of focus. There are three extended jams, and of them, only James Pankow's Elegy is consistently good. Terry Kath's crude rambling ode to An Hour In The Shower and Lamm's Travel Suite both have some enjoyable moments, but also contain much filler."

"This was somewhat of a disappointment for Chicago fans. Not their best work in my opinion, but then again how do you follow up a masterpiece like Chicago II?"

"Chicago III was a more experimental outing by Chicago than their previous two albums. The styles range wider, with barely a nod to mainstream music of the late 60s and early 70s. It is likely that the ability to have such a large variety was made possible by the success of their previous two albums."