The Studio Albums 1969-1978 (Vol. 1)(10CD) by Chicago (2012-11-06)

The brilliant Terry Kath was Chicago's first lead guitarist and one of the band's main vocalists and songwriters – this ten CD collection from Rhino covers his period with the band very nicely. Sadly, Terry was a little too fond of guns and accidentally shot himself in January 1978 – this set covers 10 of the band's first 12 albums released between 1969 and 1978, and all, except the last one, feature Terry Kath's lead guitar work. Stating with the band's first album from 1969, when they were known as Chicago Transit Authority, the set goes up to the band's first album not to feature Terry Kath which was the disco influenced Hot Streets from 1978. The first album, Chicago Transit Authority, was a double LP, which was very unusual for a debut album, and it still stands up surprisingly well today with many tracks being instantly familiar. The band's second album was just called Chicago and again features much familiar material; after this second album the subsequent albums were numbered in Roman numerals until Hot Streets, the final album featured here. What would have been Chicago IV is a live album, actually titled Chicago at Carnegie Hall, and as this box set is called “The Studio Albums 1969-1978” the live album is not included. Also missing is Chicago IX : Chicago's Greatest Hits, which featured the single edits of the original album tracks – where necessary these single versions have been added here as bonus tracks to the albums they were taken from.What this limited edition box set offers is 10 remastered CDs, some featuring bonus tracks, at the very good price of around twenty-five pounds currently from Amazon. This is a no-frills collection, simply presented without any detailed notes or booklet, but you do get over 150 tracks nicely remastered and if you buy direct from Amazon you also get the AutoRip to your Amazon Music Library to play straight away. Great value, great music from the legendary rock and roll band with horns – recommended.

A great collection of Chicago's albums. Sadly sleeve notes are minimal, its basically just a track listing for each album. They don't even tell you who wrote each song, or who plays on it.Lose 1 star for not include Chicago IV, which was a live album. Now I have to buy it separately just for completeness :-(If anyone can point me at the Amazon listing for the 4th album, I'd be grateful - I can't actually find it here!Still, a set of great, classic, albums at a good price

While I have no problem with the quality of the music or the individual CDs within the box, the box itself appears to have been poorly stored before despatch. The package arrived well wrapped with the box itself still shrink-wrapped. However, on unwrapping it all, the box itself has been crushed with the spine badly damaged and the front four corners scuffed, spoiling an otherwise great purchase. Shame.

Bargain at the price I paid

What can you say. Cd's sound really good. It's a great way to get the studio albums without having to buy them all separately. I "only" listened to their hits for years and have been a fan since I'm a kid. There's always cool songs on studio albums they don't ever play on the radio. I would recommend this set.Sue G.USA

Excellent all the way, exept for the last record.

Love Chicago chicago

For the price, this is fantastic value, and so much great music. But don't expect any glossy booklet, rare pics or anything at all really beyond 10 cardboard covers with the LP front cover image on the front and a basic track listing on the back. They are not complete CD size replicas of the original vinyl LP covers. But very nice box to keep all the CDs in, and well worth the money. Nice to have all the bonus tracks in one place too, slight though some of them are.