CHICAGO


The Chicago Transit Authority

(1969) / 2002



The name of this endeavor is simply "The CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTORITI". For the last thirteen months these seven individuals have performed in Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco as the C.T.A. So, if for nothing else than practical logic, they have chosen to title this work appropriately after their professional identity. The purpose of this commentary, however, is an attempt at documenting the complete rejection of any name label, title or verbal reference relative to the performance contained herein.Corporately as well as individually, this artist endeavors to be judged in terms of contribution alone rather than through the tag affixed upon it. The printed word can never aspire to document a truly musical experience, so if you must call them something, speak of the city where all save one were born; where all of them were schooled and bred, and where all of this incredible music went down barely noticed; call them CHICAGO.

James William Guercio


1. Introduction 6'34
(Terry Kath)
2. Does Anybody Really Know What Time Is It ? 4'35
(Robert Lamm)
3. Beginnings 7'51
(Robert Lamm)
4. Questions 67 Or 68 4'59
(Robert Lamm)
5. Listen 3'21
(Robert Lamm)
6. Poem 68 8'37
(Robert Lamm)
7. Free From Guitar
* 6'50
(Terry Kath)
8. South California Purples 6'12
(Robert Lamm)
9. I'm A Man 7'43
(Steve Winwood / James Miller)
10. Prologue, August 29. 1968
** 0'58
(James William Guercio)
11. Someday (August 29. 1968) 4'13
(Robert Lamm)
12. Liberation
*** (live) 14'39
(James Pankow)

Total Time: 76:32


  • Peter Cetera - Bass and Lead Vocals
  • Terry Kath - Guitar and Lead Vocals
  • Robert Lamm - Keyboard and Lead Vocals
  • Lee Loughnane - Trumpet and Background Vocals
  • James Pankow - Trombone
  • Walter Parazaider - Woodwinds and Background Vocals
  • Daniel Seraphine - Drums

    James William Guercio - Producer
    Nick Fasciano - Cover Art

    Production Notes:

    POSEIDON PRODUCTIONS A Division Of James William GUERCIO ENTERPRISES INCORPORATED
    The selections are BMI.
    Engineering: Fred CAERO
    All Brass Arrangements by James PANKOW with some help from the rest of the boys.

    * FREE FORM GUITAR was performed on a Fender Stratocaster Guitar through a Showman amplifier equipped with a twin 15 bottom utilizing a Bogan P. A. amplifier as a pre-amp. No electronic gimmicks or effects were used in the recording of this selection, the intent being to capture as faithfully as possible the actual sound of the performance as it occurred.

    ** PROLOGUE, AUGUST, 29 1968 - Actual recording, Democratic Convention (Chicago, August 29, 1968). Black militants exhorting demonstrators: "God Give Us the Blood to Keep Going"; March begins; Police attempt to disperse marchers; Chant: "The Whole World's Watching".

    *** LIBERATION - This Track was Recorded entirely live. The performance embodied in this recording is complete and uncut.

    Chart Information:

    Sept. '69 - Chicago Transit Authority - May '69 Chart Position 17

  • Jul. '69 - Question 67 And 68 / Listen - Chart Position 71
  • Nov. '70 - Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is ? / Listen - Chart Position 7



    1. Introduction

      Hey there everybody
      Please don't romp or roam
      We're a little nervous
      'Cause we're so far from home
      So this is what we do
      Sit back and let us groove
      And let us work on you

      We've all spent years preparing
      before this band was born
      With heaven's help it blended
      And we do thank the lord.

