
Stone of Sisyphus
Release Year: 2008
Label: Rhino
Country: USA
Produced by Peter Wolf
Musicians:
Jason Scheff: Lead & Background Vocals, Bass
Bill Champlin: Lead & Background Vocals, Keyboards, Guitars
Robert Lamm: Lead & Background Vocals, Keyboards
Dawayne Bailey: Guitars
Walt Parazaider: Woodwinds, Background Vocals
James Pankow: Trombone, Background Vocals
Lee Loughnane: Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Background Vocals
Tris Imboden: Drums, Percussion, Harmonica
Additional Musicians: Bruce Gaitsch, Sheldon Reynolds: Guitars, Jerry Scheff: Bass, Peter Wolf: Keyboards, Joseph Williams, The Jordinaires: Background Vocals;
It’s a marvel to me that their label decided not to release this one. But given that “Stone Of Sisyphus” harks back to their soul/jazz/funk/rock sound that characterised them till 16, label’s denial isn’t such a mystery after all. Stevie Wonder, War, Commodores and Earth Wind & Fire would be proud. Sharp horns section, soaring vocals and some soulful songs are held together with a strong mix and crisp production. I’ve never had the chance to listen to it before and that’s a shame.
Most long-awaited release in the rock histroy must be the Chicago XXII "Stone Of Sisyphus". Recorded in 1993. The album's original release date in the United States was scheduled for March 22, 1994. However, Warner Bros. Records was displeased with the album, and thus dismissed Stone of Sisyphus as being "unreleasable." On the booklet of this album, detailed stories are shown. Briefly speaking, when the album was finished, the new executives of the label, who might not understand how this album was awesome musically, declared "This is the worst Chicago album yet. We can put it out, but we're not going to do anything with it, promotion-wise." Chicago left the label, taking the album with them. The sequential XXII was subsquently assigned to 1995's "Night & Day". Thus, "Stone Of Sisphus" is now officially, "Chicago XXXII". Even though most of the tracks from the album, and/or alternative versions surfaced on several kinds of Chicago's best albums or Chicago band member's solo works, but the complete album release had been eagered by many music lovers. Comparing with the original shape of "Stone Of Sisyphus" as of 1994, this official release seems to be a little bit diffrent. Track-order has been changed for this time official release. For example, the 1994 version opens with "All the Years", a horn-less version had appeared on Lamm's 1993 solo album, "Life Is Good In My Neighbourhood". And you should note that 1994 version includes one more song Dwayne Baily' penned "Get On This" featuring hard driving guitars, soaring vocals. This tune was said to be the type of song Chicago had never done before and will, more than likely, never do again. Probably, that's the reason why current Chicago members decided not to include on the official release. Instead, this momentous release also features 4 bonus tracks including "Love Is Forever", the unreleased demo material from "Chicago 21".
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