Chicago 1982 photo before Peter was replaced by Jason Scheff. To view more group photo, click here |
Peter Cetera is the original vocalist, founder and songwriter of Chicago band that was formed back in 1967. In 1985, Peter was replaced by Jason Scheff whose voice and style bear a uncanny resemblance to Peter. Peter went on to pursue his successful solo career. Peter’s voice is considered one of the best in the music industry. His highly distinctive vocal power give every love ballade song he sing a warm and soulful touch. Despite more than 60 years of age, Peter still able to sing the song quite well with a different style. |
This is Part 1 of Chicago’s songs from 1987 to 1985 when Peter Cetera was the vocalist.
Proceed to Part 2 for songs from 1985 to current when Jason Scheff is vocalist.
You’re The Inspiration
You’re The Inspiration By Chicago
You know our love was meant to be
The kind of love that lasts forever
And I need you here with me
From tonight until the end of time
You should know, everywhere I go
You’re always on my mind, in my heart
In my soul
CHORUS:
You’re the meaning in my life
You’re the inspiration
You bring felling to my life
You’re the inspiration
Wanna have you near me
I wanna have you hear me sayin’
No one needs you more that I need you
And i know, yes I know that it’s plain to see
We’re so in love when we’re together
And i know that I need you here with me
From tonight until the end of time
You should know, everywhere I go
Always on my mind, in my heart in my soul
Hard Habit To Break
Hard Habit To Break by Chicago
I guess I thought you’d be here forever
Another illusion I chose to create
You don’t know what ya got until it’s gone
And I found out a little too late
I was acting as if you were lucky to have me
Doin’ you a favor I hardly knew you were there
But then you were gone and it was all wrong
Had no idea how much I cared
CHORUS:
Now being without you
Takes a lot of getting used to
Should learn to live with it
But I don’t want to
Living without you
It’s all a big mistake
Instead of getting easier
It’s the hardest thing to take
I’m addicted to ya babe
You’re a hard habit to break
You found somebody else you had every reason
You know I can’t blame you for runnin’ to him
Two people together but living alone
I was spreading my love too thin
After all of these years
I’m still tryin’ to shake it
Doin’ much better they say that I just takes time
But deep in the night it’s an endless flight
I can’t get ya out of my mind
CHORUS
2nd Chorus:
Being without you
Takes a lot of getting used to
Should learn to live with it
I don’t want to
Being without
Is all a big mistake
Instead of getting any easier
It’s the hardest thing to take
I’m addicted to you
You’re a hard habit to break
Hard To Say I’m sorry
Hard To Say I’m Sorry by Chicago
Everybody needs a little time away
I heard her say
From each other
Even lovers need a holiday
Far away from each other
Hold me now
It’s hard for me to say I’m sorry
I just want you to stay
After all that we’ve been through
I will make it up to you
I promise to
And after all that’s been said and done
You’re just a part of me I can’t let go
Couldn’t stand to be kept away
Just for a day
From your body
Wouldn’t want to be swept away
Far away
From the one that I love
Hold me now
It is hard for me to say I’m sorry
I just want you to know
Hold me now
I really want to tell you I’m sorry
I could never let you go
After all that we’ve been through
I will make it up to you
I promise to
After all that’s been said and done
You’re just a part of me I can’t let go
After all that we’ve been through
I will make it up to you
I promise to
Baby What A Big Suprise
Baby What A Big Surprise by Chicago
Right before my very eyes
I thaught that you were only faking it
And right before my heart was taking it
Baby what a big surprise
Right before my very eyes
ohhohohhoh
yesterday it seemed to me
my life was nothing more than wasted time
but here today you softly changed my mind
Baby what a big surprise
Right before my very eyes
ohhohohhoh ohhhohhoh
Just to be alone
Was a little more than I could take
Then you came to stay
Hold me in the morning
Love me in the afternoon
Help me find my way.
Now and then just like before
I think about the love I’ve thrown away
But now it doesn’t matter anyway.
Baby, what a big surprise.
If You Leave Me Now
Live Performance
1977 Performance
If You Leave Me Now by Chicago
If you leave me now, you’ll take away the biggest part of me
Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, no, baby please don’t go
And if you leave me now, you’ll take away the very heart of me
Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, no, baby please don’t go
A love like ours is love that’s hard to find
How could we let it slip away?
We’ve come to far to leave it all behind
How could we end it all this way?
When tomorrow comes and we’ll both regret things we said today
A love like ours is love that’s hard to find
How could we let it slip away?
We’ve come to far to leave it all behind
How could we end it all this way?
