Chicago 16

Chicago 16
Studio album by Chicago
Released	June 7, 1982
Recorded	January - April 1982
Genre	Rock, Adult Contemporary
Length	41:51
Label	Full Moon/Warner Bros.
Producer	David Foster
Chicago chronology
Greatest Hits, Volume II (1981) Chicago 16 (1982) If You Leave Me Now (1983)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Chicago 16 is the 16th album by American rock band Chicago and was released in 1982. The album marks the beginning of a new era for Chicago. It is the first album in a decade-long association with new label Warner Bros. Records; the band's first project to be produced by David Foster; and their first bona fide hit album since 1978's Hot Streets, giving the group a significant and lengthy "second wind" in commercial fortunes, in some ways eclipsing their considerable 1970s successes.

The band had realized in 1981 that their commercial appeal and image were at an all-time low. So they brought on Sons of Champlin frontman/founder Bill Champlin as keyboard player and singer, a man who successfully replaced Terry Kath vocally in the band's sound. They also retained Chris Pinnick from the Chicago XIV sessions. But it was through the band's manager, Jeff Wald, that producer David Foster would make contact with the band.^[2]

Once they agreed to Foster producing their new album (The band had considered him for 1980's Chicago XIV), Foster radically redefined Chicago's sound for the 1980s, with all of the latest technologies and techniques and introducing the significant use of outside songwriters and studio players. (Four members of Toto lent their expertise to the sessions.) Given the use of the new recording technology on this album, it's fitting that the album cover features the famous band logo grafted onto a silicon computer chip.

Of all the band's members, Peter Cetera benefitted most from the stylistic changes, having much in common musically with Foster. Their adult contemporary leanings permeated much of Chicago 16, swaying the band further from their ensemble jazz and rock roots and successfully introducing Chicago to a new and younger audience. The Foster/Cetera partnership helped steer Chicago through uncharted waters. The band was moving to a new label after an entire career at Columbia, and was doing so with a new member (Champlin), and without the late Terry Kath. Robert Lamm was also unavailable for the majority of the album's production due to personal issues, and the once-prolific writer only shared a sole partial writing credit on the release. Percussionist Laudir de Oliveira had also left the band between Chicago XIV and 16.

Upon its June 1982 release, Chicago 16 proved a big hit album, especially as "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" became the band's second #1 US single, and the album ultimately went platinum, reaching #9, rescuing Chicago's career in the process. The single would also be included in its lengthier form "Hard to Say I'm Sorry/Get Away" (featuring the hard rocking 'Get Away' tag) on the "Summer Lovers" movie soundtrack. "Love Me Tomorrow" would prove to be another hit single from the album, with the song featuring a lengthy orchestration at the end.

The Rhino remaster does not include the full length versions of "What You're Missing" and "Love Me Tomorrow." The former was replaced with its single edit and the latter had one snippet removed near the end. However, it does include a Bill Champlin demo called "Daddy's Favorite Fool", as a bonus track.

The original UK LP release contains "Rescue You" prior to "What Can I Say", unlike subsequent releases of this album.

Trivia

Chicago 16 also features Toto band members Steve Lukather, Joseph Williams, David Paich, and Steve Porcaro, all of whom were once Chicago's labelmates at Columbia, which Toto was still signed to.

Track listing

1. "What You're Missing"* (Jay Gruska, Joseph Williams) – 4:10/3:29
2. "Waiting for You to Decide" (David Foster, Steve Lukather, David Paich) – 4:06
3. "Bad Advice" (Peter Cetera, Foster, James Pankow) – 2:58
4. "Chains" (Peter Cetera, Ian Thomas) – 3:22
5. "Hard to Say I'm Sorry/Get Away" (Cetera, Foster, Robert Lamm) – 5:06
6. "Follow Me" (Foster, Pankow) – 4:53
7. "Sonny Think Twice" (Bill Champlin, Danny Seraphine) – 4:01
8. "What Can I Say" (Foster, Pankow) – 3:49
9. "Rescue You" (Cetera, Foster) – 3:57
10. "Love Me Tomorrow"** (Cetera, Foster) – 5:06/4:58
11. "Daddy's Favorite Fool"*** (Champlin) - 3:52

"*" indicates a single edit replacing the full version on the Rhino re-release
"**" indicates a slightly edited version replacing the original on the Rhino re-release
"***" indicates a bonus track on the Rhino re-release

Chicago 16 (Full Moon/Warner Bros. 23689) reached #9 in the US during a chart stay of 38 weeks. It also peaked at #44 in the UK.

Personnel

• Peter Cetera - electric bass, acoustic guitar, vocals, background vocals
• Bill Champlin - pianos, keyboards, guitars, vocals
• Robert Lamm - pianos, keyboards, percussion, background vocals
• Lee Loughnane - trumpet, flugelhorn, cornet, percussion, background vocals
• James Pankow - trombone, percussion, background vocals
• Walter Parazaider - saxophones, flute, clarinet
• Danny Seraphine - drums, percussion

Additional personnel

• David Foster - keyboards
• Chris Pinnick - guitar
• Steve Lukather - guitar
• Michael Landau - guitar
• David Paich - synthesizer
• Steve Porcaro - synthesizer programming
• Dave Richardson - lyric assistance on "What Can I Say"

Charts

Album - Billboard (United States)

Year	Chart	Position
1982	Pop Albums	9

Singles - Billboard (United States)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1982	Hard to Say I'm Sorry	Pop Singles	1
1982	Hard to Say I'm Sorry/Get Away	Adult Contemporary	1
1982	Love Me Tomorrow	Pop Singles	22
1982	Love Me Tomorrow	Adult Contemporary	8
1983	What You're Missing	Pop Singles	81

References

1. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r3858
2. ^ Foster, David. (2008). Hit Man. Pocket Books. p. 95.