Flower Power Cruise 2024 | Is this version of Chicago now the best?
Danny Seraphine was one of the founders of the band Chicago Transit Authority, soon known simply as Chicago. As the band's original drummer, Danny performed and contributed his songwriting talents for over 22 years, 1967-2000.
Danny Seraphine was a big reason the band Chicago was founded when he approached his friends Walter Parazaider and Terry Kath about leaving the cover band they were in and starting a new band with a horn section. They added other members and eventually the band we know as Chicago was formed. I saw them in 1973, standing right in front of the stage at the Amarillo Civic Center Colosseum. Through the years I’ve seen them many times, including a fan club performance in Las Vegas celebrating their 25th anniversary. They’ve gone through personnel changes through the years (Kath’s tragic and untimely death in 1978) and the departure of Peter Cetera in 1985, replaced by Jason Scheff, son of former Elvis bassist. I saw Chicago five years ago but my seats were not that great and I was less impressed with the replacements for Jason. But what Seraphine has done with California Transit Authority is truly amazing. My wife and I were sitting second row center on this Flower Power Cruise. Wow. We were greatly impressed and so happy to see Danny up front where you really get to experience his amazing skills as a drummer. The precision and strength are almost super human and he has a unique style which you immediately recognize as representing Chicago. He may be 75 year old, but no way would I want to get in a fight with him. Not that that would ever happen, he’s a genuinely nice guy; I was fortunate to meet him and shake hands. Seraphine has aligned himself with some of the best musicians available, not to mention his own playing which is now even better than ever. So judge for yourself. What do you think about this version of Chicago featuring Jeff Coffey performing bass and the Peter Cetera songs?
Пікірлер: 94
Danny seems very happy to be playing again. Never retire Danny and keep kicking musical ass!
@RichardJCaudle
3 ай бұрын
Yes!!
That early Chicago was so cool. Before the hits.
They sound good. Kudos for Danny. He lends some credibility to this band.
What a strong band and great songbook!! Thanks for posting, Richard. Danny Seraphine is an inspiration to all of us well along in years.
@RichardJCaudle
3 ай бұрын
Yes he is! You are welcome.
Seraphine’s still got it!!! Great to see!!
The Russian band Leonid & Friends is the BEST Chicago tribute band on Earth!! Danny knows them and sometimes plays with them live. Check them out then decide for yourself.
@mattfoley6082
3 ай бұрын
Yes, I agree Leonid and Friends are execllent. Stealin' Chicago is also very good.
@RichardJCaudle
3 ай бұрын
I checked out their concerts and they will be near me. Tickets, however, are $250 for unobstructed view. That's what makes Flower Power such an amazing value. If I get there early, I can have second row.
@mbt1955
3 ай бұрын
@@RichardJCaudle OUCH!! $250 is crazy! Those must be re-sale seats. I love L&F but I wouldn't pay that much to see them. Most of their shows start at around $80 and go to around $40 for places near the back of the venue. Better luck next tour.
The best version of Chicago was the original with Terry Kath. It was special. This isn't bad but there is NO comparison. The best band playing Chicago tunes today is the Russian band Leonid & Friends. And I loved Danny playing those Slingerlands live in the original band. His new use of a double bass drum pedal..not so much. His original drum fills were iconic and almost like etched in stone. They were part of the fabric of the songs. My take anyway. 🤔
Saw Chicago 3x , 1969 and twice in 1970. Chicago Transit Authority were great!!
Danny was one reason I wanted to play drums. I seen Chicago a couple of times without him and it just was not the same. Missing alot of his great fills.
Awesome, they sound great, and have huge catalog of music! Man, I miss newer and not so newer music, not using horns.
Danny,s still got it
I was fortunate enough to actually see Chicago in Concert, but, I am 70 yrs old. Nothing can compare to the Original.
I met Danny back in 1982 during their Chicago 16 tour. Also met Pankow, Parazaider, Pinnick, Lamm, and Loughnane. Have their autographs framed. Didn't meet Cetera.
Enjoyed reading Danny's autobiography a few years back. Great hearing & seeing the early Chicago stuff being played live.
@RichardJCaudle
2 ай бұрын
Got check out that autobiography!
Really surprised. They are good. Thanks for posting.
