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{{Short description|1969 single by Chicago Transit Authority}}
{{Infobox song
{{Infobox song
| name = Beginnings
| name = Beginnings
| cover = Chicago-beginnings s.jpg
| cover = Chicago-beginnings s.jpg
| alt =
| alt =
| type = single
| type = single
| artist = [[Chicago (band)|Chicago Transit Authority]]
| artist = [[Chicago (band)|Chicago Transit Authority]]
| album = [[Chicago Transit Authority (album)|Chicago Transit Authority]]
| album = [[Chicago Transit Authority (album)|Chicago Transit Authority]]
| B-side = {{Unbulleted list|"Poem 58"|(Original 1969 release)|"[[Colour My World (Chicago song)|Colour My World]]"|(1971 re-release)}}
| B-side = {{Unbulleted list|"Poem 58"|(Original 1969 release)|"[[Colour My World (Chicago song)|Colour My World]]"|(1971 re-release)}}
| released = {{ubl|October 1969|June 1971 (re-release)}}
| released = {{ubl|October 1969|June 1971 (re-release)}}
| recorded = January 27/30, 1969
| recorded = January 27/30, 1969
| studio =
| studio =
| venue =
| venue =
| genre = [[Pop soul]],<ref name= "Billboard Pop 500">{{cite magazine|last= Billboard Staff|title= The 500 Best Pop Songs: Staff List|magazine= [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url= https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-pop-songs-all-time-hits/|date= October 19, 2023|accessdate= February 10, 2024|quote= Soul-pop, horns, blissed-out lovey-doveyness that anticipates even clearer skies ahead: Hey, that sounds like Chicago’s “Beginnings"...}}</ref> [[Jazz rock]]
| genre = [[Jazz rock]], [[folk rock]], [[progressive rock]]
| length = {{ubl|7:54 (Album version)|2:47 ([[Radio edit|Single version]])|6:26 (''[[The Very Best of Chicago: Only the Beginning|Only the Beginning]]'' edit)}}
| length = {{ubl|7:54 (Album version)|2:47 ([[Radio edit|Single version]])|6:26 (''[[The Very Best of Chicago: Only the Beginning|Only the Beginning]]'' edit)}}
| label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
| label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
| writer = [[Robert Lamm]]
| writer = [[Robert Lamm]]
| producer = [[James William Guercio]]
| producer = [[James William Guercio]]
| prev_title = [[Questions 67 and 68]]
| prev_title = [[Questions 67 and 68]]
| prev_year = 1969
| prev_year = 1969
| year = 1969
| next_title = [[Make Me Smile]]
| next_title = [[Make Me Smile]]
| next_year = 1970
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| next_year = 1970
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist =
| artist =
| type =
| type =
| prev_title = [[Lowdown (Chicago song)|Lowdown]]
| prev_title = [[Lowdown (Chicago song)|Lowdown]]
| prev_year = 1971
| prev_year = 1971
| title = Beginnings/{{wbr}}[[Colour My World (Chicago song)|Colour My World]]
| title = Beginnings/[[Colour My World (Chicago song)|Colour My World]]
| year = 1971
| year = 1971
| next_title = [[Questions 67 and 68]]/{{wbr}}[[I'm a Man (Spencer Davis Group song)|I'm a Man]]
| next_title = [[Questions 67 and 68]]/{{wbr}}[[I'm a Man (Spencer Davis Group song)|I'm a Man]]
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"'''Beginnings'''" is a song written by [[Robert Lamm]] for the rock band [[Chicago (band)|Chicago Transit Authority]] and recorded for its debut album ''[[Chicago Transit Authority (album)|Chicago Transit Authority]]'', released in 1969. The song is the band's second single (after "[[Questions 67 and 68]]"), but failed to chart on its initial release.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/chicago-songs/|title=Top 10 Chicago Songs|last=Swanson|first=Dave|date=December 17, 2015|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|language=en|access-date=February 20, 2019}}</ref>
"'''Beginnings'''" is a song written by [[Robert Lamm]] for the rock band [[Chicago (band)|Chicago Transit Authority]] and recorded for its debut album ''[[Chicago Transit Authority (album)|Chicago Transit Authority]]'', released in 1969. The song is the band's second single (after "[[Questions 67 and 68]]"), but failed to chart on its initial release.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/chicago-songs/|title=Top 10 Chicago Songs|last=Swanson|first=Dave|date=December 17, 2015|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|language=en|access-date=February 20, 2019}}</ref>