      Now we put you through the changes
      And turned around the mood
      We hope it's struck you different
      And hope you feel moved
      So forget about your troubles
      As we search for something new
      And we play for you

    2. Does Anybody Really Know What Time Is It ?

      As I was walking down the street one day
      A man came up to me and asked me what the time was that was
      on my watch, yeah
      And I said
      Does anybody really know what time it is
      I don't
      Does anybody really care
      care
      If so I can't imagine why
      about time
      We've all got time enough to cry
      Oh no, no

      And I was walking down the street one day
      A pretty lady looked at me and said her diamond watch had
      stopped cold dead
      And I said
      Does anybody really know what time it is
      I don't
      Does anybody really care
      care
      If so I can't imagine why
      about time
      We've all got time enough to cry
      Oh no, no

      And I was walking down the street one day
      Being pushed and shoved by people trying to beat the clock,
      oh, so I just don't know,
      I just don't know
      And I said, yes I said

    Background Vocal:
      People runnin' everywhere
      Don't know the way to go
      Don't know where I am
      Can't see past the next step
      Don't have to think past the last mile
      Have no time to look around
      Just run around, run around and think why


      Does anybody really know what time it is
      I don't
      Does anybody really care
      care
      If so I can't imagine why
      about time
      We've all got time enough to die
      Oh no, no

    3. Beginnings

      When I'm with you, it doesn't matter where we are,
      Or what we're doing. I'm with you, that's all that matters.
      Time passes much too quickly when we're together laughing.
      I wish I could sing it to you, oh no,
      I wish I could sing it to you.
      Mostly I'm silent.
      Never think about words to say.

      When I kiss you, I feel a thousand different feelings.
      The color of chills all over my body.
      And when I feel them, I quickly try to decide which one
      I should try to put into words, oh no,
      Try to put into words.
      Mostly I'm silent.

      Only the beginning of what I want to feel forever.
      Only the beginning. Only just the start.
      I've got to get you into my life.
      Got to get you next to me.
      Only the beginning. Only just the start.

    4. Questions 67 Or 68

      Can this feeling that we have together
      Oooh, Suddenly exist between
      Did this meeting of our minds together
      Oooh, Happen just today, somewhere
      I'd like to know,
      Can you tell me -- please don't tell me
      It really doesn't matter anyhow
      It's just that the thought of us so happy
      Appears in my mind, as a beautifully mysterious thing

      Was your image in my mind so deeply
      Oooh, other places fade away
      blocking memories of unhappy hours
      Oooh, Leavin' just a burnin' love
      I'd like to know,
      Can you tell me -- please don't tell me
      It really doesn't matter anyhow
      It's just that the thought of us so happy
      Appears in my mind, as a beautifully mysterious thing
      Yes it does now baby

      Can this lovin' we have found within us
      Oooh, Suddenly exist between
      Did we somehow try to make it happen
      Oooh, Was it just a natural thing
      I'd like to know,
      Can you tell me -- please don't tell me
      It really doesn't matter anyhow
      It's just that the thought of us so happy
      Appears in my mind, as a beautifully mysterious thing
      Yes it does now baby
      Questions 67 and 68.

    5. Listen

      Listen,
      If you think that we're here for the money
      You couldn't be right, you know(owowow)
      But the bread is not too good here
      It could be so natural
      I said all you got to do is listen

      Listen,
      If you don't hear what you can tell us
      If it's good you can tell us all
      Or you can smile, that's alright my friend
      It could be so nice, you know
      If only you would listen

      Listen,
      If you don't understand it, no no no no
      You got to try to fly
      And don't you put me down, please
      For creating beyond your mind
      I said all you got to do is listen

    6. Poem 68

      The way you talk
      The things you've done
      Make me wish I
      Was the only one
      Who
      Could ever have made you laugh now
      Could have made you
      Made you want want to cry
      To have been there the day
      You first whispered "I love you"
      Yes I love you

      When you discover
      All those new things
      And when you first
      First met the world
      When you felt beautiful
      And you said hello(owowow)
      To everything you saw
      If I could have been all
      So I could have known you all those times
      I love you
      Yes, I love you
      Yes I do

    7. Free From Guitar *

      (Instrumental)
    * Was performed on a Fender Stratocaster guitar through a Showman amplifier equipped with a twin 15 bottom utilizing a Bogan P. A. amplifier as a pre-amp. No electronic gimmicks or effects were used in the recording of this selection, the intent being to capture as faithfully as possible the actual sound of the performance as it occurred.