Excellent!!👍👍👍👍👍👍
They sound great to me!
Like that jazzy beginning of Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is 4:04 to 4:14
Very good!
Awesome!
My friend Ed Roth with whom I a had a honor to work with is playing his Best on keyboards.
It was the best. I was the dancing fool off to the left! Couldn’t sit through this!
This title is correct compared to Chicago 2024 …this group, CTA blows that band off the stage (even without Lee and Jimmy on horns). Sorry it’s about the singer and drummer. Chicago of later years lost a great singer in Jeff Coffey. It’s not even close with the new guy! Danny still plays his parts incredibly well and he was the original drummer on all the great hit songs! God Bless Danny … keep it going!
@duanek6051
20 күн бұрын
I agree. Jeff coffee was one of the best things that happened to Chicago in a long Time. They lost him And Tris Emboden the same day. I was done with them at that point. Plus Keith Howland is gone.
Lot better than the current Chicago line up
Thank you very much for posting this, and for the interesting background story. You had excellent seats. We were upstairs on the side. I thought they all did a great job, outstanding. There is a Chicago tribute band from Russia called Leonid and Friends, they have a KZread channel. They tour all over the world and do an admirable job. They have another US tour planned, if you have the opportunity you should consider it.
@RichardJCaudle
3 ай бұрын
Would love to see them! Thank you.
@RichardJCaudle
3 ай бұрын
And Susan, we may have met on the cruise, but if not I hope to meet you on a future cruise.
@tinydancer62
3 ай бұрын
@@RichardJCaudle I hope to meet you and your wife as well. I am signed up for next year's Flower Power cruise, and may possibily go on Malt Shop.
@danmarklesr6260
3 ай бұрын
Lionid & Friends, east coast tour now, they are the best Chicago cover, plus, I ever heard. These guys are good also! Thanks
@RichardJCaudle
3 ай бұрын
I just heard about them today from someone else. They will be at a small venue very near my home, October 19 and 20. A tribute band from Moscow. @@danmarklesr6260
Saw Danny here in Indio a while back, complete different band from this video he has now, they are just paid players could change month to month if he tours but they sound really good, Jeff is great .
Go Danny Boy
I don't know about the BEST version, but vocals are the best they've been in years....
Danny was and is an awesome drummer who helped make Chicago what they were. They were a big part of my high school days. The bass player's voice is perfect. My only complaint - I hate it when they cut songs up and tease the viewer. Just my 2 cents.
Very well done. Serraphine is one of the best. And the vocals are great. I’d pay to see these guys. Chicago kind of fell apart when Kath died went to be a ballad band. These guys can rock.
@DoofsterDan
2 ай бұрын
Hated that ballad period. But it sold records, so it must’ve been popular
@RichardJCaudle
2 ай бұрын
@@DoofsterDan I agree.
@philbrown1474
2 ай бұрын
@@DoofsterDan It did sell records to a different crowd but it alienated hardcore fans that loved their 1969 debut album. The excitement was gone.
@brucehauge1391
2 ай бұрын
@@philbrown1474 It's called changing with the times or chicago would have been an oldies band in the early 80's rather than the mid 90's.
As musicians they are obviously excellent but I was very lucky to have 4th row seats at the old Spectrum in Philly and saw all the originals including Terry. Walt and Jimmy were wearing Flyers jerseys. Danny was right up front and lost a couple of sticks but I was too far away to catch them. Jeff sounded good in this but the guy doing Terry’s part was not making it. But then who could?
Sounding good, Jeff. Danny’s the best. Where’s Bill?
@RichardJCaudle
3 ай бұрын
Apparently he was fired by Chicago after 28 years. If he could work with Danny, that could be a really great show. He's pursuing a solo career.
@tome9347
2 ай бұрын
We saw Danny's CTA in Arcadia a few years ago with Bill Champlin. Really enjoyed it and felt the Chicago spirit. Was able to say a quick Hi to the guys afterwards. Danny was very kind and genuine. Just an amazing drummer. Great musicians all around. kzread.info/dash/bejne/qmqcl7yLacnImrQ.html
I thought they are really good 🎸🎸🎸 wish you let them finish the songs ☮️👍🏻
Better than CTA is now....Love Danny...........................Ralph Onofrio
Is that Jeff Coffey singing lead tenor?