After the band's success with subsequent singles, "Beginnings" was re-released in June 1971, backed with "[[Colour My World (Chicago song)|Colour My World]]". Both sides became U.S. radio hits, and the combined single climbed to number seven on the U.S. [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] singles chart.<ref name=BB100/> "Beginnings" reached number one on the U.S. [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Easy Listening]] chart.<ref>{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p3885/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}} |title=''Billboard'' Singles|publisher=[[All Media Guide]] / [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=March 7, 2010}}</ref><ref name= BBAC/> Writing for ''Ultimate Classic Rock'', Dave Swanson rates "Beginnings" as number two in his list of top ten Chicago songs.<ref name=":0" /> It has been covered by many bands, including the tribute band [[Leonid and Friends]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Smith|first=Cliff|title=DISCussion: 'September 17, 1969' |date=June 6, 1970 |work=The Journal News |page=12 |location=White Plains, New York |language=en |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28648248/the_journal_news/|access-date=February 20, 2019|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jazzdisco.org/blue-note-records/catalog-bn-la-series/|title=Blue Note Records Catalog: BN-LA series|website=www.jazzdisco.org|access-date=February 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Billboard LPs: Jazz|date=October 26, 1974|magazine=Billboard|issue=43|volume=86|page=70|url={{Google books|swcEAAAAMBAJ|page=PA70&l|plainurl=yes}}|access-date=February 20, 2019|via=Google books}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/back-in-the-ussa-leonid-and-friends-arrive-in-america-300771634.html|title=BACK IN THE USSA: Leonid and Friends Arrive in America|publisher=PR News Wire|date=January 2, 2019|access-date=May 31, 2019}}</ref>
After the band's success with subsequent singles, "Beginnings" was re-released in June 1971, backed with "[[Colour My World (Chicago song)|Colour My World]]". Both sides became U.S. radio hits, and the combined single climbed to number seven on the U.S. [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] singles chart.<ref name=BB100/> "Beginnings" reached number one on the U.S. [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Easy Listening]] chart.<ref>{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p3885/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}} |title=''Billboard'' Singles|publisher=[[All Media Guide]] / [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=March 7, 2010}}</ref><ref name= BBAC/> Writing for ''Ultimate Classic Rock'', Dave Swanson rates "Beginnings" as number two in his list of top ten Chicago songs.<ref name=":0" /> It has been covered by many bands.


==Composition==
==Composition==
Robert Lamm said "Beginnings" was inspired by a performance by [[Richie Havens]] that he attended at the [[Ash Grove (music club)|Ash Grove]] music club in [[Los Angeles]] when the group moved to that area.<ref name= Ruhlmannp2>{{cite AV media notes|title= Chicago Group Portrait (Box Set)|year= 1991|url= http://aln3.albumlinernotes.com/Chicago_Box_Set_-_Page_2.html|page= 2|access-date= February 20, 2019|first= William James|last= Ruhlmann|format= CD booklet archived online|publisher= Columbia Records|location= New York City, NY|archive-date= November 12, 2017|archive-url= http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20171112155002/http://aln3.albumlinernotes.com/Chicago_Box_Set_-_Page_4.html|url-status= dead}}</ref> In a 2013 interview he said he composed it on a twelve-string guitar that was missing the two low E strings.<ref>{{cite interview |last=Lamm |first=Robert |last2=Loughnane |first2=Lee |last3=Scheff |first3=Jason |last4=Pardini|first4=Lou |interviewer=Danny Lake |title=Exclusive Interview with Chicago! |url=http://www.947wls.com/2013/10/24/exclusive-interview-with-chicago|at=At time 11:12-12:20 |publisher=94.7 WLS-FM |location=Chicago, Illinois |date= Oct 24, 2013|type=radio and video |work=947WLS.com|access-date=February 19, 2019}}</ref>
Robert Lamm said "Beginnings" was inspired by a performance by [[Richie Havens]] that he attended at the [[Ash Grove (music club)|Ash Grove]] music club in [[Los Angeles]] when the group moved to that area.<ref name= Ruhlmannp2>{{cite AV media notes|title= Chicago Group Portrait (Box Set)|year= 1991|url= http://aln3.albumlinernotes.com/Chicago_Box_Set_-_Page_2.html|page= 2|access-date= February 20, 2019|first= William James|last= Ruhlmann|format= CD booklet archived online|publisher= Columbia Records|location= New York City, NY|archive-date= November 12, 2017|archive-url= http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20171112155002/http://aln3.albumlinernotes.com/Chicago_Box_Set_-_Page_4.html|url-status= dead}}</ref> In a 2013 interview he said he composed it on a [[twelve-string guitar]] that was missing the two low E [[String (music)|strings]].<ref>{{cite interview |last=Lamm |first=Robert |last2=Loughnane |first2=Lee |last3=Scheff |first3=Jason |last4=Pardini|first4=Lou |interviewer=Danny Lake |title=Exclusive Interview with Chicago! |url=http://www.947wls.com/2013/10/24/exclusive-interview-with-chicago|at=At time 11:12-12:20 |publisher=94.7 WLS-FM |location=Chicago, Illinois |date= Oct 24, 2013|type=radio and video |work=947WLS.com|access-date=February 19, 2019}}</ref>


