I think I’ve officially hit my mid-life crisis

No. No. Nooooooo! Thank God my dad chose the music in our house so I didn’t grow up listening to Peter Cetera or Hall and Oates. It was all prog rock and blues 24/7. No horns! I had to smuggle Jazz and Country into the house, but I never stooped to Mom Pop levels.

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Hot_Frosty0807@reddit

They tour fairly religiously with Earth, Wind, and Fire. I recommend you also get into EWF and then catch the tour when it comes to your town. One of the best shows you'll ever see!

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maggie320@reddit (OP)

Oh I love Earth, Wind and Fire. Fantasy is one of my all time favorites.

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roonilwonwonweasly@reddit

Not a big fan but I've been listening to only rap music lately, which is what I listened to when I was a teen.

This is a better midlife crisis than getting a fast car and crashing or replacing your significant other with a younger model.

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maggie320@reddit (OP)

I’ll switch out for some rap every so often, but only stuff from the 90s.

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roonilwonwonweasly@reddit

90s for sure. I do listen to the whole Eminem anthology. From the 90s to today. He's the only one who's newer music I'll listen to

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COV3RTSM@reddit

Chicago is amazing, doesn’t matter your age.

Once upon a time there was a Chicago cover band competing in a battle of the bands. The wanted couple extra horns and I was the most….available.

That was the most talented group of musicians I had ever played with and we blew the fuckin doors off that arena.

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maggie320@reddit (OP)

That’s awesome and you’ve got to be good to play horns on a Chicago song.

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Epicardiectomist@reddit

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Appropriate-Food1757@reddit

I like Chicago.

I’ve been eyeing Cadillac CT5V blackwing and also cheaper RWD manual trace cars from the past though, and golfing a shit ton. So I think my midlife crisis is a fi so go at playing sports at a high level and a manual RWD car with some zip that looks like a regular car.

Caddy is too expensive but I think will be more reasonable to fund a used one in a couple years. Smaller V6 manual caddies can be had for 30-40k though

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rialucia@reddit

I’ve always liked Chicago—all eras. No shame here.

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PineappleTonyMaloof@reddit

THAT is your mid-life crisis? Try rebuilding your card and comic collection from 90-96

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maggie320@reddit (OP)

That’s cool. I was never into that stuff, but as long as you enjoy it.

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dinosandbees@reddit

One of last summer's highlights was seeing a concert of Christopher Cross AND Chicago. A double-header!

But personally, I've been listening to a lot of Fleetwood Mac lately. And no, I'm not going through a breakup.

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maggie320@reddit (OP)

Fleetwood Mac is great. Their stuff from the Peter Green years is outstanding and so different from the Stevie years. Nothing against Stevie of course.

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Advanced_Nose_7738@reddit

I can relate to the song Old Days now and how it's about childhood memories.

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FewConversation569@reddit

Ooooh, this is a good suggestion for my ears while working today.

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Messiah@reddit

If this is what your midlife crisis looks like, you are a way healthier individual than I am.

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frecklemimus79@reddit

Billy Joel and Yes have finally clicked for me. I guess this is 47…

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BleechInYourEye@reddit

Man I listen to all my parents music from Heart to ELP, Yes, Steely Dan, of course Chicago. I love Michael McDonald stuff now for gods sake. It all reminds me of growing up and I’ve got a bunch of their very same records they used to spin. It’s always special to put them on

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maggie320@reddit (OP)

My dad didn’t listen to typical “dad” music except for maybe the Stones or Led Zeppelin. He listened to jazz, but he did introduce me to Steely Dan. My parents even got me the Citizen Steely Dan boxed set for Christmas when I was in ninth grade.

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BleechInYourEye@reddit

Funny, I bought that box set for my dad for his birthday back then too

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moles-on-parade@reddit

Not to be all one-uppy... but lately I've been playing things like Joe Jackson and INXS in my roadster, with the top down, wearing New Balance shoes.

Gonna hafta add some Chicago to my playlist. Good call!

gif

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abbydabbydo@reddit

Dude. I just got a roadster and for some reason it craves Genesis, George Michael and The Cars. I’ve never actively sought any of those before, despite how great they are. What is this?!

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moles-on-parade@reddit

I'm now six months into ownership and I hear you 100%, internet stranger! My favorite is the part where other convertible drivers wave back 😊

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abbydabbydo@reddit

I keep saying “middle age is goooood”.

As a motorcyclist, even, I’ve always waved at convertibles, and I do in this thing.

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DStew713@reddit

Joe Jackson’s first two albums are classic!