When tomorrow comes and we’ll both regret things we said today
If you leave me now, you’ll take away the biggest part of me
Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo, no, baby, please don’t go
Remember The Feeling
Remember The Feeling by Chicago
Shadows were hiding what I couldn’t see
Out in the dark – she was calling to me
Calling to me with a voice I’d never forget
She was a vision I couldn’t believe
I held her close so that she wouldn’t leave
Suddenly helpless – hopelessly falling in love
CHORUS:
I remember the feeling
I remember the was
She came up and wrapped her arms around me
Told me that she cared
Said she’d always be there
Taking me places that I’ve never been
She had the beauty that comes from within’
Was dreaming was it too good to be true
I was a man all alone in the night
She came along and she showed me the light
I was confused then she told me the way
I was alone and I begged her to stay She was alive I was caught by the fire
She brought emotions that filled my desire
I should have noticed that something was wrong
When I was awoke she was gone
CHORUS
She was alive I was caught by the fire
She brought emotions that filled my desire
I should have noticed that something was wrong
When I awoke, I could see that she was gone
[…] Proceed to Part 1 for songs from 1967 to 1985 when Peter Cetera was the vocalist. […]
Check your facts…Peter Cetera was the last of the original members to join the band, so you could not consider him the founder of the group.
Also, on the successful debut album, the lionshare of the songwriting and lead vocals were done by Robert Lamm. Also in the early days of the group there were several lead singers and songwriters within the group.
You also omitted the fact that Peter’s insistence on singing ballads destroyed the group and that most true Chicago fans loathe the music Peter made as lead singer of the group during the 1980s.
Sharon,
you are right that Peter joined the band last. The issue is then the band was not called Chicago then, and it is not Chicago without Peter Cetera. From wikipedia(which you may take the source from) that Chicago band name was named after Peter joined the group, and the group released the album “Questions 67 and 68” as the first album, and soon the group change its name to Chicago.So though not as founder of the precursor but definitely as founder of the band Chicago.
“Soon after the album’s release, the band’s name was shortened to simply Chicago, when the actual Chicago Transit Authority threatened legal action.”
Thank for rest of subsequent information. I have to admit that there are still lot of things I don’t know about the band and its history. Peter did make Chicago world famous and overshadow any of the members in the group, and in the end the world end up giving Peter much of the credit.
“You also omitted the fact that Peter’s insistence on singing ballads destroyed the group and that most true Chicago fans loathe the music Peter made as lead singer of the group during the 1980s.”
Hmmm, that is really something new because in this post, Peter Cetera receives far greater viewership than Scheff (I have a separate post for him), and even though I feel that Scheff is just as good as Peter. During 1980s, the radio tends to play more of Peter’s song in my recollection.
I think it is a matter of preference of who is the better lead singer. My preference is Peter Cetera whose sound define Chicago better than rest of the vocalists before and after him. Well, as I say, it is a matter of preference.
Sharon,
You can loathe all you want the 80’s changes that Peter made, but you have to accept that as far as chart and monetary success, they did not really hit it until the 80’s. Check your history.
I know you diehard 70’s fans think of them as two groups, but what you should think of them is a group that evolved with the times as they did again in the Post Cetera era.
Finally, to blame Peter for the commercial success of the 80’s is also counter to the history of the 90’s and beyond when of course they continued to produce, well ballads with Jason leading singing the parts Peter would have. As Peter as said for his solo career, he has sang as many faster tunes as ballads, but fancy that the ballads are the ones that people like. The same is true for Chicago in the Post Cetera area.
Chicago and Cetera fans:
I’m with Sharon. The rest of you need do no more than read the Chicago Transit Authority album cover wherein producer J. W. Gercio explains that labels are to be avoided, but if you must call them something, call them the name of city where all but one was born, “Chicago.” I don’t think the CTA threatened to sue. That seems like urban legend.
Now, Cetera was “just a great bass player who happened to have a hellova voice!” Bass players of the time were not headliners. Bobby Lamm and Terry Kath were the “soul of Chicago” in the 60’s and 70’s. They wrote the songs, they played the leads. The uniqueness of the band is that they were all accomplished musicians, especially by the standards of the day. When Terry Kath, the best guitar player of the time to my mind, shot himself (listen to his lyrics – I think he committed suicide, but that is not what the band reported), the band was “rescued” by Peter’s voice and ballads.
Peter’s background in Country music led to ballads that didn’t fit with the rest of the band, except that it did generate a lot of money and popularity, something the original Chicago seemed to shun. I think that’s what drove
the band apart. As Sharon said, many fans resented Cetera leaving to go solo, but I’m not sure the band members were as sad as the fans.
I still enjoy listening to the original Chicago as well as Pete
solo, and all the guys who have played with the band over the years. The consistent thread is the high quality of muscianship of all the people who have played with Chicago. That’s why I think they are the best pop band to come along.
There is absolutely no doubt that Cetera was/is the best singer Chicago or many other groups have ever experienced.
Lister to Cetera voice now…just as brilliant as it was,listen to Scheff’s voice…wow it is aging which is understanderable.
Chicago has changed too many of the people over the years….maybe they should call themselves Chicago revisited…..either way certaintly not as tight as the 70’s or 80’s.
I’m a fan of all stages of Chicago. I don’t think it’s fair to say that Peter changed the sound of the group in the 80s. David Foster changed their sound. They were dropped after Chicago 14 by CBS and Warner picked them up under Foster’s direction. He forced Champlin on them (which was a good choice) and got them on the radio again. Sure I love the original Chicago, the 80s Chicago, the Scheff/modern Chicago. It’s almost like different bands. I’ve even found myself listening to the Donnie Daccus albums (Hot Streets and 13) lately and feel they went underappreciated.
No matter when you pick up a Chicago album, it’s going to be great no matter which era.