==Charts==
==Chart performance==
{{col-begin|width=65%}}
{{col-begin|width=75%}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}


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{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
!align="left"|Chart (1971)
! Chart (1971)
!align="left"|Peak<br />position
! Peak<br />position
|-
|-
|Canada ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.7580&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.7580.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.7580 |title=RPM 100 Singles |date=September 4, 1971 |magazine=RPM |location=Canada |access-date=February 20, 2019|via=Library and Archives Canada}}</ref>
|Canada ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.7580&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.7580.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.7580 |title=RPM 100 Singles |date=September 4, 1971 |magazine=RPM |location=Canada |access-date=February 20, 2019|via=Library and Archives Canada}}</ref>
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| style="text-align:center;"|7
| style="text-align:center;"|7
|-
|-
|U.S. ''Billboard'' [[Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks|Adult Contemporary]]<ref name= BBAC>{{cite magazine|title=Chicago Chart History: Adult Contemporary |magazine=Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/chicago/chart-history/asi/ |access-date=February 20, 2019}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA"/>
|U.S. ''Billboard'' [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Easy Listening]]<ref name= BBAC>{{cite magazine|title=Chicago Chart History: Adult Contemporary |magazine=Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/chicago/chart-history/asi/ |access-date=February 20, 2019}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA"/>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|-
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{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
!align="left"|Chart (1971)
! Chart (1971)
! Rank
! style="text-align:center;"|Rank
|-
|-
|Canada ''RPM'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.7590&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada|website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca|access-date=October 2, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020224403/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.7590&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062|archive-date=October 20, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=RPM 100 Top Singles of '71|date=January 8, 1972|magazine=RPM|issue=20|volume=16|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=4393&|access-date=February 20, 2019|via=Library and Archives Canada}}</ref>
|Canada ''RPM'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.7590&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada|website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca|access-date=October 2, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020224403/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.7590&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062|archive-date=October 20, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=RPM 100 Top Singles of '71|date=January 8, 1972|magazine=RPM|issue=20|volume=16|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=4393&|access-date=February 20, 2019|via=Library and Archives Canada}}</ref>
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| style="text-align:center;"|64
| style="text-align:center;"|64
|-
|-
|U.S. Adult Contemporary (''Billboard'')<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Top Easy Listening Singles|date=December 25, 1971|magazine=Billboard|issue=52|volume=83|page=TA-38|url={{Google books|SQ8EAAAAMBAJ|page=RA1-PA13&dq|plainurl=yes}}|access-date=February 20, 2019|via=Google books}}</ref>
|U.S. Easy Listening (''Billboard'')<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Top Easy Listening Singles|date=December 25, 1971|magazine=Billboard|issue=52|volume=83|page=TA-38|url={{Google books|SQ8EAAAAMBAJ|page=RA1-PA13&dq|plainurl=yes}}|access-date=February 20, 2019|via=Google books}}</ref>
|<center>17</center>
|{{center|17}}
|-
|-
|U.S. ''Cash Box''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/1971YESP.html |title=Top 100 Year End Charts: 1971 |work=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox Magazine]] |access-date=May 30, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Cash Box Top 100 Chart Hits of 1971|magazine=Cash Box |date=December 25, 1971|volume=XXXIII |number=27|page=31|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Cash-Box/70s/1971/Cash-Box-1971-12-25.pdf|access-date=February 20, 2019|via=AmericanRadioHistory.com }}</ref>
|U.S. ''Cash Box''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/1971YESP.html |title=Top 100 Year End Charts: 1971 |work=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox Magazine]] |access-date=May 30, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Cash Box Top 100 Chart Hits of 1971|magazine=Cash Box |date=December 25, 1971|volume=XXXIII |number=27|page=31|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Cash-Box/70s/1971/Cash-Box-1971-12-25.pdf|access-date=February 20, 2019|via=AmericanRadioHistory.com }}</ref>
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==Personnel==
==Personnel==
* [[Robert Lamm]] - lead vocals, keyboards
* [[Robert Lamm]] - lead vocals, keyboards
* [[Terry Kath]] - 12 string acoustic guitar, backing vocals
* [[Terry Kath]] - 12-string acoustic guitar, backing vocals
* [[Peter Cetera]] - bass, backing vocals
* [[Peter Cetera]] - bass, backing vocals
* [[Danny Seraphine]] - drums, percussion
* [[Danny Seraphine]] - drums, percussion