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maggie320@reddit (OP)

Both good choices. Team Skechers here though.

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Moist_Rule9623@reddit

You’re in good company, one of my best friends in the world wants to go see Chicago when they tour this summer

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ZaphodBeeblebrahx@reddit

The first live show I ever went to was Chicago opening for Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young.

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Cooper_Sharpy@reddit

If Terry hadn’t accidentally shot and killed himself acting like a complete moron he would be just as known as any guitar great. It’s sad really, dude was a monster on guitar.

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No-Meringue5009@reddit

You need to come over and join us

https://www.reddit.com/r/NeverNotFunny/

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ineffable_my_dear@reddit

My “second son” (my kid’s bff) is 27 and Foreplay / Long Time is his favorite song ever so don’t feel old about it lol

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BeanerSchnitzel38@reddit

I don't like Chicago. I LOVE Chicago. Back in my younger days, my fellow sailors and I would listen to Chicago in the morning while floating around in the middle of the Persian Gulf and it got us through. I'm talking the sappy shit....Hard for me to say I'm sorry and If you leave me now. :)

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noonesaidityet@reddit

I like to play a game with my wife whenever I hear Peter Cetera's voice on the radio or in a store, or wherever; Is it Chicago or solo Peter Cetera? Then my wife rolls her eyes and she never tells me because I really don't know.

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LineImpossible3958@reddit

You’re like a knight in shining armor, from a long time ago

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DStew713@reddit

Karate Kid ll was definitely solo Cetera

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xdevnullx@reddit

This came up in my shuffle yesterday. Absolute banger!

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maggie320@reddit (OP)

That like with me and is it Phil Collins or Genesis?

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SeaSkimmer2@reddit

And Easy Lover is really neither. 😆

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maggie320@reddit (OP)

That shocked me when I first learned that was Phillip Bailey’s song. Good song nonetheless.

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Electronic-Ride-564@reddit

I love Bailey's song 'Chinese Wall' from the same album

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al_m1101@reddit

YESS. Criminally underrated song.

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sweetassassin@reddit

Welcome to your mid-life crisis, there are many like it but this one is yours.

Mine looked very similar to yours, except my obsession was of Toto, and ultimately becoming convinced that they are the greatest band of all time. (Who tf am I? I blame perimenopause tbh)

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YogurtclosetDull2380@reddit

It sounds like you're in hell already

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analogthought@reddit

It was the BeeGees for me. I’ve accepted it.

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Scar77@reddit

Chicago’s Greatest Hits Vol I and II still slap

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christopherDdouglas@reddit

I'm really into Toto...

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tronassembled@reddit

I sing like the Africa acapella kid a lot

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maggie320@reddit (OP)

Toto rocks too. I lump them together with Survivor and Journey though.

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sorrymizzjackson@reddit

Apparently so do they since I saw both Journey and Toto touring together a few years ago. They were great. Worth the money!

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Twanlx2000@reddit

Toto’s first album was released the week I was born. I still get super jazzed whenever I hear Hold the Line.

They’re playing this summer with Christopher Cross, and after seeing the HBO yacht rock documentary, I have a whole different appreciation for these session musicians who just kept pairing with combinations of the same dudes because they loved collaborating and seeing what they could create. It’s such a dichotomy from how image-oriented the industry became the following decade.

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Impressive-Compote60@reddit

Just listened to "Stay the Night" while mowing yesterday. Im 43 but my husband is 10 years older than me so we be jammin around here!

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ericwbolin@reddit

I don't love them, still, but "Stay the Night" gets the windows-down, crank-the-volume treatment from me, for sure.

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Electronic-Ride-564@reddit

I've been cranking 'Along Comes A Woman' from the same album lately. Had to put the mp3 on a thumb drive so I can listen to it on the way to work. lol

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therealpopkiller@reddit

Pre-80s Chicago sure, before they turned into a Diane Warren tribute band

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SickOfNormal@reddit

Iono... if we are listening to a band named after a city? Then I think the winner is Boston.

If we are listening to a band named after a state, then it's Kansas.

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markuspeloquin@reddit

Perhaps my favorite band is named after the capitol of Slovenia, Ljubljana. Or as the Nazis renamed it, Laibach.

They've been around longer than I've been alive and are still going. Sometimes I feel a bit dull that the only new music I've bought in the last five years is Laibach. And then I remember how much I love it.

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Carinis_Antelope@reddit

Chicago is much better than Boston. Both as a city and the bands. Or are you trolling?

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maggie320@reddit (OP)

Boston is good too. I need to do a deeper dive on Kansas though.

