OT: Chicago - Nashville Studio Recordings

[Baron Von Bielski]

There's a thread where these were mentioned so I thought I'd check into them. I purchased these through Chicago's website and I admit that most of these rerecordings are very good. Especially the songs where Cetera was once featured as lead vocalist. Jason Scheff does an excellent job emulating him. I know that in 1985 he was hired "technically" as a replacement for Cetera, but over the years they have allowed other members of the band to sing songs that Cetera did and where Jason would have best been used. The current guitarist, Keith Howland has performed lead vocal on songs like If You Leave me Now and Just You and Me during live shows. And although he doesn't suck... well kinda... it should be Scheff singing those. What's great about the rerecordings is that they use Scheff on "all" songs that Cetera perormed on and it only makes them better. Not better than the original... you get my point. Hell, I think I've even seen Howland sing No Tell Lover. It's tough to see when you know the bassist would nail and has in the past. I don't get what they do live. Do they have to spread the wealth to everyone. I am just glad that Bill Champlin is gone. I couldn't stand his voice... and to let him sing on Kath songs is a joke. As far as the other songs on the rerecordings I am not real impressed... Lamm's voice as degraded a bit over the years, although his rendition of Colour My World isn't bad. But, on his own songs... like Saturday in the Park... not good. Anyways... my point is that overall they did a very good job and that Jason Scheff is awesome. Great vocalist, great bassist. They are lucky they found him.