12 tracks · 61 min
Chicago 13 is the eleventh album by the American band Chicago, released in 1979. The follow-up to Hot Streets, Chicago 13 is often considered an unpopular release among Chicago's catalog, both critically and with fans. This would be the band's final release that features Terry Kath's replacement Donnie Dacus. Well aware that musical trends were evolving, with disco at its peak in 1979, Chicago and co-producer Phil Ramone went for a slick sound, placing the band into a late 1970s clubbing context. While at the time they felt they were moving on and exploring new areas, Chicago's move into that territory, especially "Street Player", was reviled by critics and bewildered the group's rapidly dwindling fanbase. While all band members would contribute to the songwriting (one of only two albums where this was the case, the other being Chicago VII), Robert Lamm and James Pankow's once-prolific songwriting had dwindled, while Peter Cetera was still gaining in momentum, singing most of the lead vocals. After recording sessions in Montreal and Hollywood, Chicago 13 - which saw the band return to numbering their albums with their trademark name logo - was released that August and was precede…