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NegativeHerons@reddit

Chicago was the first concert I saw. My mom took me to see the Chicago 19 tour, whatever that year was.

My mom had Chicago 16, 17, 18. I bought 19. I was obsessed with the logo on the album covers… the font, the 3-dimensionality.

As I got older, I learned that Chicago 16 is where the original fans started turning on the band for going commercial.

Same thing with Genesis. Before Invisible Touch, I don’t like very much.

This may be a differentiator between Gen X and Xennials, with Gen X preferring jam bad Chicago and prog rock Genesis, whereas Gen X favors the sold-out versions of them. Or maybe it’s just me.

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Sufficient-Mud-4129@reddit

Terry’s daughter made a documentary about him a few years ago! https://youtu.be/S54d3uTJHnQ?si=2uJr1qeYs7f8sdMM

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Iceprincess1282@reddit

lol I’ve always been in love with the song night moves by the bob segar band and people have always looked at me crazy but it’s one of my fav songs ever. Put it on during the summer months while driving with the sunroof open it will change your life about music.

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Striking-Access-236@reddit

You're in dire straits!

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Illustrious-Lead-960@reddit

I have no *idea* what percentage of us like Chicago.

I only know that *I* don’t.

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TinyGIR@reddit

Well, shit. My Dad died three years ago this last Sunday, and one of my lingering regrets is not going with him to see Chicago touring. 😬

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irideleye@reddit

Don’t fight it and just let it roll. Chicago’s first record CTA gets played every couple of weeks and for me Terry Kath is one of the greatest guitar players of all time

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mtron32@reddit

You the only one homie😎

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napalmthechild@reddit

Not Chicago but I got into hair metal and yacht rock randomly. I’m Asian lol

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JudgeJuryEx78@reddit

I'm finding it hard to say I'm sorry that I like Chicago.

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NoContextCarl@reddit

Wtf? This isn't rock bottom.

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BogeyLowenstein@reddit

I love ELO!

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ItalianBeefCurtains@reddit

Terry Kath is generally a very underrated guitarist. Jimmy Hendrix felt Kath was a superior guitarist. For those uninitiated, check out his solo in this live version of 25 or 6 to 4

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elMurpherino@reddit

I just watched that video this past weekend. Solid guitarist.

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maggie320@reddit (OP)

I’ve seen that live from YouTube. I told a Gen Z co-worker who plays guitar about it. I really don’t get how he has the stamina for that. Credit to Robert Lamm on keys for keeping up with Kath.

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littleseaotter@reddit

I like Chicago. Took my mom to see them last year and had a blast!

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elMurpherino@reddit

Love Chicago. Also been rocking out to Steely Dan a lot lately too.

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Killahdanks1@reddit

I do. But I can tell you during my mid life crisis I just felt it for like 8 months. I knew what it was, so it didn’t bother me that much. So I had a big job with like 100 employees. I quit, found a job where I’m someone’s employee and I even make a lot more. I just gave up what was supposed to be, and just started to “be” full time.

I work a handful of hours a day. I get high and I listen to tunes. My wife and I go on walks and spend time with family. Good gig if you can get it. Chicago has been there, as well as many other bands. Music is one of the most important things on earth.

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prolikewhoa@reddit

You think you’re hiring your midlife crisis because you’re playing Chicago? You gotta give us more than that

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bettypenney@reddit

I’ve been listening to Wish You Were Here ALOT - But that’s because I’m a Beach Boys fanatic and I found out they sing the background vocals on that track! 😍

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maggie320@reddit (OP)

That’s what started it all. I saw a clip of their performance from New Years Rockin Eve and that’s where I first learned the Beach Boys sang backup. Also Kath played bass and Cetera guitar on that.

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bettypenney@reddit

Nice! Yeah, I’ve only become a BB addict since Brian Wilson died. I can’t get enough! So I understand your plight, lol. Although I feel like I’m older than most people on the BB sub. 🤷🏻‍♀️

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maggie320@reddit (OP)

If you didn’t already, check out the song California by Belinda Carlisle. Brian Wilson sings backup on it.

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bettypenney@reddit

I have! He’s done so many great collabs. ❤️

You might like this, I just visited Caribou Ranch in Colorado where the Beach Boys recorded along with Chicago (they recorded Wishing You were Here there). They also sang on Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me with Elton John there. Couldn’t get super close but loved checking it out. So much history. ☺️

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Ok_Bike_369@reddit

thats fine I have a T Shirt with Peter Cetera on it that I got last year

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dewihafta@reddit

Hells no! Ive been loving the hell out of them and Boston lately…

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Thatonegirl_79@reddit

I went through a Chicago era in the early-mid 90s when I was a young teen. Even bought a Peter Cetera album then, too. His voice is so distinct.

