This was 70’s music. No auto tune, just raw talent. The horns were what distinguished Chicago from almost any other band.

Be sure to check out their live performance of this track from 1970. [Chicago - 25 or 6 to 4 - 7/21/1970 - Tanglewood (Official)] The guitarist, Terry Kath, plays the f*ck out of that guitar. It's spectacular to watch.

@piggyroo100

3 ай бұрын

One of my favorites

A reporter asked jimmy Hendricks what is was like to be the best guitar player and he said “ I don’t know ask terry kath”. True story!

No matter how many times I hear it, that guitar solo by Terry Kath blows me away. If you listen, he is actually playing throughout '25 Or 6 To 4'. Hendrix said he was the best. R.I.P. Terry.

This is one of the sickest songs ever written. The lead guitar is in the conversation for best ever. The musicianship in Chicago has always been completely off the chart.

Make sure you call your old folks and tell them how lucky they are to have grown up with the music they were blessed with!!

I'd put Chicago's horn section up against anyone. Their song "I'm a man" is incredible as well.

@oldtimer7635

3 ай бұрын

I am a man, is not their song! It is a Steve Winwood song.

@lordessducky8494

3 ай бұрын

Their rendition/cover. 😉

@212x3

3 ай бұрын

@@oldtimer7635 Oooh, struck a nerve there. Take it easy, don't want your bp to get too high

@mike_valenza

3 ай бұрын

The original Blind Faith version of "I'm a Man" is truly awesome, but I also like Chicago's cover version.

Our High School band played this. It was awesome ❤

@cr16219

2 ай бұрын

Mine, too. Up in the the stands before rivalry basketball games. Student body would get pumped up. NorCal. Early 70's.

Chicago opened for Jimmy Hendrix just before his death. He was planning to do a joint project with them and loved Terry Kath's guitar playing. Sadly, the world never got to find out how awesome it would have been...

@CarolinaGirl6919

Ай бұрын

Heroin and other opiates have taken some of the best artists ever from us and I hate it for that! Evil, evil plant.

The story goes, he was struggling to write a song and 25 or (2)6 minutes until 4:00am was the time it was while he was struggling. Hence: 25 or 6 to 4

The saddest part of Terry Kath's death is that it forever changed the sound of the band. Before he died they had a much more soulful jazzy vibe. Afterwards they went into a much more formulated sound. I didn't care for them that much when they changed their course.

@geneticrex

3 ай бұрын

Exactly.... Kath's contribution to the band cannot be overstated.

@markwideman339

3 ай бұрын

You haven't really listened to their music after Terry....still great music.

@mariadaghlian9612

3 ай бұрын

Agreed, the when David Foster got involved with production of their songs it was all over. He killed their sound and turned their sound to soft rock.

@timetravellingone

3 ай бұрын

They were "Fosterized" but tried to make a comeback in 1994 with the album "Stone of Sisyphus" which I found the CD at a used record store, it's pretty good mostly them trying to balance the "old" sound with a newer not so 80's sound, but the magic is more or less gone. They had an album out in 2008 and just recently released their last album, haven't heard those though.

@markwideman339

3 ай бұрын

Those of you who haven't listened to ALL of their songs after Terry have no credibility. I would bet that you HAVE NOT listened to All of their songs on All of their albums since Terry. You would hear how diverse they are and how their musicianship was and still is great. Chicago is actually the most diverse band in history. Yes, after Terry they did some sappy love songs, but they still play R & B, blues, funk, jazz, prog, acoustic, some country, and a mix of many different types of music. No, no one can replace Terry and what they did with him, but if you are just looking at the band as Terry Kath and you HAVEN'T listened to ALL of their stuff (every song), then it's best to not judge something I bet you haven't heard. There is a reason that Robert Lamm and Jimmy Pankow got into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame. Terry is my favorite guitar player of all time and you cant replace that era of Chicago, but I will never put down what they've done since Terry. Take a step back and ACTUALLY LISTEN TO ALL OF THEIR MUSIC. I challenge you to do so.

