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Customer Rating:  
Summary: Textbook example of overkill
Comment: It is official; I'm tired of '60's-'70's marathon concerts. It's not the lengths of the songs themselves I mind, or even the fact that talented guitarists are stretching out a little, it's more that there's only so much you can do with just a guitar. Now, if you had a jazz ensemble (Check out Miles Davis' My Funny Valentine concert for a good example), or at least were a rock band that used more than a guitar for the solo veichiles, that would be different. Though Chicago was known for its horn section, rarely on the three endless cuts do they get any licks in. For instance, take all fifteen minutes of South California Purples. LP version? Great listening. But this? I can picture many better ways to spend my quarter-hour. Yeah, even listening to other songs. Same with In the Country, which never really impressed me much in the first place but here is just far too much. Ditto for Mean Tune. And half the second disc (not to mention most of disc three) is packed with mediocraty. (Mother, Lowdown, Flight 602, Motorboat to Mars, Free, I Don't Want Your Money, Happy 'Cause I'm Going home and an uninspired reading of Ballet for a Girl in Buchanan, if you must know). And why'd they need to "Introduce" Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? (or play Fancy Colors at all). In fact, I stopped listening after Disc 3 ended, and will probably never hear Disc Four.
But there are a handful of decent tracks, such as Does Anybody Really Know, Questions 67 and 68, Beginnings, 25 or 6 to 4, I'm a Man and Song For Richard and His Friends. But overall, this is inessential and overindulgent.
Customer Rating:
Summary: live rock at its absolute greatest
Comment: I used to hear Chicago a lot when I was in the 5th grade and this recording brings back some old memories. This collection was recorded in front of a very excited audience and the sound quality is very clear. I enjoyed all the songs including "Colour My World," "Make Me Smile," and "Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is?" However, my favorite song on the recording is "25 or 6 to 4." I have enjoyed that song since I was in elementary school. The best part of this collection is listening to Peter rock out with his lead vocals on "25 or 6 to 4." I would recommend this recording to all fans as well as those just getting introduced to this group.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Amazing set list but ...
Comment: not very good recording quality. that fourth CD truly makes the box set worth the money. that version of 25 or g to 4 is much better than the originally released live version. terry kath's solo is just balls to the wall nuts. you can hear his influence on countless guitar players now. The horns (which has been said before) don't sound stellar but being a trumpet player for almost 5 years I don't care and neither should the average buyer. Danny Seraphine and Peter Cetera just groove. Walt Parazaider, Lee Loughnane, and the amazing Jimmy Pankow may not sound good but you need to remember it is Carnegie Hall. As a side note when the beatles played their the recordings they had were unsalvageable because the crowd over powered the tunes so just remember that. But if you're looking for a comprehensive Chicago early days set with awesome improv solos this is it. The posters and booklet were all shrank down and all look awesome. It's well worth the price that amazon charges just to hear the unemulatable terry kath play his solos. Truly underrated guitar player he was. BUY NOW!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Much improved sound and great extras
Comment: I recieved this set for Christmas and am very impressed. I have the original Columbia cd set (which I thought was an improvement over the LPs) but this set even ecplises the Columbia cd release. The sound quality is wonderful (the horns sound like horns and the mix is actually good). The only improvement I can think if is maybe early versions of songs off chicago V, since the band did say they were doing new songs as well as songs from all three of the albums released to date. All inserts are included, including smaller versions of all three posters and an expanded booklet. BUY THIS SET!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Band At The Height of Innovation And Creativity
Comment: Back in 1971, I received the 4 vinyl album pack as a Christmas gift....Being a trumpet player in the high school band, these guys were our heroes....We listened and dissected these live albums for months....Now 34 years later, I again received the remastered cd's for a Christmas gift...WOW, WOW,and WOW!......Looking back,these musicians were true innovators in every sense of the word and like F Cunningham's review, I'm totally blown away by Terry Kath's playing! What chops!.....It's a shame he's no longer with us.....There's a story told by sax player Walt Parazaider that in 1968, Chicago was playing at the Whiskey a Go Go in L.A. and Jimi Hendrix caught the show.....Later on, Jimi told Walt that Terry Kath was a better guitarist than even himself....I recommend this remastered edition wholeheartedly just for Kath's musical virtuosity!
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