MEMORY
Rhythm And Fun Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can't beat the memories you gave-a me

Take one fresh and tender kiss
(The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can't beat the memories you gave-a me)
Add one stolen night of bliss
(The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me

You can't beat the memories you gave-a me)
One girl, one boy; some grief, some joy
(I was rover, but now it's over
It was a happy day when you came my way to tell me)
Memories are made of this
(of the sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can't beat the memories you gave-a me)
Don't forget a small moon beam
(The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can't beat the memories you gave-a me)
Fold in lightly with a dream
Your lips and mine, two sips of wine
(The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can't beat the memories you gave-a me)
Memories are made of this
(I was rover, but now it's over
It was a happy day when you came my way to tell me)
Then add the wedding bells, one house where lovers dwell
Three little kids for the flavor, stir carefully through the days
See how the flavor stays These are the dreams you will savor
With His blessings from above
(The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can't beat the memories you gave-a me)
Serve it generously with love
(The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can't beat the memories you gave-a me)
One man, one wife, on love through life
(I was rover, but now it's over
It was a happy day when you came my way to tell me)
Memories are made of this
(of the sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can't beat the memories you gave-a me)
Memories are made of this
(The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me)

Take one fresh and tender kiss
(The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can't beat the memories you gave-a me)
Add one stolen night of bliss
(The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can't beat the memories you gave-a me)
One girl, one boy, some grief, some joy
(I was rover, but now it's over
It was a happy day when you came my way to tell me)
Memories are made of this
(of the sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can't beat the memories you gave-a me)
Don't forget a small moon beam
(The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can't beat the memories you gave-a me)
Fold in lightly with a dream
Your lips and mine, two sips of wine
(The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can't beat the memories you gave-a me)
Memories are made of this
(I was rover, but now it's over
It was a happy day when you came my way to tell me)
Then add the wedding bells, one house where lovers dwell
Three little kids for the flavor. stir carefully through the days
See how the flavor stays
These are the dreams you will savor
With His blessings from above
(The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can't beat the memories you gave-a me)
Serve it generously with love
(The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can't beat the memories you gave-a me)
One man, one wife, on love through life
(I was rover, but now it's over
It was a happy day when you came my way to tell me)
Memories are made of this
(of the sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
You can't beat the memories you gave-a me)

Memories are made of this
(The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Rhythm And Fun's song "Memory" paint a nostalgic picture of fond memories. The song starts with the singer expressing gratitude for the sweet memories they were given, which cannot be beaten. The lyrics then proceed to describe the ingredients of a perfect memory, starting with a fresh and tender kiss followed by a stolen night of bliss. The memories also include some grief and joy shared by one girl and one boy, and then a small moonbeam added lightly with a dream. The flavor is complete with two sips of wine and wedding bells bringing one house where lovers dwell. Stir carefully through the days, and the flavor stays, making these the dreams you will savor with His blessings from above.

The singer then encourages the listener to serve these memories generously with love, for one man and one wife on love through life. The chorus repeats the message that memories are made of these sweet memories, and they cannot be beaten. The lyrics suggest that memories are not just made up of individual experiences, but a combination of moments, people, and feelings that come together to create something special. The song evokes a sense of longing for simpler times and celebration of the joys of life.

Line by Line Meaning

The sweet sweet memories you gave-a me
The memories that were given to me are so enjoyable and hold a special place in my heart

You can't beat the memories you gave-a me
There's nothing that can surpass the wonderful memories that were given to me

Take one fresh and tender kiss
Start with a pure, loving kiss

Add one stolen night of bliss
Include a night spent in pure bliss, that was shared with someone special

One girl, one boy; some grief, some joy
A relationship involves both happy and sad times for both people involved

I was rover, but now it's over
I used to wander aimlessly, but now that you're in my life, I am content and settled

It was a happy day when you came my way to tell me
The day I met you and you shared your love with me was a very joyful and life-changing experience

Memories are made of this
Life is full of memories, and the best ones are made from happy moments shared with loved ones

Don't forget a small moon beam
Include even the tiniest of things, like the light from the moon, when remembering special moments

Fold in lightly with a dream
Add in a little bit of imagination to create and remember the perfect moment

Your lips and mine, two sips of wine
The simple act of sharing a glass of wine and a kiss with someone special can lead to beautiful memories

Then add the wedding bells, one house where lovers dwell
As love grows, it can lead to marriage and a home shared with the one you love

Three little kids for the flavor, stir carefully through the days
As a family grows, it's important to cherish each moment and handle it with care

See how the flavor stays
Notice how the memories stick with you and bring a sense of comfort and nostalgia

These are the dreams you will savor
These special moments and memories are something to hold onto and cherish forever

With His blessings from above
These joyful moments are a gift from a higher power

Serve it generously with love
Share these memories and moments with love and generosity

One man, one wife, on love through life
Growing old together, side-by-side with the one you love, is a dream come true

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FRANK MILLER, RICHARD DEHR, TERRY GILKYSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS

No Related Genres

More Genres

No Artists Found

More Artists Load All

No Albums Found

More Albums Load All

No Tracks Found

01Veni Creator Spiritus

02Chor Der Gefangenen

03The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy

04Stadt

05The Phantom Of The Opera

06A Tribute To Queen

07We Wish You A Merry Christmas

08Memory

Rhythm And Fun

09Vois Sur Ton Chemin

10If A Song Could Get Me You

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@pamelamiller3757

5w↑2

YOU ARE THE PROFESSOR!!! Absolutely excellent episode 💖
For the record, I have always 100% believed Bobby's story. I do not see any conflict. In my own life, I have used his words in this song, in my own mind and out loud, to decide if I should continue all night with some creative project. No drugs involved. I have never done them, even when they were all around me, and being a teen in the 60s-70s that was a real accomplishment. To this very day and always, I will look at several clocks to determine the real time when it is in question. I believe Bobby 100%

I have heard Pete tell his story about the punch in the jaw, but I have also heard it happened in the Whisky a Go Go, but cannot remember who was telling that version.

