Beginnings – Chicago | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#7); 1971
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
Before Chicago became a poster band for mainstream pop radio, the Windy City outfit was a groundbreaking album act. At a time when even the biggest artists in the world were reluctant to release a double album at any time in their career, Chicago issued a four-sider as its debut offering. Chicago Transit Authority featured 12 cuts of catchy, rock-meets-jazz music, the majority of which were extended jams that received extensive spins on the album-oriented FM outlets.
Edited down versions of four tracks also charted on the Hot 100: Questions 67 And 68 (#71; 1969 & #24; 1971), Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? (#7; 1971), Beginnings (#7; 1971); and I’m A Man (#49; 1971).
In an interesting twist, Chicago’s first two Top 10 singles – Make Me Smile and 25 Or 6 To 4 – were taken from the second album, followed by Time from the first and two middling performers from the third LP, before another from the first, Beginnings, returned them to the Top 10.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- James William Guercio
Lyrics Written by:
- Robert Lamm
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).