The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds Ep463: Lee Loughnane of Chicago
Sep 9, 2024
54:24
Lee Loughnane of Chicago shares memories of the band’s early period, the Chicago Transit Authority debut, Chicago’s live performances, rediscovered recordings and the band's enduring legacy.
Topic Include:
- Lee Loughnane – intro
- Early days – memories of Jimi Hendrix
- Jimi wanted to play/jam with Chicago
- Terry Kath and Jimi got along well
- Learnings from Jimi and Janis
- Audience of high improvisation tolerance
- Chicago has so many hits, they can’t play them all in a show
- Touring with Earth Wind & Fire
- Playing when the power goes out
- Recording the 1971 Kennedy Center show
- Common to debut material live before recording
- The process of writing Chicago songs
- Jimmy writing the Ballet
- The naming of albums with Roman numerals
- Changing band name from Chicago Transit Authority
- Origin story of the Chicago band logo
- Releasing a double album as a debut
- Recording/rehearsing and writing 1st few albums
- Band house under the Hollywood Freeway
- AM radio wouldn’t play early Chicago material
- “Make Me Smile” single for AM radio
- Band was concerned about feasibility to do multiple albums
- Playing Carnegie Hall – recent remix and box set
- Remixing early Chicago records
- Challenge of playing live in early days
- Terry’s amp position on live stage
- Did Chicago record many early gigs?
- The Kennedy Center gig was special and recorded as such
- Chicago put out a lot of records early on
- Current tour going to Japan but not Australia
- Rediscovering Kennedy Center recording
- Debuting the song “Saturday In The Park” at the Kennedy Center
- Unheard Chicago songs and tapes been archived
- Chicago tapes – multitracks and masters
- Lee enjoys modern CDs much more than vinyl
- What’s Lee listening to these days?
- Lee never got into punk rock
- Interview wrap up
Order "Chicago at the Kennedy Center" LP set here
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