I am very pleased with the quality of this product. I am also very impressed with how quickly this item was shipped to me.

'Chicago X' finds the band in a different musical place,somewhere between the funky 1974 album Chicago VII and the heavier rock of it's follow up Chicago VIII.In general this strikes a better balance between those two styles.Does 'X' go back to the style Chicago had in the early days?Not exactly;the tunes here are shorter pop songs with no suites and song cycles but there are plenty of gems here.Terry Kath contributed the bouncy rock n roll of "Once Or Twice" while James Pankow's Latin romp "You Are On My Mind" (one of this albums singles).He also teamed up with Peter Cetera for the playful funk of "Skin Tight" (NOT the Ohio Players hit) while Robert Lamm brings in the funk-rock hybrid thing.This album had three singles and two get quite a lot of airplay today but one of them,"If You Leave Me Now" is probably the song people most ascociated with this recording.Even in music review books this album is often written off as the place when Chicago turned to "power ballads".First "If You Leave Me Now" is NOT a power ballad and two,it is not the sound that defines this otherwise peppy album.The other single is more that style-the Caribbean sounding "Another Rainy Day In New York City",written again by Lamm.This album is not as long winded or experimental as Chicago's earlier recording but it is also one of their great albums as well.

I say the edge, because they almost reach the peak of their second era, the Caribou-ranch years of Chicago VI - XI, with this album. It is not quite as good as XI, but is the best one yet (being just slightly better than the epic VII).

Why do I rank it higher than VII? Well, because of the vocals of Terry Kath that start it off, and the hot sax solo. It had been so long since we had heard THAT kind of Chicago. Maybe Chicago V was the last time! And then it goes into You Are On My Mind, with, are you ready, a truly Chicago-esque Pankow trombone solo!

de Oliveira, a key element in their second era, is very prevalent on this album. Pop, rock, and blues are tinged with his percussive offerings, mostly notably his congas. It has been argued - who did Chicago ever influence? A point could be made that they gave a boost to the growth of latin influences in 70s and 80s pop with their Caribou sound.

But the thing that makes X different than CTA - V, is that the guys are just having flat-out fun. They thumb their noses at the stoners and say, "We're going to play what we want to play."

I am tired of the old, worn out cliche of this being the beginning of the ballad era. Hogwash! When did the Beatles ever get criticized for recording "And I Love Her," or "Michelle," or "Something"? It's called musical diversity! Get off your high horses and enjoy it!

This album is almost a 5-star. When I bought it in 1976, I was thrilled with every cut, thinking to myself "Good, they're finally getting back to their real sound!"

Every music lover should have this CD - and they should LIKE it!

Crap.
I thought their first three records were amazing and totally different from anything I've ever heard.
V was kind of weak. VI is one my favorites. VII is a pretty good record. VIII is okay. IX - their 1st greatest hits album is a okay if you just want the hits.
X is the beginning of a string 13 crapy records in a row.

By 1976, the band Chicago had been around nine years and had been recording for seven. Given that most rock n' roll outfits have a very short shelf-life, it can be safely said that the boys had entered their middle-age. This being the case, their 10th album might be expected to be a little stale.

This isn't the case, however, with CHICAGO X. A lively mix of rock, funk, ballads, and latino, the set seems fresh even 20-some-odd years later. The recent Rhino remastered re-release is certainly very welcome.

The first cut is the rousing "Once Or Twice," an uncomplicated but engaging rocker penned by guitarist Terry Kath. While not his best work, it still gets the album up off the ground early, and Kath's enthusiastic vocals are always great to hear.

The next tune is the lively "You are on My Mind," written and sung by trombonist Jimmy Pankow. As might be expected, the tune closes with a ripping trombone solo, maybe Pankow's best. The follow-up is also a Pankow tune: "Skin Tight," a funk tune featuring the vocals of Pete Cetera, and the solo work of Kath and Pankow.

"If You Leave Me Now" is the biggest single of the set, and though the Cetera-penned/sung ballad signals the fall of Chicago into syrupy power ballads, it's a touching work in its own right. It's followed by "Together Again"--a fine up-tempo number written and sung by trumpeter Lee Loughnane--and the minor hit "Another Rainy Day in New York City," which showcases the band's latino influences.

The second half of the CD begins with the okay "Mama, Mama," written and sung by Cetera. Bobby Lamm then makes belated vocal appearances with "Gently I'll Wake You" (nothing special) and the funk-driven "Scrapbook," featuring excellent wah-work by Kath. The lively "You Get It Up," a winking homage to sexual stimulation, leads the way to the original closer, a sub-par ballad called "Hope For Love," composed and sung by Kath.

The bonus tracks on this one are excellent. There's an early version of Lamm's "I'd Rather Be Rich" (eventually recorded on XIV), and there's a great Kath tune called "Your Love's an Attitude," featuring terrific acoustic playing. The liner notes for this edition of the CD are entertaining.

CHICAGO X, then, is recommended. The horns rip, the vocals inspire, Kath's guitar is magic, and the production of James William Guercio is thoroughly modern.