Chicago Album: “Chicago Live [Public Music]”

Chicago Live, recorded at 1969's Toronto Rock 'n' Roll Revival concert, is an interesting early preview of one of the 70's more popular bands. The raw energy of the band's live sound shines through on the set as does the technical brilliance of the late Terry Kath's guitar work. Cuts such as "25 or 6 to 4" and "Liberation" cook, but suffer from the poor sound quality that dogs the entire album. For the Chicago-phile, this is a must-buy (if only for the historical value--it is the first live recording from the band), but for the average listener, this is definitely a "should-pass."