Inspiring pep bands ever since 1975! The lyrics are about staying up all night to write a song and somebody asking what time it was. All the clocks back then were analog so someone else glanced over and said,” It’s 25 or 6 to 4:00(am).”

You may want to watch the live version from Tanglewood in 1970. It includes a great guitar solo and shows off the entire band.

My first concert, I went for my 15 birthday. I was soooo blown away by them that I saw them 7 more times throughout their career. OH, did I mention that BB KING opened up for them!🤘😝🎶

@CarolinaGirl6919

Ай бұрын

My dad said that he and my step mom rode on his motorcycle while she was several months pregnant with one of my sisters to see Chicago. I'm sure it was one of the few things they did like that, because they didn't have a lot of money to waste on concerts. It's still a nice memory to imagine: my Beautiful Chinese stepmother and my dad riding on his motorcycle with her giant belly to go see Chicago in concert. I miss you, dad!

When Jimi Hendrix says you are tops on a guitar you gotta know terry was a banger on guitar! Terry was also the/a co-lead singer in his days with Chicago!!

I grew up listening to Chicago and their music is definitely timeless.

I think this was the first Chicago song I ever heard on my radio when I was a kid (16), with Peter Cetera (the bass player) on the lead vocal. A couple of weeks later I heard another song called "Make Me Smile", with guitarist Terry Kath on the lead vocal, and I didn't realize it was Chicago at first because of the different vibe on lead vocal (more husky than Peter). Then a couple more weeks later I heard "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?", with keyboard guy Robert Lamm singing lead (with his smoother, more relaxed delivery), and once again I didn't realize at first that this, too, was this new band Chicago! I was so intrigued that they had three different lead vocalists, very different from each other but equally capable!

Even in 1970 seldom did any band play 2+ minute lead solos. Truly amazing!

Another vote for a reaction to the live performance from Tanglewood. It's a must see.

The live version is a most !!!!! 😊❤ The guitar 🎸 solo is amazing in the live version!!!!

This was sr class song of prom early 70s. We all loved it. Thanks for good memories.

Gotta see it live dude! It will your mind!

Story I heard was the song was written while they were just doing an all-nighter, trying to write some tracks and then this came about when they were just getting worn out, Suffering from writer's block, and couldn't write anything that they thought worthy of recording, and it was almost 4:00 o'clock in the morning. And this amazing hit song came out of that. Nobody really sounds like Chicago.

Hey man. Smooth reaction to this 💎 gem of a song. Chicago were great, so original. Thx for your reaction

Please check the video of this song "Live at Tanglewood" from 1970. This solo almost pales compared to what Terry Kath did live that day. RIP.❤

I love the band Chicago and this is my favorite song by them...

Great tune.. Fave "Feeling Stronger Everyday".. great work-out song

This made my day!! Forgot how this song rocked!

Sizzling

Their live version at Tanglewood will BLOW YOUR MIND!! RIP Terry Kath (the soloist who Hendrix himself was better than he)!!

Being one at the time, we called this "band-nerd rock" due to the inclusion of horns. Blood, Sweat, and Tears is another band that used horns well.

You'll never hear bands with this sound from the 70s like Chicago anymore. I dig the brass.

These OG groups are ALL better live. Check out their "Tanglewood" live performance of this song. . . . .

I totally agree with thefunkybuddha. "Be sure to check out their live performance of this track from 1970. [Chicago - 25 or 6 to 4 - 7/21/1970 - Tanglewood (Official)"

That wasn’t a guitar solo😅…that was a second set of vocals!!! Unbelievable guitar work!

Great reaction, keep it up. Must have heard this song a hundred times before I found out it was 25 or 26 minutes to 4am. Made a lot more sense after that.

