Chicago IX: Chicago's Greatest Hits

Summary

Chicago IX: Chicago's Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits album, and ninth album overall, by the American band Chicago and was released in 1975 by Columbia Records in both stereo (PC 33900) and SQ quadraphonic (PCQ 33900) versions.

Chicago IX:
Chicago's Greatest Hits
Compilation album by
ReleasedNovember 10, 1975
RecordedJanuary 1969 – December 1973
GenreRock
Length47:18
LabelColumbia
ProducerJames William Guercio
Chicago chronology
Chicago VIII
(1975)
Chicago IX:
Chicago's Greatest Hits

(1975)
Chicago X
(1976)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Including all of Chicago's biggest hits to date, this set stretches from their 1969 debut, Chicago Transit Authority, to 1974's Chicago VII. Chicago VIII and its hits, having only come out just months earlier, were considered too recent to anthologize, while Chicago III's material was overlooked for inclusion due to its lack of top-selling singles.

Chicago IX proved to be an enormous success upon its release. It reached No. 1 in the US and remained on the Billboard 200 for a total of 72 weeks.[2] It has since been certified quintuple platinum by the RIAA, signifying sales of over five million copies.[3] Chicago IX was reissued by Rhino Records, Chicago's current distributor. The album did not chart in the UK.

Track listing edit

Side one edit

  1. "25 or 6 to 4" (Robert Lamm) – 4:51
  2. "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" (Lamm) – 3:20 CD 2:53 LP/Cassette
    • On the original LP (and cassette) version of Chicago IX, most of the intro was cut off. The spoken part over the last verse was also omitted.
  3. "Colour My World" (James Pankow) – 2:59
  4. "Just You 'n' Me" (Pankow) – 3:42
  5. "Saturday in the Park" (Lamm) – 3:54
  6. "Feelin' Stronger Every Day" (Peter Cetera/Pankow) – 4:14

Side two edit

  1. "Make Me Smile" (Pankow) – 2:59
    • This is the single edit that also includes parts of "Now More Than Ever".
  2. "Wishing You Were Here" (Cetera) – 4:34
  3. "Call on Me" (Lee Loughnane) – 4:02
  4. "(I've Been) Searchin' So Long" (Pankow) – 4:29
  5. "Beginnings" (Lamm) – 7:51 CD 6:28 LP/Cassette
    • On the original LP version, this song fades out about 1:20 early.

The UK version contains the additions of "Never Been in Love Before" and a shortened 3:27 version of "I'm a Man". The Brazilian version has the addition of "Happy Man" and moves "25 or 6 to 4" to the end of Side 1. "Feelin' Stronger Every Day" and "(I've Been) Searchin' So Long" are omitted.

Personnel edit

Charts edit

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[9] 3× Platinum 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[10] 5× Platinum 5,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References edit

  1. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r3851/review
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel. The Billboard Book of Top Pop Albums 1955-1985, Record Research Inc., 1985, p. 71.
  3. ^ "Chicago IX: Chicago's Greatest Hits RIAA certification". RIAA. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  4. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 62. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  5. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4059a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  6. ^ "Charts.nz – Chicago – IX - Chicago's Greatest Hits". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  7. ^ "Chicago Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  8. ^ "Top 100 Albums of '76". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  9. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Chicago – Chicago IX Greatest Hits". Music Canada. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  10. ^ "American album certifications – Chicago – Chicago IX - Chicago's Greatest Hits". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 21, 2023.