Beginnings (Chicago song): Difference between revisions

"Beginnings"
"Beginnings"
Single by Chicago Transit Authority
from the album Chicago Transit Authority
B-side	"Poem 58"; (Original 1969 release); "Colour My World"; (1971 re-release);
Released	October 1969; June 1971 (re-release);
Recorded	January 27/30, 1969
Genre	Pop soul, Jazz rock
Length	7:54 (Album version); 2:47 (Single version); 6:26 (Only the Beginning edit);
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Robert Lamm
Producer(s)	James William Guercio
Chicago Transit Authority singles chronology

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"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

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

Weekly charts

Chart (1971)	Peak position
Canada RPM Top Singles^[8]	8
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary^[9]	15
U.S. Billboard Hot 100^[3]^[10]	7
U.S. Billboard Easy Listening^[5]^[10]	1
U.S. Cash Box Top 100^[11]	11

Year-end charts

Chart (1971)	Rank
Canada RPM Top Singles^[12]^[13]	53
U.S. Billboard Hot 100^[14]	64
U.S. Easy Listening (Billboard)^[15]	17
U.S. Cash Box^[16]^[17]	58

Personnel

Robert Lamm - lead vocals, keyboards
Terry Kath - 12-string acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Peter Cetera - bass, backing vocals
Danny Seraphine - drums, percussion
Jimmy Pankow - trombone
Lee Loughnane - trumpet
Walter Parazaider - alto saxophone

References

^ 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"...
^ ^a ^b Swanson, Dave (December 17, 2015). "Top 10 Chicago Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Chicago Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
^ "Billboard Singles". All Media Guide / Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
^ ^a ^b "Chicago Chart History: Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ "RPM 100 Singles". RPM. Canada. September 4, 1971. Retrieved February 20, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
^ "RPM MOR Playlist". RPM. Canada. July 24, 1971. Retrieved February 20, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
^ ^a ^b Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles". Cash Box. August 28, 1971. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
^ "RPM 100 Top Singles of '71". RPM. Vol. 16, no. 20. January 8, 1972. Retrieved February 20, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
^ "Top Pop 100 Singles". Billboard. Vol. 83, no. 52. December 25, 1971. p. TA-36. Retrieved February 20, 2019 – via Google books.
^ "Top Easy Listening Singles". Billboard. Vol. 83, no. 52. December 25, 1971. p. TA-38. Retrieved February 20, 2019 – via Google books.
^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1971". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
^ "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.

External links

Chicago - Beginnings on YouTube

[Billboard_Pop_500-1] 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"...

[:0-2] Swanson, Dave (December 17, 2015). "Top 10 Chicago Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved February 20, 2019.

[BB100-3] "Chicago Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2019.

[4] "Billboard Singles". All Media Guide / Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2010.

[BBAC-5] "Chicago Chart History: Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2019.

[Ruhlmannp2-6] 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.

[ReferenceA-10] 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.

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@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 | studio        =
 | venue         =
-| genre         = [[Folk rock]]<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>
+| 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]]
 | 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]]
@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 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}}
@@ Line 70: / Line 70: @@
 {| 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>

v t e Chicago
Robert Lamm Lee Loughnane James Pankow Walfredo Reyes Jr. Ray Herrmann Neil Donell Ramon Yslas Tony Obrohta Loren Gold Eric Baines Walter Parazaider Danny Seraphine Terry Kath Peter Cetera Laudir de Oliveira Donnie Dacus Chris Pinnick Bill Champlin Jason Scheff Dawayne Bailey Tris Imboden Bruce Gaitsch Keith Howland Drew Hester Lou Pardini Daniel De Los Reyes Jeff Coffey Brett Simons
Studio albums	Chicago Transit Authority Chicago Chicago III Chicago V Chicago VI Chicago VII Chicago VIII Chicago X Chicago XI Hot Streets Chicago 13 Chicago XIV Chicago 16 Chicago 17 Chicago 18 Chicago 19 Twenty 1 Night & Day: Big Band Chicago XXX Chicago XXXII: Stone of Sisyphus Chicago XXXV: The Nashville Sessions Chicago XXXVI: Now Chicago XXXVIII: Born for This Moment
Christmas albums	Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album Chicago XXXIII: O Christmas Three Chicago XXXVII: Chicago Christmas
Live albums	Chicago at Carnegie Hall Live in Japan Chicago XXVI: Live in Concert Chicago XXXIV: Live in '75
Compilations	Chicago IX: Chicago's Greatest Hits Greatest Hits, Volume II If You Leave Me Now Take Me Back to Chicago Greatest Hits 1982–1989 Group Portrait The Heart of Chicago 1967–1997 The Heart of Chicago 1967–1998 Volume II The Very Best of Chicago: Only the Beginning The Box Love Songs The Best of Chicago: 40th Anniversary Edition
Singles	"Questions 67 and 68" "Beginnings" "Make Me Smile" "25 or 6 to 4" "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" "Free" "Lowdown" "Saturday in the Park" "Dialogue (Part I & II)" "Feelin' Stronger Every Day" "Just You 'n' Me" "(I've Been) Searchin' So Long" "Call on Me" "Wishing You Were Here" "Harry Truman" "Old Days" "Brand New Love Affair" "Another Rainy Day in New York City" "If You Leave Me Now" "Baby, What a Big Surprise" "Take Me Back to Chicago" "Alive Again" "No Tell Lover" "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" "Love Me Tomorrow" "Stay the Night" "Hard Habit to Break" "You're the Inspiration" "Along Comes a Woman" "Will You Still Love Me?" "If She Would Have Been Faithful..." "Niagara Falls" "I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love" "Look Away" "You're Not Alone" "We Can Last Forever" "What Kind of Man Would I Be?" "Chasin' the Wind" "Here in My Heart"
Related articles	Discography Mitglieder Leonid and Friends