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Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album (1998)

Where the lyrics of Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album take you, and where it was really made.

The album was replaced in 2003 by a reissue with a new title and new tracks, and the reissue deleted the original from the catalogue.

Key places

Recorded at A&M Studios in Hollywood (1998)

Recording site A&M Recording Studios — The album was recorded at A&M Studios in Hollywood, California, and the album was also mixed there. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Rumbo Recorders in Canoga Park (1998)

Recording site Rumbo Recorders — Part of the album was recorded at Rumbo Recorders in Canoga Park, California. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Gold Mine Studio in Woodland Hills (1998)

Recording site Very Loud House (Woodland Hills) — Part of the album was recorded at Gold Mine Studio in Woodland Hills, California, shown here at city-center level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Chicago 25: The Christmas Album is the nineteenth studio album by the American band Chicago, their twenty-fifth overall
• Released in August 1998 on the band's Chicago Records label
• An album of Christmas songs
• Interpretations of well-known Christmas classics plus one original tune
• The original tune was co-penned by Lee Loughnane
• Produced by Roy Bittan
• Rhino Records re-issued the album in 2002, the same year Chicago began a long-term partnership with the label
• The 2003 reissue, What's It Gonna Be, Santa?, added six newly recorded tracks with a new design, title and sequencing

Background

• After Chicago entered into a long-term partnership with Rhino Records in 2002, that label re-issued Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album that same year
• The band decided to record six more Christmas songs with producer Phil Ramone, who had produced Hot Streets and Chicago 13
• Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane, James Pankow, Walter Parazaider, Jason Scheff and Tris Imboden formed the core line-up on the album
• Bill Champlin and Keith Howland also played on the album
• Additional musicians included Roy Bittan, Tim Pierce, Luis Conte and Carmen Twillie

Recording

• Recorded at A&M Studios in Hollywood, CA; Rumbo Recorders in Canoga Park, CA; and Gold Mine Studio in Woodland Hills, CA
• Engineered and mixed by Ed Thacker
• Mixed at A&M Studios
• Assisted by Posie Muliadi and Eric Ferguson
• Production coordinator Valerie Pack
• Art direction and design by John Kosh

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Chicago is an American rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1967.
• The band described itself as a "rock and roll band with horns" and blended classical music, jazz, R&B, and pop.
• The group first called itself the Big Thing, became Chicago Transit Authority in 1968, and shortened its name to Chicago in 1969.

Members

• The original line-up was Peter Cetera (bass), Terry Kath (guitar), Robert Lamm (keyboards), Lee Loughnane (trumpet), James Pankow (trombone), Walter Parazaider (woodwinds), and Danny Seraphine (drums).
• Lamm, Loughnane, and Pankow have remained constant members since 2009.
• Terry Kath died in 1978 after an accidental gunshot wound.

Career

• The band's debut double album, Chicago Transit Authority (1969), was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014.
• In 1971 Chicago became the first rock act to sell out a week at Carnegie Hall.
• "If You Leave Me Now" (1976) became the group's first number-one single and won its only Grammy.
• Billboard placed the band among the most successful chart acts in its history, and it has sold more than 100 million records.
• The original line-up was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.
• Chicago received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award on October 16, 2020.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• The album was very well received upon its release in August 1998
• It peaked at number 47 on the US chart

Records

• US peak position: number 47
• Stayed on the US charts for 7 weeks
• Went gold during its chart run
• Original release: 25 August 1998
• The original album contained 14 tracks, including The Little Drummer Boy, Feliz Navidad, White Christmas and Silent Night
• Rhino Records re-issued the album in 2002 before the 2003 reissue replaced it

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Lee Loughnane co-wrote the album's one original tune
• The Discogs release notes say the title is "Chicago XXV" on the spine and "Chicago 25" on the front of the CD case
• The 2003 reissue deleted this album when it released the new edition
• Roy Bittan produced the album and also played organ and accordion on some tracks
• The album is a Christmas album made up mainly of well-known holiday standards

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · discogs.com

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