Chicago-At Carnegie Hall Volumes III & IV (1971)
Artist: Chicago
Title: At Carnegie Hall Volumes III & IV
Country and Year of Edition: US 1971
Sell Price: $8.54
Sell Date: 6/1/26
Condition: VG/VG pro refurbish, untested, laminate on cover
Discogs Last Sold: 2/4/25 VG/no cover $7.53
Low: $7.53
Median: $8.54
Average: $8.57
High: $9.65
Current low price: $9.65 VG+/no cover
Current Number on Sale at Discogs: 2
Have/Want: 48/9
Where Sold: Fort Worth, TX
Time It Took To Sell: 3 years
Where and When Bought: Ebaly 8-track lot
Gwiz-gau Letter Grade: B
Sad To See It Go: No
The 4-LP box set Chicago At Carnegie Hall was also divided into 2 double album releases when it came out. This was to commemorate a week of sold out dates at the esteemed Manhattan venue. Although I had both tapes from the same owner, I had to have them refurbished and listed them in their "separate" listings probably at different times when the repared tapes came back. Lo and behold, this one sold by itself, so I'm treating it as it's own release. Cheating I know, but I really didn't want to ruminate over 8 sides worth of live Chicago. 4 (or one double lenght 8-track) is plenty for now.
Since side 5 opened with an introduction anyway, it seems an appropriate place to start. This record was lambasted by critics for including things like tune ups and endless jamming. Others insisted the brass sounded like kazoos in Carnegie Hall and the venue was ill suited for a Rock band. Yes, Chicago were still considered a Rock band in 1971. One thing that is amazing about it album is how stretched out a band of this hit making caliber was allowed to be especially when you compare it to the single Greatest Hits album from the mid 70's or the super-MOR 80's soft rock hits. Even chopped in half this is a long stretch of music.
Since the band only had three albums before it (albiet all doubles), there isn't a massive catalog to cover 8 sides. Chicago III dominates the first half of this and Chicago II gets the entire Ballet For A Girl In Buchannan in order. The album closes with "I'm A Man" from Chicago Transit Authority. If you guessed that much of Chicago Transist Authority and the remainder of Chicago II were on the first two volumes of this set, you would be correct. If I was really serious in my exploration of Chicago, I would just get the whole 4 record box and be done with it. I guess I'm as lazy as they come in terms of Chicago explorists. The albums and tapes just seem to come to me whether I want them to or not. That said, when a recent large 8-track order came in of 70's titles, this late add on was the one I wanted to listen to most for whatever reason. Something about Terry Kath era Chicago is forever in my mind as something I need to get a deep dive handle on. Doing it, well that is a different story. It is a bit of a chore. I was happy to stop with Chicago Transit Authority, but these random lot purchases just keep bringing me back.
I didn't have time to revisit all the 8-tracks before shipping this week. Two tracks here got the fade treatment despite having 4 tracks for 4 sides. The sequence order was kept and "Flight 602" and "Happy 'Cause I'm Going Home" got the fades. My replacement Spotify playlist has that "live with spaces" effect that has been going on with live records in the digital era where different mastering jobs of the same record have different track points making the live continuity abrupt. Cheating I know but when a $70 8-track order comes in, I want to get them out the door and not play them and risk further wear and breakage beyond the initial test getting the tape to the track end leader.
The entire set was certified Gold in 1971 and Platinum in 1986. There is no way to know if these split configurations were rolled into the grand total since they weren't certified individually. The only other example I can think of is the Elvis Worldwide Hits compilation 4-LP box that was also chopped in half, but those volumes were also individually certified. Food for thought. This music sold either way in the US, with the box peaking at #3 on Billboard.
Still a chore, some good stuff and sometimes a bore but I got through it.
FOR FURTHER REVIEW:
Chicago Transit Authority (1969)
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