Every member of Chicago was exceptionally talented. I have always seen them and still hear them, with flawless perfection.
But, there is one enduring mystery that if you know anything about, I would love to hear it! Why, was Danny fired? He was like a burning angel on the drums. He moved so fast is what I mean by that. When I watched him it was like seeing flaming wings flashing all around. I personally played drums and woodwinds and my dad played brass, so to have horns be so prominent in the most talented musical band of the day was over the top for me, also knowing that Walt Parazader birthed the idea of the band in his tiny kitchen! LOL WOW My primary love in music was classical, until Chicago. All of their stories, from their teens, are really very cool.

Finally, 25 or 6 to 4 was always my favorite! The reason? They turned a very common simple night of crazy youthful creativity into a fantastic song and mega-hit! You hit this one into the cosmos! 🤩

All comments from YouTube:

@ProfessorofRock

5w↑52

Poll: Who is your pick for the most under appreciated guitarist of the rock era?

@jayluck8047

5w↑17

Prince

@Goup-oj4qr

5w↑14

@Code.Name.V

5w↑14

Chuck Berry
Glen Campbell

@christineml1476

5w↑6

Mick Mars

@freezer8530

5w↑27

The late great Terry Kath.

252 More Replies...

@christineml1476

5w↑174

The great ones like Terry Kath never get the recognition they deserve. Thanks for giving him some love Prof.

@ProfessorofRock

5w↑11

No doubt! Thanks Christine!

@RBS_

5w↑9

...Been hearing /reading about Kath in almost EVERY liner note in the 70's, the Kid's a LEGEND......he DESERVES the 'Prof. Love' ......

@ProfessorofRock

5w↑5

Amen!@@RBS_

@peterhadfield9840

5w↑11

Such a shame what happened to Terry Kath. Jimi Hendrix once stated that Terry was a better guitar player than himself. That alone should tell you how great Terry was!

@MyName-pl7zn

5w↑10

Definitely one of the most underappreciated guitarist of any era. The song is amazing because every member of the band hit it perfectly but I agree the guitar solo is the highlight. Amazing how many hits and how long Chicago changed but stayed on top. Rest in Peace Terry Kath , the best guitarists in the world put you at the very top, great episode professor

13 More Replies...

@robertweldon7909

5w↑178

My dad was a pro sax player, out of the big band era. He hated rock music a lot. He grew up in and around the Chicago area. One day I told him about "Chicago' and because of their blend of jazz and rock he should listen to my albums, starting with the CTA album.
A few days later I walked into the house to find him siting in front of my stereo listening to the albums. He said' "these guys are pretty good, the band is mainly built around the trombone player, not bad, not bad at all". After just hearing a few tunes, he had figured out the bands structure. That's one music smart man.
Although my dad didn't ever become a rock fan, he did come to like the various Chicago based "horn" bands of the early 1970's, especially Chicago and Blood Sweat and Tears.
"Chicago" set the standard for the "horn band" rock scene for many years. They were very jazz oriented, After all, They came out of the city where "horn band" jazz started in the late 1930's with the big "swing" bands, which my dad actually played in. ;-)

@ProfessorofRock

5w↑25

Thanks for sharing Robert!

@Bass_Playa_Two_Point.O

5w↑23

Robert, that's a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing your personal experience with the community at large.

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

5w↑8

This is amazing!

@s.marcus3669

5w↑11

That is SUCH a cool story, thanks for sharing!

@ianbarber311

5w↑6

Great memories for you. Thanks for sharing. It took years, but even Soundgarden had a sax in one song, haha. I think it was "Drawing Flies".

13 More Replies...

@ericbgordon1575

5w↑53

"25 or 6 to 4" is at the epicenter of how and when I became a Chicago fan, just in time for my 18th birthday in January 1998. I had heard so many of their songs beforehand but didn't associate them with the band's logo. The two were detached. In January '98, I heard my older brother mocking Peter's voice on this song and referencing 2 others. I managed to persuade his fiance at the time to get her snowboots on and get her cassette copy of Chicago IX out of her car so I could hear it. (I was also conscious of the legend concerning how Jimi Hendrix had said Terry blew him away as a guitarist.) When I popped that tape in my stereo, rewound it on the first side and hit the play button to hear those opening notes of "25 or 6 to 4" - there was no going back. I was in. I think I played that tape twice thar night.

Hearing the firstb 2 albums later that spring did wonders for my interests in progressive rock anf fusion. Terry is absolutely one of my favorite players.

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

5w↑3

Good story Eric!

@solitarymessengeable

5w↑32

So, we bought tickets to see Jimi at The Forum in April 1969 and we were kinda pissed. We were also fans of an obscure up and coming band called Chicago Transit Authority, and our tickets list an opening band called Chicago. The entire crowd booed and threw a fit for 10 minutes. We were gonna run them off the stage. Guy comes out, grabs the mic and yells "shut up and listen". And we did. It was CTA now Chicago. Place went berserk. Rest is history.

@debbylou5729

5w↑3

Wish Jimi had an opener for Seattle. Sat out in the rain at Sicks stadium for 2 hours. They finally rolled him out on a handcart. He swayed there for about 25 minutes mumbling incoherently. We finally just left. The tickets for 4 high school kids meant no concerts or shows for several months

@DocGreenePrivate

5w↑41

Terri Kath having had many beers, was demonstrating to his friend that the pistol was empty, he pressed the magazine release, thinking the gun was empty, but forgetting that it still had one bullet already in the chamber.

@ProfessorofRock

5w↑17

So sad.

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

5w↑7

That’s really sad.

@62guitarguy

5w↑9

Alcohol and guns do not mix. Shame he learned the hard way...

