Alive Again - