PETER CETERA (Chicago) – Peter Cetera [Rock Candy remaster] (2018)

For most fans of strident and forceful AOR, PETER CETERA would not, under normal circumstances, be their first port of call. Having been a founder member and lead vocalist with legendary band Chicago, his background was firmly in another musical world but this, his debut solo album “Peter Cetera” showcased a desire to break free of those chains and strike out in a new direction, a solo career that turned heads and eventually led to his departure from the mother ship.

Times had been disappointing for Chicago, their 14 album run at Columbia records was abruptly terminated in 1981 when they were perceived as being irrelevant to the current market.
Cetera himself had actually begun to record a solo album and was half way through the project when news came of not only Chicago’s ill fortune, but also of the cancellation of his own project.
Fortuitously Chicago were picked up by the Warner Brother’s label who also exercised the option on his solo album, which was completed and released by their Full Moon subsidiary.

Released in 1981 and produced by himself & Jim Boyer (Billy Joel, Steve Winwood), the album was quite a revelation to those who expected to hear a mellow example of his work with Chicago.
The record, instead, was a punchy example of contemporary AOR, fueled by crunchy guitar (featuring Steve Lukather and Chris Pinnick) and designed to fit in seamlessly with the work of say, Journey and Toto. Tracks such as ‘I Can Feel It’ and ‘Livin’ In The Limelight’ are classics of the genre.

One year after “Peter Cetera” was released, he and Chicago launched a major comeback with the number one single, “Hard to Say I’m Sorry”, and album, Chicago 16. After 1984’s Chicago 17 was also a massive hit, Cetera left the band to concentrate fully on his solo career.
For many years unavailable on CD, this Rock Candy pristine remaster is really welcomed.
Highly Recommended

1. “Livin’ In The Limelight”
Steve Lukather – lead guitar and solo
Craig Hull – 2nd guitar
Mike Botts – drums
Michael Boddicker – synthesizer
Peter Cetera – bass, percussion, vocals

2. “I Can Feel It”
Chris Pinnick – lead guitar and solo
Carl Wilson – 2nd guitar
Ricky Fataar – drums
Mark Williams – percussion
Peter Cetera – bass, vocals

3. “How Many Times”
Chris Pinnick – 1st guitar
Rich Eames – electric piano
David “Hawk” Wolinski – synthesizer and solo
Ricky Fataar – drums
Steve Foreman – percussion
Peter Cetera – bass, acoustic guitar, vocals

4. “Holy Moly”
Chris Pinnick – electric guitar
Steve Lukather – electric guitar
Ricky Fataar – drums, percussion
Tommy Morgan – harmonica and solo
Peter Cetera – bass, acoustic guitar, vocals

5. “Mona Mona”
Chris Pinnick – 1st guitar
Ricky Fataar – drums
Gary Herbig – saxophone
David “Hawk” Wolinski – synthesizer
Peter Cetera – bass, 2nd guitar, vocals

6. “On The Line”
Josh Leo – electric guitar and solo
Craig Hull – electric guitar
Kenny Edwards – acoustic guitar
Bob Glaub – bass
Craig Doerge – piano
Michael Botts – drums
Michael Boddicker – synthesizers
Peter Cetera – percussion, vocals

7. “Not Afraid To Cry”
Chris Pinnick – electric 6-string guitar
Mark Goldenberg – acoustic 12-string guitar and solo
Ricky Fataar – drums
Peter Cetera – bass, percussion, vocals

8. “Evil Eye”
Chris Pinnick – guitar, 12-string guitar
Mark Goldenberg – 12-string guitar
Ricky Fataar – drums
Peter Cetera – bass, synthesizer, vocals

9. “Practical Man”
Chris Pinnick – guitar
Craig Hull – guitar
William “Smitty” Smith – organ
David “Hawk” Wolinski – synthesizers
Ricky Fataar – drums
Peter Cetera – bass, percussion, vocorder, synths, vocals

10. “Ivy Covered Walls”
Chris Pinnick – guitar and solo
Carli Munoz – piano
Ricky Fataar – drums
Peter Cetera – bass, percussion, vocals

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www.amazon.co.uk/Peter-Cetera/dp/B07FDMY2S