One reason I love the music of the 60's and 70's is the lack of engineering tools available. They could add some reverb or echo or turn it up, that was about all they had.

origionally called the chicago transit authority they were inducted into the grammy hall of fame in 2014 and in 2016 chicago were inducted the rock hall of fame in 2016.

I adore Chicago and have for decades! Yes I’m that old😂! They sure know how to put on a show too! Saw them 2 years ago in Charleston and WOW!

That guitarist was named Terry Kath, and he was one of the best in the world.

One of the GOAT's from Rock's Best Ever Era ...

if you are looking for more chicago,i recommend "poem58" off their first album,chicago transit authority. jimi hendrix said it best...."i like chicago...their horn section is like having an extra set of lungs,and their guitar player is better than i am".~jimi hendrix.(keep in mind,they used to open for hendrix)

Check out Chicago's song "Introduction", great tune that give everyone a chance to shine.

Nice reaction. Credit to the whole band. And what about that last few bars of chords in the horns at the end? Amazing.

I would suggest "Make Me Smile", but since the original album cut has several movements, you should take it off of the greatest hits album with the song titled "Make Me Smile/More Than Ever".

When I was in High School I worked at the Allentown Fairgrounds on the Stage and Maintainence Crew. This was the First Song at the First Concert I was ever at .... And I was just behind the Curtain, Stage left! ..... WOW!

I was in college 1970. I thought this song was about pulling an all nighter, cramming for a mid term.

AHHHH Terry we miss you, best guitar riff of all time!!@ Ohh gotta do live in Tanglewood its a extended version! Keep an eye on the guys on horns when Treyy does his solo. Cheers

Live version if you want to hear Terry Kath at his finest!

grew up on this 58 dude now you know🤣🤣 super tough

It sure was recorded live in the studio!(With overdubbes on the guitar in spots). I made my own karaoke track using a voice remover, and it took much of the drums and bass out with it also, so I had to put a bass on one track and drums on another 2 separate tracks playing it myself. At the end of the guitar solo there was a definite slowing down of the tempo- imperceptible when listening, but I could feel it when putting down the new drums.So I know they had no clicks! But that is what makes it human, right?

It's a jam for sure. Chicago just had a feel for working the audience up.

Crank it up!

😂😂😂😂😂 oh my, you are so young! Good recording had been done for quite some time. 😊

More Chicago! " Make Me Smile " next!

You need to do 25 or 6 to 4 Live at Tanglewood 1970. It will blow you away!

Go dig up their debut album when they were known as The Chicago Transit Authority and play these two tracks: "Introduction" and "Poem 58". Guitar player Terry Kath wrote "Introduction" and sang lead vocals. He was called "The White Ray Charles" by his bandmates. Soulful baritone voice! "Poem 58" is nine minutes of PURE FUNK led by Terry Kath on guitar, Danny Seraphine on drums, and Peter Cetera on bass. Kath's guitar will have you needing an ice pack for your jaw after you pick it up from the floor! kzread.info/dash/bejne/nGyVrMuFhcS9d6w.html When they were "The Chicago Transit Authority", they were the house band at the Whisky a Go Go in LA. One night between sets, Jimi Hendrix, who was in the audience, went to their dressing room after catching their first set. He walked up to their sax player Walt Parazaider and said, "You guys have a horn section that sounds like one set of lungs and a guitar player that's better than me! You wanna go on the road?" They said "YEAH!". And that's how they became Hendrix's opening act on a national arena tour.

Also, watch the video of this song by the Russian band "Leonid & Friends". They sound EXACTLY the same as Chicago.

Watch the Tanglewood version of this and you'll hear and see why Jimi Hendrix thought so highly of Terry Kath

I was in 8th grade music class. My brothers girlfriend showed me how to play the guitar at the beginning on one string, of course it wasn't right. But close . Music teacher asked if anyone knew how to play anything on guitar. No one raised their hand. So i said " no, but do you know this song?" Wheni started playing he instantly knew what i was trying and showed us how to play it correctly. Unfortunately i never learned how to play.

