Chicago 19

Background

With a reception similar to its predecessor, Chicago 19 became a success on the album chart, going platinum and yielding hit singles. The album includes "Look Away" (#1), "I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love" (#3), and "You're Not Alone" (#10). A slightly remixed version of Jason Scheff's "What Kind Of Man Would I Be?" (#5) would also be successful in late 1989, as part of the follow-up Greatest Hits 1982-1989 release. This album is the first Chicago effort to spotlight keyboardist/singer Bill Champlin on lead vocals, who sings all three of the album's hit singles. The album relied heavily on outside writers, continuing a trend from the previous album. The first two singles were written by high-charting Diane Warren, and the third by British-born songwriter Jimmy Scott.

After recording Chicago 19, founding drummer Danny Seraphine was voted out of the band, just more than twenty years after its original formation. Session drummer Tris Imboden joined the band as of the subsequent album, Twenty 1.

Track listing

Chicago 19 (Full Moon/Reprise 25714) reached #37 in the US during a chart stay of 42 weeks. It did not chart in the UK.

Outtakes

An alternative version of "Come in From The Night" exists. An outtake of "Victorious" exists. A cover version of Otis Redding's "I Can't Turn You Loose" was intended for Chicago 19. It was performed live in July 1988. "Dancing in The Streets" was omitted, and performed in 1989 in Houston, Texas as part of an encore. A demo of "Look Away" exists. There were alternative lyrics in an early demo of What Kind of Man Would I Be.

Chicago

Additional musicians

Production

The album makes extensive use of the then popular Roland D-50 synthesizer presets. For example: "I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love" with "Pressure Me Strings" and "Look Away" with PCM E-Piano.

Chart positions

Album - Billboard (America)

Singles - Billboard (America)