@christopherwhite1648

Darwin Award winner.

@joepharmasst

Anyone who knows anything about gun safety knows that, as well as never point it anywhere it can do harm unless it's intentional

1 More Replies...

@netgnostic1627

5w↑37

My Grade 7 band teacher, Mr. Fox, had us playing this song a couple of times a week. I'm so glad I was playing trombone along with two other guys. And we had a hell of a drummer in our class. This song was my introduction to rock. Thank you, Mr. Fox.

@michaelrochester48

5w↑61

One underrated guitar riff in a Chicago song is feeling stronger every day, especially just before the end and toward the end where it’s just pumping! The point where it goes “after what you meant to me…” to me that is Terry’s great moment 😊

@thewordlove4316

5w↑3

my

favourite

Kath gitbox work is 'Dialogue': I love Strat® sounds, and this is one of the best!!

🤌👍🔥👍🤌

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

5w↑2

Great song.

@ogam5

5w↑1

.....also - though NOT obvious, their MOST Beatlesque hit.....

@charlesholland6851

5w↑2

Monster song! And the guitar work is phenomenal

@platterjockey

5w↑2

Most of you will think i'm weird, but my favorite aspect of the song is whe way the ride cymbal was recorded. Danny Seraphine hit the bell of his cymbals so that they rang, clanged loud! And, the mastering that shows it up the most is on the original Columbia CD from the mid-80s.

4 More Replies...

@Code.Name.V

5w↑43

That was a hell of a debut album. Slightly ahead of it's time in my humble opinion.

@ProfessorofRock

5w↑7

For sure!

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

5w↑6

Chicago Transit Authority was here to stay.

@SarahBarnes-cr8nr

5w↑40

Let's give Mr. Peter Cetera his "kick ass" vocal. The intensity of that song, Terry's guitar - That song is mind blowing. If you want to jam and bliss out this song's for you. Extraordinary tune. Great Great Great band. Another band of my childhood.

@ProfessorofRock

5w↑4

Sure!

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

5w↑6

Each band member blew it out of the park.

@durangomcmurphy1529

5w↑18

I'm an Old Geezer . I bought the " Chicago Transit Authority " album when it first came out . Must have listened to it 50 times . It's still a great work of musical Art . God bless those in the group who have passed , God bless those who keep the current line-up touring , and God bless Professor of Rock for such a thoughtful analysis .

@bradley-eblesisor

5w↑1

Indeed!!!

@fivestring65ify

5w↑62

I'm not gonna lie. I thought this was a song about doing drugs. Then I heard the entire story, and as a musician, I had to smile. Cetera kills it on this one. And the guitar work. Kath shreds on it. I wish Chicago would have continued in this direction. This is one of my favorites. Thanks for covering it professor.

@ProfessorofRock

5w↑9

THanks!

@samuelmanino5784

5w↑9

I think they would have if Terry hadn't died.

@RichWhiteUM

5w↑7

The crazy part is that the song doesn't just resonate with musicians. When I was in college, I had to write reports that would keep me up to all hours of the night and into morning. Anyone with writer's block of some form should be able to relate to it.

@juliao1255

5w↑4

@@RichWhiteUM Good point! That's why I related to the song, too. And I didn't care if it was or wasn't about hard drugs, cuz for me it wasn't. And if for someone else it was, then that's ok by me. Of course, one could argue "No Doz" caffeine pills are a drug. Got me thru many college study sessions and many miles on my motorcycle, until I developed a taste for coffee! - LOL. Ahhh, the good ol' days....

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

5w↑4

This is one of the best Chicago songs.

2 More Replies...

@KevyB1990

5w↑26

RIP Terry Kath! Extremely underrated and underappreciated.

@michaelbaucom4019

5w↑27

Terry Kath-era Chicago was the best Chicago. RIP Terry Kath

@lewiscrow

5w↑22

This song may very well be Chicago's finest moment. All the elements, everything coming together beautifully.

@ProfessorofRock

5w↑1

It's right up there!

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

One of my top 5.

@user-vl8qw8hp1g

5w↑27

I've always heard that this song was about writing a song. Everything that came from the Golden Age of rock-n-roll doesn't have to be linked to drugs and drug use. That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it! Great episode!!! ❤

@ProfessorofRock

5w↑2

Thanks!

@Charlesb88

5w↑5

That true. The problem is that enough rock groups wrote songs with hidden or not so hidden drug references that it’s easy to see why people assumed a drug reference even when not intended. Also, some rock song writers likely were under the influence of drugs or subconscious thinking about drugs when they wrote the song so some songs may partially be about drugs even if the singer wasn’t intending that. And you can’t take the writers word for it all the ti e since some latter admitted they lied about the meaning of their songs to avoid being banned from the radio. Generally, if the song has a very plausible non-drug meaning then it likely wasn’t intentionally about drugs, like Puff the Magic Dragon or Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.

@PatrickMersinger

5w↑19

Terry Kath was one of the best. Saw a documentary on the band and a band member who was there told the tragic story. Always check the chamber for a round. Assume ANY gun you pick up is loaded until you properly check it. That solo on this song was incredible. Caught and held my attention the first time I heard it.

@gotigers9065

5w↑27

Thanks for the hard work you do to chronicle the best era of rock music. 70- 80s. So glad i was born in '71 and grew up hearing all the great music as it evolved. Passing it along to my 17yo. He loves it too. Walking through the house humming Led, KISS, ACDC all the time!

@Jims_Camera_at_dawn

5w↑2

Raising your kids right. 👍👍🎶🎵🎶

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

5w↑3

Keep doing that! Raise him right.