25 or 6 to 4 Live at Tanglewood will really show the guitar for you. Still amazing live!

I agree with everything that you said about the song and the band. Not to put down the music in the 21st century but we need real music back.

If you like founder Terry Kath on guitar, listen to "Poem 58" from their debut album (Chicago Transit Authority). Definitely one of the top guitarist in a guitarist dominant era. Not underrated but perhaps underexposed? If he'd been in a 3 or 4 piece group, he'd have been as popular as Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and other guitar "gods" of the time.

Yess, crisp, real, raw,..not digitized,..analog,..reel to reel, old timey, old school,.lol,..and yess, band, horns, drums, keyboard, guitar, bass,..these guys grew up with big bands in the 40's, 50's, a band wasn't complete without a horn section,..it just adds that extra something,..nearly very band, the 1960's, 70's, Earth Wind and Fire, LTD, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes,..and what I love about all those bands,..that were influenced by big bands of the 40's, 50's, it carried over into the 80's, bands part of the New Wave, British invasion, were greatly influenced too, incorporating, horns in the more modern, even electronic music, Spandau Ballet, Dexys Midnight Runners, Modern English I think too used horns, Rick Astley, Berlin, Missing Persons,..many of them went back on the old standard, horns,..do keep going,..so enjoyed your discovery of this band, their fantastic music,..do check out ELO, Electric Light Orchestra,..they do a mean spin on Chuck Berry's Roll Over Beethoven, I mean it's mean,..dont remember if he was still alive when they released it, hope he liked it,..Godspeed, Peace ✌

I’m a huge huge Chicago fan. 28 years old. Love this song, but you should really listen to dialogue parts 1 and 2. I genuinely think it’s their best song

Chicago - 25 Or 6 To 4...If you think this studio version is good, You need to see the live version 1970 Tanglewood. Terry was on FIRE 🔥 with the guitar solo. He should be up there in the top 5 of all time but he gets overlooked.

According to Terry Kaths widow in the documentary about the group 25 or 6 to 4 is about being so high on coke daybreak is coming round and everyone is still wired

You must do a reaction to "Alive Again" by Chicago. It is one of their best from the 70's era.

check out the live version

Gotta do the same song live from Tanglewood in Lenox MA.

Also check out "Beginnings" & "Make Me Smile" by Chicago! Interesting fact about THIS song - was recorded while singer Peter Cetera's jaw was wired!!!!

I probably didn't appreciate Chicago back in the day like i could have, however anytime this tune or Saturday in the park came on the radio i stopped what I was doing to indulge🙂

Terry Kath is my favorite guitarist. Jimi Hendricks said he was the best guitarist in the work and was his favorite

Check out Live at Tanglewood version, much better. See Terry going off on stage😊

Terry Kath is one of the best guitar players ever. Died too young.

Check out I’m A Man part 1 and 2!

Ypu should react to this live version of this song .

❤Chicago Transit Authority ❤️😎

Please do BEGINNINGS and MAKE ME SMILE by CHICAGO ...More Terry Kath !

More COWBELL!!!

Should have done it live

Should have reacted to the live version, try "I'm a Man" live, thank you.

What do you do when you need to write a song but you have writers block? You write a song about writers block!

Nice Reaction. Try their "Make me Smile" or "I'm a Man."

Check out stay the night and if you leave me now also toto 99

Music wasn't digital then

Song was sung by the bass player, and written by the piano player ... When they started, they were truly "a band ..." Producers ruined that, later ...

Chicago without Terry Kath was not Chicago.

Oh quit. We should all just retire and listen to this all day. Never done better

This song has the same structure as Cream's "White Room," with the slow arrival of the electric guitar, a little solo, the then ripping it during the verses, then killin the big guitar solo. just like clapton on that cream song

This was always played by school bands.