Christmas

Product Description:

Chicago: Bill Champlin (vocals, acoustic guitar, organ, keyboards, synthesizer, programming); Keith Howland (vocals, guitar); Lee Loughnane (vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn); Robert Lamm (vocals, piano, electric piano, Clavinet, vibraphone); Jason Scheff (vocals, keyboards, bass, programming); Walt Parazaider (flute, alto flute, alto & tenor saxophones); James Pankow (trombone, synthesizer); Tris Imboden (drums).

Additional personnel includes: Luis Conte (percussion).

Principally recorded at A & M, Hollywood, California; Rumbo, Canoga Park, California and Gold Mine Studios, Woodland Hills, California in 1998. Originally released on Columbia (3035). Includes liner notes by David Millman.

The 2003 edition of Chicago's Christmas album (now subtitled WHAT'S IT GONNA BE SANTA?) includes the entirety of the band's 1998 Christmas release CHICAGO 25: CHRISTMAS, and adds no less than six newly recorded tracks. Produced by the legendary Phil Ramone (the original sessions featured E Street band keyboardist Roy Bittan at the helm), the new tracks feature more of the group's unique interpretations of holiday chestnuts.

Rather than tired re-treads of the same old songs, the versions on this album generally benefit from radically reconfigured arrangements that often make the songs unrecognizable until the lyrics come in. This approach works splendidly, breathing new life and excitement into the well-worn genre of December-themed tunes. Throughout, Chicago seamlessly weaves a Yuletide tapestry of its trademark horns, vocal harmonies, and jazzy chord changes, which allows this album to rank with the group's best work.