@gotigers9065

5w↑3

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 took him to see ZZ Top 2 wks ago ! Lynyrd Skynrd last year! He's hooked. Big fan of original black sabbath, Motley Crue & VH. 👍

@littlecatfeet9064

5w↑3

@@gotigers9065Wonderful! I don’t have kids, but have introduced younger coworkers to everything from 60s soul to 70s funk, punk, post-punk, disco, goth, 80s new wave, indie, metal, rock, metal and Prince, who’s got his own genre in my mind. Not at once, we do have to work 😂. They’re so keen and also say they don’t connect to music now (they say all music after about 2010 is trash). It’s nice to be considered a musical influence as a middle-aged lady and I’m sure you’re proud to have given your son the gift of taste.

@gotigers9065

5w↑2

@@littlecatfeet9064 Glad you're opening the eyes and nearest of the millennials, They need all the help they can get. My kid is doing good but he's not ready for James Brown or Marvin Gay yet. His ears haven't matured enough yet.

2 More Replies...

@tnrodgers

5w↑15

Lyrics tell the tale. They consistently describe exactly what’s happening around him, nothing earth shattering. So it’s about 25 or 26 minutes to 4:00AM. Okay. Rock isn’t always Plato or Shakespeare. Works for me.. Thanks Adam.

@lloydster9000

5w↑12

For years, I thought the title of the song was a multiplication problem. I thought 6 to 4 meant 6x4 until I looked it up and realized that my initial hypothesis didn’t make any sense. Great work on this episode to everyone involved! And I must say, Terry Kath is in the holy trinity of underrated Illinois guitar players along with Gary Richrath and Rick Nielsen, in my opinion.

@ProfessorofRock

5w↑1

Good call! What's your top Chicago track?

@lloydster9000

5w↑2

@@ProfessorofRock either “Old Days” or “Make Me Smile”.

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

5w↑2

Yes because 6*4=24.

@ogam5

5w↑1

@@lloydster9000 : "Old Days" is one of my ALL-time favorites; rideout just INCOMPARABLY exhilarating.....

@LaManteca76

Lol, I thought the same thing & could never understand it. Thanx Prof for explaining it. Love Chicago. My favorite song has to be Colour My World. That piano playing is so beautiful! 😄

@mattmallecoccio8378

5w↑15

For some reason my Dad thought the same guy who sang Does Anybody Really Know What Time it is was the same singer who sang 25 or 6 to 4. We argued all the way home from a family gathering and it wasn't until my Mom just said Google it. My Dad Googled it and said, "I'm sorry. You were right. It was Peter Cetera."

@ProfessorofRock

5w↑3

Thanks for sharing.

@leechjim8023

5w↑4

I can,t imagine how you can confuse the two!🤔

@bostonvair

5w↑8

I believe the vocalist on "Does Anybody Know What Time it Is? is keyboardist Robert Lamm. Back in the day, Chicago had three vocalists, Peter Cetera, Lamm and Terry Kath. Lamm also sang "Saturday in the Park."

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

5w↑2

Haha, Cetera’s voice was clear enough!

@CYAthere61

5w↑2

@bostonvair Saturday in the Park was one of the first tunes I learned to play on piano. My friends would always ask me to play it!!! Loved Chicago. Got an A on a statistics paper in 8th grade featuring Chicago, circa 1973!

1 More Replies...

@chrisbodi6470

5w↑10

One of the greatest guitar solos of all time, captured at Tanglewood when Chicago performed there…. The entire band was flawless and epic!

@philipethier9136

5w↑9

Jimmy Jam has said that the music freaks at his high school knew this one kid was something special because he was the only kid in school who could play, note-for-note, Kath's solo from the album cut of "Make Me Smile".

@jeffwylie5899

I hope that kid kept playing!

@jonathanwoolsey-fj1gx

5w↑7

My friend taught me 25 or 6 to 4 on guitar when I was 9 or 10 years old . It was the first song I ever learned on guitar. So it definitely has a special place in my mind. True classic music never dies. Definitely a great guitar riff. Terry Kath the most underrated guitar player ever!

@Sherwoody

It makes sense that the song was written on a guitar. It’s a rather easy riff to learn and along with Smoke on the Water probably one of the first for new guitar players

@jillwklausen

5w↑17

I had every Chicago album 1 through 13. There's a Russian cover band that called Leonid and Friends that does some incredible covers of these songs. I highly recommend giving them a listen. Thanks for another terrific episode, Adam. Have a great day!

@MikesTropicalTech

I just left a comment saying the same!

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

Have you heard of Me First and the Gimme Gimmes? Their cover songs are awesome.

@paultaylor7082

Agreed. Leonid and his entourage not only sound uncannily like Chicago (as well as covering other artistes), but they're brilliant musicians and seem to enjoy themselves immensely while doing so. Well worth a listen, they've also toured the US a few times over recent years. I await their new covers of various songs with eager anticipation, long may they continue.

@Topgunphoto

HUGE fan of their music, my parents played Chicago on a real to real player. When I found Leonid & Friends I was pumped, downloaded most of their hits and they sound amazing. It's a shame both Sergey's had to leave, but totally understandable. Just helps Chicago music live on.

@samuelmanino5784

5w↑9

As you said, Adam, Terry was one of the most underappreciated guitarists of all times! If Hendrix says he was better than him, you believe it! Chicago has been my favorite band since i first heard CHICAGO II in 1970. Went back and listened to CTA, and fell in love with this band!!

@ProfessorofRock

Awesome!

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

THE Jimi Hendrix.

@flavellinator

5w↑32

Chicago made horn players pretty cool in high school bands all over!...

@ProfessorofRock

5w↑1

Ha ha!

@BarackBoxen

5w↑2

If nothing else it made us feel cool. Take it from a trumpet player.

@kam0406

5w↑1

They still do! It’s really awesome to go to a high school football game and hear a Chicago song!

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

I know a few horn players.