    8. South California Purples

      Cloudy every morning
      Sun don't never shine
      Cloudy every morning
      Sun don't ever shine
      Since I lost my baby
      I been losing my mind

      I thought this was a warm place
      I must be in the wrong place
      Thought this was a warm place
      I must be in the wrong place
      And I don't know where I'm going
      Since my lover left me
      Never no smile on my face

      I am he is you are he is you are me and we are all together, woah woah

      Buddy, this ain't LA
      I've travelled such a long way
      Buddy, this ain't LA
      I've travelled such a long way
      And I still don't know where I'm going
      But without my baby
      I better not stay
      I better not stay, no ow woah no

    9. I'm A Man

      Well my pad is very messy, got whiskers on my chin
      Never had no problems 'cause I've always paid the rent
      I got no time for lovin'
      Cause my time is all used up
      I stand outside creatin'
      All the groovy kinds of love
      I'm a man, yes I am and I can't help but love you so
      Oh baby
      I'm a man, yes I am and I can't help but love you so
      Yes I am

      If I had my choice of matter
      I'd would rather be with cats
      All engrossed in mental chatter,
      Showing where your mind is at
      While relating to each other
      How strong the love can be
      By resisting all the good times with each groovy chick we see
      I'm a man yes I am and I can't help but love you so
      Oooh, I'm a man, yes I am
      I'm a man yes I am and I can't help but love you so
      I love to hear you talk

      I've got to keep my image
      While I'm standing on the floor
      If I drop upon my knees
      It's just to keep them on my nose
      You think that I'm not human
      And my heart is made of stone
      But I've never had no problems
      And my body's pretty strong

      I'm a man yes I am and I can't help but love you so
      Yeah, yeah, yeah, yes I know
      I'm a man yes I am and I can't help but love you so
      Oooh
      Man yes I am and I can't help but love you so
      Good god I love you so, love you so

      If I had my choice of matter
      I would rather be with cats
      All engrossed in mental chatter
      Knowin' where your mind is at
      While relating to each other
      How good a love can be
      By resisting all the good times with each groovy chick we see

      I'm a man yes I am and I can't help but love you so
      Yes I am
      I'm a man yes I am and I can't help but love you so
      Yeah, yeah yeah. I'm a
      Man yes I am and I can't help but love you so
      I'm a man, ooh yes I am
      I gotta keep my image
      While I'm standin on the floor
      If I drop upon my knees
      You think that I'm not human
      And my heart is made of stone
      But I never had no problems
      And my body's pretty strong

      I'm a
      Man, yes I am, and I can't help but love you so
      Owww.. I'm A Man, yes I am, and I can't help but love you so
      Man, yes I am, and I can't help but love you so
      Man, yes I am, and I can't help but love you so

    10. Prologue, ( august 29. 1968 ) *

    * Actual recording, Democratic Convention (Chicago, August 29, 1968). Black militants exhorting demonstrators: "God Give Us the Blood to Keep Going"; March begins; Police attempt to disperse marchers; Chant: "The Whole World's Watching."

    11. Someday (august 29. 1968)

      Would you look around you now
      And tell me what you see
      Faces full of hate and fear
      Faces full of me
      Do you feel the rumblings
      As your head comes crumbling down
      Do you know what I mean

      Run, you better, run you know
      The End is getting near
      Feel the wind of something hard
      Come whistling past your ear
      As they try to get you
      Where it will upset you
      Down
      Now you know what I mean

      Someday you will see how long
      We've waited for the time
      To show you how we've died
      To get together with you all

      Twist and turn your head around
      'Till everything's unclear
      Twist and turn your arm around
      Until it is not there
      And they'd love to burn you
      Or at least to turn you around
      Now you know what I mean

      Can you look around you now
      And tell us what's to be
      Can you look inside yourself
      And tell us what you see
      As you feel the rumblings
      As your head comes crumbling down
      And you know what I mean
      Someday you will see how long
      We've been waiting for the time
      To show you how we've died
      To get together with you all

    12. Liberation * (live)

      (Instrumental)
    *This Track was Recorded entirely live. The performance embodied in this recording is complete and uncut.