Latest revision as of 20:57, 12 June 2024

"Beginnings"
Single by Chicago Transit Authority
from the album Chicago Transit Authority
B-side
Released
  • October 1969
  • June 1971 (re-release)
RecordedJanuary 27/30, 1969
GenrePop soul,[1] Jazz rock
Length
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Robert Lamm
Producer(s)James William Guercio
Chicago Transit Authority singles chronology
"Questions 67 and 68"
(1969)
"Beginnings"
(1969)
"Make Me Smile"
(1970)

Lowdown
(1971)

Beginnings/Colour My World
(1971)

Questions 67 and 68/I'm a Man
(1971)

"Beginnings" is a song written by Robert Lamm for the rock band Chicago Transit Authority and recorded for its debut album Chicago Transit Authority, released in 1969. The song is the band's second single (after "Questions 67 and 68"), but failed to chart on its initial release.[2]

After the band's success with subsequent singles, "Beginnings" was re-released in June 1971, backed with "Colour My World". Both sides became U.S. radio hits, and the combined single climbed to number seven on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.[3] "Beginnings" reached number one on the U.S. Easy Listening chart.[4][5] Writing for Ultimate Classic Rock, Dave Swanson rates "Beginnings" as number two in his list of top ten Chicago songs.[2] It has been covered by many bands.

Composition

[edit]

Robert Lamm said "Beginnings" was inspired by a performance by Richie Havens that he attended at the Ash Grove music club in Los Angeles when the group moved to that area.[6] In a 2013 interview he said he composed it on a twelve-string guitar that was missing the two low E strings.[7]

Charts

[edit]

Personnel

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Billboard Staff (October 19, 2023). "The 500 Best Pop Songs: Staff List". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2024. Soul-pop, horns, blissed-out lovey-doveyness that anticipates even clearer skies ahead: Hey, that sounds like Chicago's "Beginnings"...
  2. ^ a b Swanson, Dave (December 17, 2015). "Top 10 Chicago Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Chicago Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  4. ^ "Billboard Singles". All Media Guide / Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Chicago Chart History: Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  6. ^ Ruhlmann, William James (1991). Chicago Group Portrait (Box Set) (Media notes). New York City, NY: Columbia Records. p. 2. Archived from the original (CD booklet archived online) on November 12, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  7. ^ Lamm, Robert; Loughnane, Lee; Scheff, Jason; Pardini, Lou (Oct 24, 2013). "Exclusive Interview with Chicago!". 947WLS.com (radio and video). Interviewed by Danny Lake. Chicago, Illinois: 94.7 WLS-FM. At time 11:12-12:20. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  8. ^ "RPM 100 Singles". RPM. Canada. September 4, 1971. Retrieved February 20, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  9. ^ "RPM MOR Playlist". RPM. Canada. July 24, 1971. Retrieved February 20, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  10. ^ a b Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  11. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles". Cash Box. August 28, 1971. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  12. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  13. ^ "RPM 100 Top Singles of '71". RPM. Vol. 16, no. 20. January 8, 1972. Retrieved February 20, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  14. ^ "Top Pop 100 Singles". Billboard. Vol. 83, no. 52. December 25, 1971. p. TA-36. Retrieved February 20, 2019 – via Google books.
  15. ^ "Top Easy Listening Singles". Billboard. Vol. 83, no. 52. December 25, 1971. p. TA-38. Retrieved February 20, 2019 – via Google books.
  16. ^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1971". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  17. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Chart Hits of 1971" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XXXIII, no. 27. December 25, 1971. p. 31. Retrieved February 20, 2019 – via AmericanRadioHistory.com.
[edit]