@marktait2371

@@kam0406cool.they still
play at hs football games ours always played chicago like yes. dubln parade just flipping channels friday night parties band football players after thr games hung out i was notba player but had plenty of friends both

1 More Replies...

@DocGreenePrivate

5w↑6

Thank you for doing this great tune, I am a guitar and bass player and my horn band did 25 or 6 to 4, and I can tell you that the solo on that is almost impossible to play for most guitar players. The guy was a genius.

@mtxmind

5w↑17

As a 60yo, I was very familiar with all of Chicago's radio hits of the 70's, but it wasn't until the 80's that I began to discover the deeper stuff of theirs that I came to realize how innovative & ground breaking they were as a band, & how truly phenomenal & original Kath was as a guitarist & singer. Chicago was never the same without him!

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

5w↑1

They have good 80s songs, but their early output is easily their peak.

@62guitarguy

5w↑2

but they were just "pop" hits, not real rockers like their early hits.

@jeffwylie5899

I saw them around 2004 in a small venue and they blew the roof off! The best concert I've seen. They are phenomenal musicians still.

@mbgrafix

5w↑6

25 or 6 to 4 is perfection! An amazing blend of hard rock and pop rock with incredible hooks! And the live version from their concert at Tanglewood is simply unparalleled, with Terry Kath's guitar solo as the pinnacle of the song... easily on par with any of the greatest guitar solos from the greatest guitarists of the past 6 decades! Watching him wrestle the wailing sounds out of that instrument...I mean seriously! If you've never seen that video, you MUST check it out ASAP! The intensity of his playing appears as a violent aggression. Truly a spectacle and a feast for the ears!

@Kate_kdlopa1

5w↑16

Absolute favorite Chicago song…thanks for the deep dive!

@ProfessorofRock

Thanks for watching!

@barackmycat9448

5w↑14

Their early stuff was the best! Terry was so on with his lead solos.

@ProfessorofRock

5w↑2

For sure!

@YesItsReallyKeith

5w↑6

Cetera singing that with his mouth wired is really amazing !!! had no idea !!! Great Band !!!

@mikenixon2401

5w↑6

Thanks for covering this. I remember getting trash because I enjoyed Chicago. I thought adding horns to rock was a great move. I still do.

@ProfessorofRock

Rock on!

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

They did fusion as well as Blood, Sweat and Tears.

@ogam5

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 : AND Lighthouse, a group you should DEFINITELY cover - if ONLY for "One Fine Morning", Adam.....

@BaddogSports

5w↑12

Totally addicted to this channel.
You do great work, brother!
Feel like I’m watching a Behind The Music episode every video.

@ProfessorofRock

5w↑3

Glad you enjoy it!

@LaManteca76

Yes! With some Casey Kasem thrown in! 😁

@blinkereye123

5w↑4

Great analysis professor. There's definitely something about hearing those early Chicago songs in an 'analog' format where all of the instruments are right in front of you, so to speak. That combined with the vocal harmonies really drive home the power of the band as a whole.

@jameswoodruff7182

5w↑4

I have watched and listened to the “Live at Tanglewood” show numerous times and am ALWAYS blown away by Terry Kath’s guitar work. It is always amazing!

@rogerdeahl9629

5w↑22

❤🎉

Love Chicago. Both the city and the band.

Peter Cetera had a great voice for the band. He could do ballads and rockers.

And Terry Kath..... RIP.

Thanks Professor!
Another great start to the week.

@Goup-oj4qr

5w↑4

❤

@ProfessorofRock

5w↑1

THanks Roger!

@peterhendricksen6946

5w↑1

Chicago and R.E.M. the two best American bands of all time! Not sure what order🤔

@kam0406

I really hate Chicago! The outrageous parking fees and the filthy airport. The dangerous, crime riddled areas where even police dare not go. It is in steady decline due to corruption and politics that are only interested in keeping power and not helping people.

I love this band though! It takes me back to a much better time when Chicago still was a place that was fun to visit!

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

5w↑1

I’ve never been to the city, but the band rocks!

@ArthurRChan

5w↑3

I'm glad you mentioned "Questions 67 and 68" one of my favorite Chicago songs, and one that I would have liked to have been included on their greatest hits album Chicago IX.

@ericboldt9125

5w↑2

This song was first played for me by my dad. He wasn't a very expressive man, but this song would get him to tap his toe and Bob his head. One of my favorite songs of all time, I am always happy to hear it. It is energizing and awakens my sense of play. Songs like like this, that get you moving and grinning are a rare treasure.

@rickmassimo6192

5w↑2

It stupidly never occurred to me that "25 or 6 to 4" meant "25 or (2)6 to 4." I thought it might have had something to do with time, but then I thought "25 or 6 to 4? That's a 19-minute span. That's too much to be plausible." Thanks for clearing this up!

@briancoy297

5w↑4

One of, if not the, greatest live guitar solos by Kath during their concert at Tanglewood.

@linda.christie

5w↑4

The first time I saw Chicago was, sadly, after Terry Kath died. It was at the University of Iowa parents' weekend in 1978. Donnie Dacus was the "replacement." He didn't last long!

Thank you for finally covering a Chicago song! It is the first since I tripped over your channel and began watching (nearly) everything about a year ago. By the way, the very FIRST number one hit was Just You 'n Me by Jimmy Pankow on Chicago VI.

I have seen Chicago live about 30 times since 1978 through 1999, when I moved from the Chicago 'burbs to Georgia. I have seen Peter Cetera three times since 1999, lastly in Beverly Hills in Januart 2016. He is an amazing singer; still has the chops!

I was a member of the fan club the Chicago True Advocates (CTA) and have a 30+ year old black nylon jacket I love and still wear. ❤

@ProfessorofRock

Thanks for sharing.

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

Was Donnie a good replacement?

@paultaylor7082

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980Good, but not in Terry Kath's class. But then, very few were.

@lamarravery4094

Just You N Me never reached number one. It got as high as number 4 on billboard top 40.