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LAffaire-est-Ketchup@reddit

When I was in grade 8 my music teacher had a breakdown and forced us all to learn Chicago songs to win his soon to be ex wife back. I am not a fan. Sorry. I’m sure it’s residual trauma.

I have been playing an all Sleep Token and Ghost playlist. Especially with the new path to worship: instrumental Even in Arcadia album.

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maggie320@reddit (OP)

Yeah, that’s not a good memory for sure.

Sleep Token and Ghost I just can’t get into. I worked with a girl who was obsessed and I tried, but just not my thing.

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LAffaire-est-Ketchup@reddit

As long as we all have our own thing! Music is important

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maggie320@reddit (OP)

Absolutely!

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EfficiencyIVPickAx@reddit

I'm a top listener of Jimmy Buffett of yt music.

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ohb78@reddit

We used to be jerks back in High School and play Chicagos greatest hits album anytime a buddy had a breakup. So depressing

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jeng52@reddit

I LOVE Chicago! They’re in my top 5 bands ever.

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DustedGorilla82@reddit

Chicago Transit Authority

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zharv12@reddit

You’re all good, Terry Kath years are great, more of a Blues/R&B/rock vibe, less adult contemporary. Plus you can still really hear the Peruvian marching powder in the recordings!

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Allureme@reddit

Probably the lamest mid life crisis.

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SeaSkimmer2@reddit

I have a hard time deciding whether The Next Time I Fall (Peter + Amy Grant) or After All (Peter + Cher) is the better duet.

I think there’s no question that After All hits harder, though.

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maggie320@reddit (OP)

I prefer Next Time I Fall.

We can’t forget the, (I Wanna Take) Forever Tonight duet with Crystal Bernard.

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maggie320@reddit (OP)

I prefer Next Time I Fall.

We can’t forget the, (I Wanna Take) Forever Tonight duet with Crystal Bernard.

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SinStarsGalaxy@reddit

Today I saw that Heaven Beside You by AIC in 30 years old today (Single released January 1996) and I’m like well…. Gonna go dig my own grave now. Thanks.

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TraditionalTackle1@reddit

My wife and I saw them at a casino in Michigan about a decade ago

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edasto42@reddit

I grew up in Chicago and had family that knew members of the band. Their music was in constant rotation. Plus it didn’t hurt that there were at least 4 radio stations in town that played them.

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maggie320@reddit (OP)

Oh I’m sure and it seemed like they represented the city well.

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UsuallyGrouchy@reddit

25 or 6 to 4 is my happy place.

I get the mom music thing. My parent’s first dance was to Color My World. After my mom passed 3 years ago, Chicago and yacht rock hit me in the feels. The soft rock music I couldn’t stand as a kid became a nostalgia blanket.

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maggie320@reddit (OP)

I used to have Colour My World on my old iPod Nano just because it was such a sweet song and I didn’t know much about Terry Kath, I just loved his voice. I’m glad that type of music brings back good memories for you.

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SeaSkimmer2@reddit

This is the greatest Chicago song. It hit just at the right time for a 4-year-old taking that family road trip in the few short years before parents separated:

Will You Still Love Me?

…And it’s not even with Peter Cetera.

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maggie320@reddit (OP)

I heard this at work today and started bawling. Back in 2004 I was visiting family in CT and met someone while I was up there and wound up spending an amazing night with this person. Leaving the next morning on the way to the airport completely hung over this song came on the radio and it made me think of that guy. Over 20 years later and that song still resonates with me.

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LineImpossible3958@reddit

Such a good song. Me and couple coworkers used to harmonize poorly to this song.

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FiveCrappedPee@reddit

No they are awesome. I'm a born and raised native and a couple of fun facts :

they originally were called Chicago Transit Authority (it's the agency that runs our public transit system) but got sued by them for using the name so just changed it to Chicago.

There was an amazing hot dog joint called Demon Dogs under the red line (The L) tracks for years on the Fullerton stop, right by DePaul. Anyway guess who owned it? Their manager, and it was so cool because not only would you get awesome Chicago food (dogs, Italian beefs, etc) but, hung up everywhere was all this legit paraphernalia of the band, like old posters and there was even one of the guitars on the wall one of the guys used. All his personal stuff. It was a Chicago museum.

It was amazing! Sadly, when the redline did their extension like 10 or 15 years ago they wrecked it and that was the end of that. He just didn't wanna reopen anywhere else. But it was something else man, really groovy, ya dig?

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