@oldguy9078
3 ай бұрын
Yep that's Jeff Coffey !
KOOL
Danny and Jeff were great but the Bad Ass Brass made this show.
Danny Seraphine Is one of the best drummers of all time. That being said, The heart and soul of Chicago died when Terry Kath died. Now, Clearly it is not the fault of the other band numbers that Kath recklessly passed away. At the bare minimum, for me, you need to have Danny Seraphine, Peter Cetera, and James Pankow In the band. Otherwise, You have Danny Seraphine sitting with a with a Chicago tribute band.
I saw Chicago and the Beach Boys play Madison Square Garden in June of 1975. I think they were there for 4 nights. Once Terry Kath passed away and Peter Cetera left the band, I no longer had much interest in seeing them live.
Beginnings is my favorite song of theirs(not a good version here)
The best version of Chicago is "Leonid & Friends" .Check their Chicago covers.
Leonid & Friends' sound is much cleaner and tighter besides the fact it sound like the original recordings. This band is alright but can't hang with Leonid & Friends
I'd rather see this band than Chicago......Danny Seraphine is the man..................Ralph Onofrio
I have to find somebody who can sing though
Not even close to the best version of the group
@RichardJCaudle
3 ай бұрын
The best version of the group was definitely in the 70s. Nowadays I'm not so sure. Five years ago, I was not impressed, though seeing Robert Lamm is always great. Incidentally, the horn players, Bad Ass Brass, played for many of the bands on the ship. They had maybe one hour to rehearse with Danny. Using sheet music, of course.
@tinydancer62
3 ай бұрын
@@RichardJCaudle Bad Ass Brass was fantastic with all of the groups they played for on the cruise. Even the Chicago songs that the Buckinghams performed were great because of Bad Ass Brass. The Buckingham's drummer, Tommy Scheckel, is phenomenal.
@RichardJCaudle
3 ай бұрын
@@tinydancer62 Totally agree. It was fun seeing them around the ship and visiting with them. Amazing talent!
@autk
3 ай бұрын
There is no now a days good grief
@Curly34584
3 ай бұрын
Nice Job👍❤️
seraphine was out same reason Petty kicked Lynch out. They were original members of their respective bands. but becuase THEY don't write all te songs (now Lynch is a great songwriter) and they asked about financials and what not, likely because THEY got no royalties and they are memebers of the bands. But they want drummers to shut up. Really they sadid he wasn't playing good anymore. BS. I mean really, as muchas I love Chicago have you hear Champlin try to sing in his blues and R and B style. Horrid. Drummers are meant to shut up in their eyes and the one who occupies the throne is king of nothing. Now, watching the documentary obviously Pankow had some issue with Seraphine. Kind of like the same crap that finally did glenn Frey in. Hate.
@RichardJCaudle
3 ай бұрын
Interesting. I had trouble finding this. Thanks for sharing!
@brucehauge1391
2 ай бұрын
Glenn Frey? The only thing that did him in was his untimely death.
Is this the best version of Chicago? Not really a fair question. This band has DANNY SERAPHINE! The other bands don't. (Although Igor is one hell of a drummer.)
No. But happy Danny is earning a paycheck.
NO 😡
That is not Chicago at all....the sign says California Transit Authority. Get it straight for God's sake.
NOT
Two words….hell, no
This is not the same band I saw last year in Prescott, Arizona and in Clearwater, Fla.....don't believe this is the real Chicago. Compare this video to others on youtube from the last few months...and where is the second drummer, and the lead singer (from Canada) is not in this video. Just not the same group at all.
The best? Not even close...
Not bad but not even remotely best version.
Cover bands dont count!
Horrible
Pretty good !!!!
Leonid & Friends Chicago's better than Chicago
The first 2 albums were truly revolutionary. The following years were pop ballad crap as Peter Cetera took over the direction of the band's sound.
@RichardJCaudle
2 ай бұрын
Yes, completely agree. I wore out those first two albums. Didn't buy another one after that. My sister had that chocolate album and I would sometimes listen to it.
@bertbecker7532
2 ай бұрын
No love for VII??
Nope.....sorry.