@asheard23

5w↑3

Robert Lamm has actually been going by “Robert”, even to his friends, since he exited rehab in the ‘80s. He’s said he went in as Bobby and came out as Robert. He’s gone by “Robert” ever since.

@pamelamiller3757

5w↑2

@lamarravery4094

I remember seeing a Chicago concert in September 1990 and I noticed Danny wasn't on the drums. I finally found out a year later that he was fired in May of 1990. The band didn't like him controlling the business side of the band and thought his playing suffered because of it. He was given some chances to sort things out, but in the end he was let go. The band felt if he was to stay it would've torn the band apart. Danny was one of the original founders, the other two were Walt and Terry, so Danny never expected to be fired.

@EphemeralProductions

5w↑5

It sounds weird but I’ve always LOVED Peter’s singing style! It’s what makes him unique ! So weird as it may sound I’m GLAD his jaw got broke! lol

@randypowell3374

5w↑4

Kath has always been in my top 5 best guitar players ever list.

@richardchocolas8800

5w↑2

I've seen Chicago and Earth, Wind, & Fire together twice in concert and the enchor with both on stage is absolutely amazing

@xavieryates9782

5w↑2

I love the way you tell the stories to all of these great songs and all of the little circumstances around them. It's great! Thank you! You're fantastic!

@eltronics

5w↑4

One of my top 3 favorite bands. Grew up with them all. And yes, Terry was under appreciated. This was my childhood, and it was good.

@jefweb5043

5w↑4

Yes, yes, all of the above, and yes. With the "spirited" lifestyle these guys undertook, it's likely we'll never know the actual history of this song. It's ironic, I've just now been listening to Terry Kath, early Chicago tracks...just the sheer emotion in songs like "Make Me Smile", or "I'm a Man". Deep from his soul...that, with the vocals and horns? I swear, it's almost as if they had a symphony behind them. Great feature! Thanks for doing this...

@ProfessorofRock

Thanks!

@billbrandine5857

5w↑2

A brilliant blend of rock and jazz fusion...well said...that describes everything they did up to Terry's death.

@beenaplumber8379

Terry's solo was so face-meltingly powerful that when my cover band played the song, our lead guitarist Vince got standing ovations after the solo, sometimes followed by another standing-O when we finished the song. Vince is very good, and people LOVE that solo.

@zigwald

5w↑4

When my brother left for the navy, in 1971, he left me four 8-tracks. Cat Stevens Tea for The Tillerman. Neil Young After the Gold Rush, Santana and Chicago. Cool brother! I've owned these four in every media configuration since. I've loved horns ever since! The Band's live album, Little Feats live Bob Seger. Rock was made for horn sections. But Chicago takes them all!!!!

@ProfessorofRock

What a cool brother!

@valerielynn7256

5w↑6

Thank you For doing this one I love Chicago rip terry kath

@ProfessorofRock

You're welcome. What would you like to see next?

@derekarmstrong1408

5w↑2

That is insane that he belted out those words without opening his jaw. I guess that's what makes him one of the best. Still find it very hard to believe.

@chrisdepoy3370

5w↑2

I've been pushing Kath on my 24 year old nephew. He now knows what I do - Kath was ridiculous.

When I was a kid in the Midwest in the 70s if you were auditioning for a band as a guitarist you had to attempt 25 or 6 to 4 or Smoke on the Water.

@mws755

5w↑3

More than any other band , Chicago takes me to another time. Takes me back to the 70's

@carolmartin4413

5w↑4

One of the best bands ever. Think it was 1969-70 Summerfest when Chicago walked out on the stage and took Milwaukee over for the next 50 years!

@URnickel_MY2cents

5w↑2

This was one of my first albums. I always remembered hearing, as you described, that this was about staying up all night writing a song 3:34 AM or 3:35 AM.

@RebelRoseJade

5w↑2

Professor Rock, you rock with everything that you do on here. Everyone has named some of the greatest guitar players ever. Some that would be forgotten if it wasn't for you asking the questions and everyone coming together to enjoy your channel and the knowledge that you bring us. Keep on keepin on my friend.

@joetrolo7076

5w↑5

Great stuff, thanks!! Love your videos! Would love to see you talk about (or to), Leonid and Friends who are tearing it up covering Chicago songs with their full endorsement. They give such a wonderful tribute to the band. I'm seeing them live soon! 😀
Rock on, brother!🎶🎶

@ProfessorofRock

5w↑1

I got turned on to them a few years back by a friend. Love them.

@joetrolo7076

@@ProfessorofRock glad to hear it! Hope to see them on one of your shows sometime. Keep up the awesome work!

@thetitleisours1

5w↑6

Yeah, the loss of Terry Kath was really painful. One of those losses that affected you personally. Their sound mellowed a bit after that. If I had to pick one band that influenced my interest in music it would be a tie between the Beatles and Chicago. Three Dog Night would up there too

@ProfessorofRock

5w↑3

It's true. Kath was one of a kind. Thanks for watching

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

5w↑1

I think the passing of Terry Kath marked their transition into a new sound, and I agree.

@thetitleisours1

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Thanks we wish We could have had a few more records by them with him on it. Remember back then it seemed like Chicago came out with a new album every year it felt like? :)

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

5w↑1

@@thetitleisours1 By the end of the 80s it got to like 19 or 20!

@mayormerq08-23

5w↑1

As for the drug culture rumors...so be it. I believe Robert's version since he wrote the song. CHICAGO 2 was my first album I purchaseed and it has stayed with me my whole life! I am 68 now and can probably recite every word on that album. So many pieces & parts including A.M & P.M MOURNING as well as MEMORIES OF LOVE which are totally different than everything else on the album with a lot of flutes & clarinet sounds. Have tix to see them in Noblesville, Indiana in July. Saw them in Evansville in 1975 and it was extraordinary. Terry was a legend even when he was vocalizing...GodSpeed, TK! Thanks, Prof, for bringing this forward!

