Trisha Shetty (Editor)

South California Purples

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Released
  
April 28, 1969

Genre
  
Blues rock, hard rock

Label
  
Columbia Records

Recorded
  
January 1969

Length
  
6:11

Writer(s)
  
Robert Lamm

"South California Purples" is a song written and sung by Robert Lamm for the rock band Chicago and recorded for their debut album Chicago Transit Authority (1969).

The song quotes the opening line from The Beatles' "I Am the Walrus:"

"I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together."

A live version appears on 1971's Chicago at Carnegie Hall, lasting over fifteen minutes.

Personnel

  • Robert Lamm - lead vocals, Hammond organ, Hohner Pianet
  • Terry Kath - fuzzed wah-wah electric guitar, backing vocals
  • Peter Cetera - bass, backing vocals
  • Danny Seraphine - drums, tambourine, maracas
  • Jimmy Pankow - trombone
  • Lee Loughnane - trumpet
  • Walt Parazaider - tenor saxophone

    • References

    South California Purples Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA