Much of the material on ‘Hot Streets’ is everything you would expect on a Chicago album and while it lacks the originality of the group’s early work, it’s a nice record worth the occasional spin.
Written by: Eric
ARTIST: Chicago
ALBUM: Hot Streets
LABEL: CBS
SERIAL: FC 35512
YEAR: 1978
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Peter Cetera – vocals, bass, guitar * Robert Lamm – keyboards, vocals * Donnie Dacus – guitar * Danny Seraphine – drums * Jimmy Pankow – trombone * Lee Loughnane – percussion, trumpets, vocals * Walt Parazaider – woodwinds * Blue Weaver – synthesizers * Laudir DeOliveria – percussion
TRACK LISTING: 01 Alive Again * 02 The Greatest Love On Earth * 03 Little Miss Lovin’ * 04 Hot Streets * 05 Take A Chance * 06 Gone Long Gone * 07 Ain’t It Time * 08 Love Was New * 09 No Tell Lover * 10 Show Me The Way
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
Chicago was at a crossroads with the untimely death of guitarist Terry Kath who accidentally shot himself at home while cleaning a gun. I remember when the story came over the news and as a big fan at the time, it hit pretty hard but life goes on. And so did the band by hiring former Stephen Stills collaborator Donnie Dacus as Kath’s replacement on guitar.
Not really an enviable position since Kath’s guitar work was the trademark of many of their hits and more than a few long-time fans would site Dacus as the main reason for the bands lack of success on ‘Hot Streets’ and the following ‘Chicago 13’ album.
The Songs
In fact, the Peter Cetera ballad ‘No Tell Lover’ would be the bands last big hit for four years. That’s not to say the rest of the record is bad, in fact it’s quite good and did sell a fair amount that year although far shy of their earlier multi-platinum success.
The opener ‘Alive Again’ is typical Chicago, and as the albums first single it did very well. ‘Little Miss Lovin’ also fits the pattern of early Chicago, a good rockin’ tune with equal parts funk and soul while ‘Gone Long Gone’ sounds like prime time Orleans and that’s never a bad thing is it? The remaining material is everything you would expect from a Chicago album and while it lacks the originality of the group’s early work, it’s a nice record worth the occasional spin.
In Summary
With ‘Chicago 13’ a certified critical and commercial failure, Dacus would leave Chicago just prior to the recording of ‘Chicago XIV’ and the band continued to flounder until 1982 when the band would begin the start of a run of hit singles and well received albums. Dacus went on to join Badfinger in the 80’s, although not much has been heard from him in the years since.
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