@mewsicsmary

5w↑1

Chicago is one of my favorite bands. I was so blessed to be born in the late 60s. When I was a kid they would play free concerts "in the park" near Phila all the time. I lived in the suburbs so we would go and have a blast. They were definitely my first concert. I am very appreciative to them. Even today I have good friends with a 12 piece orchestra who have been playing some of their music; including 25 or 6 to 4; for many, many years. I really don't know anyone that doesn't love Chicago around here. Thanks for sharing.

@trinaq

5w↑3

I love your Springsteen t shirt, Adam, I recently attended a tribute concert to him, and he played all of the greats.

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

Where at?

@TrinityParaziader

5w↑1

Thank you for covering this song and the band. There are so many stories behind so many of their early songs. Sadly, most people will never know. The band today is almost nothing more than a cover band. Now that Wally is gone, I can't even think to call the group Chicago

@markgibby1767

I thought that too until I saw them a couple of months ago. They are still VERY good and well worth seeing

@user-ln4zr4pz4f

Super cool. I remember getting into it with coworkers more than once about this songs meaning over the years. Keep up the good work my man. These segments make my day.

@lockedonlaw

5w↑4

Danny Serpahine makes this tune as much as anyone else. He is punching holes in his drum heads.

@ProfessorofRock

5w↑1

For sure.

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

He’s pounding it hard.

@ronaldsimmonds1002

5w↑13

MAKE ROCK n ROLL GREAT AGAIN🇺🇸🎸👍🏻
In memory of TOM PETTY🎩🎸

@ProfessorofRock

5w↑1

Love Petty. He's missed.

@ronaldsimmonds1002

5w↑1

@@ProfessorofRock I spin his record albums every day brother…. every day honestly I don’t think he died the way the media said he did.

@AnneDowson-vp8lg

5w↑1

He died from accidentally taking prescription pain killers for a broken hip, NOT recreational drugs. RIP Tom.

@ronaldsimmonds1002

5w↑1

@@AnneDowson-vp8lg
I don’t think he died from taking drugs recreationally either. The music industry is a big hungry beast and they don’t like to be crossed. Dig a little deeper.

@AnneDowson-vp8lg

5w↑1

@ronald Are you suggesting he was got rid of by someone from the music business because he always stood up to them? Possibly connected to whoever set his house on fire in 1987, nearly killing him, his wife and daughter? H'mmm.

@DuneFreak66

You always tell us something we never knew before! Came for the song, and stayed for the stories! Thank you, Professor!

@myronlaidler8034

5w↑2

Favorite for a long time.Never the same without Terry Kath,simply a great axe player.!

@constipatedinsincity4424

5w↑4

Question 6768 is a great jam.

@stephenbrown4211

5w↑3

Never been a fan of Chicago. In the UK all we heard was the slushy 70’s stuff. But this song is great.

@shiroibasketshoes

5w↑1

Loads of American music fans think the early 80s is when they got slushier than ever.

@martineldritch

5w↑3

So you don't give a damn about any trumpet playing band ? It aint what you call rock and roll ?

@Jims_Camera_at_dawn

5w↑1

@martineldritch LOL good one! ☕️☕️🎶🎵🎶

@stephenbrown4211

5w↑2

@@martineldritch Actually Dire Straits are one of my favourites. As I said when you hear something you’re not keen on it does put you off.

@shiroibasketshoes

5w↑1

@@martineldritch Maybe that Dire Straits song was actually about an Ides Of March hater. :-)

3 More Replies...

@rickmiller7884

5w↑2

Great episode Prof.
Terry Kath was amazing. I used to think Terry was the least appreciated guitar player by his bandmates ever. After hearing his moments of killer leads on a few songs. I thought this poor guy is stuck in a horn section heavy band. Then I found out he pretty much ran the band. How restrained and inspired is that?

@michaelwhitehead5102

Thanks for doing this, man. I love your channel! I first heard Chicago on the radio in 1970, "Make Me Smile". First saw them in concert in 1973. This summer will see them again, my 51st time. Yep, they have been my favorite band all these years. Terry Kath was the best. He could play rhythm, lead guitar, and sing, all at the same time. He also had an incredible, soulful voice. And wrote from the heart.
I love your stories about your dad, too. Thanks again, and keep rockin'!

@Goup-oj4qr

5w↑5

Pankow used to get so wasted and would blow his spit valve on the front rows of the audience

@ericbgordon1575

WHOA!
Is that why the Carnegie Hall album sounds the way it does, not because of the Acoustics at the venue?

@Whisper_292

5w↑2

That's nasty.

@AldousHuxleysCat

5w↑1

@@ericbgordon1575the acoustics at Carnegie Hall are phenomenal, the problem with that album lies with the band as well as whoever set it up for recording. I can say this based on the time I saw Chicago, they weren't very good in concert but that may have simply been they were all high. I had the same experience with a couple of other rock bands where they simply could not perform adequately on stage and of course it comes out years later that they basically go out as stoned as they can manage to still walk

@philipethier9136

@@AldousHuxleysCat I always thought back in the day that the Chicago horns live were not as good as the BS&T horns live.

@AldousHuxleysCat

@@philipethier9136 probably

2 More Replies...

@thetitleisours1

5w↑4

I always thought it was a lament about song writing. No set schedule. My older sisters had those Chicago albums. Always tagged along when they played them.

@ProfessorofRock

5w↑1

Thanks for watching.

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

5w↑1

That makes a lot of sense.

@johnb9507

I've been waiting for you to do this one for years! Thanks so much for finally getting around to it.

@starshiptrooper7670

5w↑2

Back in the day, I read that Robert was up that night struggling with writers block. Looks at the clock and somehow a song was born. Ck. out the live version at Tanglewood, '70. Terry hits that wah-wah pedal and blows you away. Side 2 of the album is what makes it my fav. Chicago record. Saw the band in '77, Nashville (finally). ☮

@SHARKVADERS

5w↑3

P O R !!!!!!!!!!!!!

@joelsmith552

5w↑1

The tale of Terry Kath being lauded by Jimi Hendrix as the best I first heard from my father-in-law. He is a rock afficionado and every time The Professor talks about his dad I feel like I'[m hearing a story about him. We have had long listening sessions to Chicago albums just to pick apart the incredible guitar work. One of the early bands I played in was ska, and having a horn section, we felt 25 or 6 to 4 was the holy grail of covers. Never could quite pull it off, but then I ain't got chops like Terry Kath. Rock on!

@mollykehr2335

5w↑1

The Terry Kath Experience is not to be missed! I saw it months ago and it finds its way to my mind often.

@lindamcfarland9656

5w↑2

Yes!! A couple of years ago, I got into diving into the 70's Chicago stuff! 25 Or 6 To 4 was a kick off to all of that. I was just appreciating the different layers all the different instruments that go into them. The guitar is banging and just sounds so free and improvised in the moment like you're swept away with the musician. Same for the horn introduction. I love the unfettered sound that also manages to be a coherent composition. Love it!

@ProfessorofRock

I agree. Thanks Linda!

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

5w↑1

I love 80s Chicago, but 60s and 70s Chicago is even better!

@ceceosborn176

5w↑1

One of my favorite bands that always makes me happy. Thank you for this, made my whole day

@hampton61000

5w↑1

My best friend in the 70s used to dance to this song every time he heard it. It drove me crazy! But I’m glad to see that kids nowadays are doing the same thing.

@MartysPopParty

5w↑1

IMO Kath’s solo on this track is hands down one of the greatest rock solos on a hit record. As you mentioned, all the other performances are also off the chart, especially Cetera’s vocal. I got this album when it came out and it’s still a favorite. I believe that the isolated tracks for this cut are on YT. Worth checking out.

@amyrussell860

5w↑1

I've heard a lot of theories about this song. Most of them are referring to drugs, so Bobby's recollection is interesting. He is consistent on what the topic is about, even if he. Isn't wirh what time piece he looked at 😅. , I have loved Chicago's music growing up, and still do. I have watched the Tery Kath experience. Terry made a horrible mistake with handling a firearm-he didn't treat it as though it was loaded. I've have hunters in my family and was taught at a young age you NEVER disturb someone cleaning a gun, ALWAYS handle it as if it is loaded and most important, NEVER ever point it at anyone. Enjoyed video as always.

@branthandford2212

It is a song that makes your mind envision all this going on. Listening to you tell the story matches up to what my mind envisioned all these years.

@MarkSmith-th1ij

The greatest Chicago song and usually the one that ends their shows!! Chicago's original line up was truly a rock band with horns!! One of the best rock bands around. This song has everything Robert Lamm's writing, Peter Cetera on vocals, the iconic horns and the mighty mighty Terry Kath on lead guitar!!

@omarvasquez445

5w↑2

Yes!! Thank you Professor 👓
A song about writing a song in the middle of the night...

@kcmt01

5w↑1

It always annoyed the crap out of me when the radio station would cut off the outro solos from Chicago. It happened again today, the final trombone solo from "Beginnings". The BEST PART OF THE SONG!!!!

@RamblinJer

It doesn't get much better than hearing a perfect blend of jazz and rock, and Chicago definitely knew how to do it.

@thomasflynn5366

5w↑1

I was lucky enough to have seen them in the 70s when Terry Kath was still alive. It was my first concert. I was 14 and my mother dropped my friend and I off and said "have a nice time " lol.

@alexnejako777

5w↑2

i dig the vocals on the early Chicago. their songs were everywhere when i was little and they had a TV special on ABC!

@melissabrooks1700

5w↑1

My favorite Terry Kath song is "Colour My World ". My mom loved that song and Chicago and taught me to play it on the piano. Forty years later, any time I am around a keyboard I still play that song lol. I miss jamming in the car to Chicago with my mom and thank her for introducing me to this band. Still one of my all time favorite bands.

@debbieomi

My favorite 25 or 6 to 4 memory involves my son. His freshman in high school, he played bari sax in the marching, symphonic, and jazz bands. As a rule, the jazz band director never allowed freshmen to solo. However, he not only requested my son to solo but to improvise. His first public performance doing so was 25 or 6 to 4 during a regional dinner meeting of the Rotary Club. It knocked us all off our seats and onto our feet when he finished. It became his signature piece throughout high school and the improvisation was different yet brilliant each time.
He graduated eight years ago and has picked up his sax maybe a half dozen times since. 😢 He tells me that his heart left it behind in high school which I so do not understand. He's on the spectrum so there are often decisions he makes that boggle my mind. 😕

@pdmullgirl

5w↑1

I think and have always thought the song was about trying to come up with lyrics and melodies to a song while staying up all hours of the night. Were drugs involved? Possibly. Does it really matter? The song is pure gold. But finding out it was recorded with Peter’s mouth wired shut is just insane! That I didn’t know. That’s also why I love this channel. Finding out the in’s and out’s and the nitty gritty. The story about Terry is absolutely horrific. Such a sad day in music that made changes forevermore. What a wonderful talent to be taken so senselessly and suddenly. So very sad. I’m glad the band kept going and is still rocking it to this very day. RIP Terry! Thanks Professor! Just like the music, you rock!
❤️💜💚

@ProfessorofRock

5w↑1

The song is gold!

@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980

How could he sing with his jaw shut like that? That’s amazing!

@commonsensehill372

5w↑1

Chicago was a part of my life ever since I was 3 years old. Baby sitter had teenage daughters and they had record players and both CTA and the second album. I heard them daily... at least 5 days a week while my parents worked. I grew up listening to them and today I have every album and the DVD of The Terry Kath Experience.
Chicago is and always will be my absolute favorite band.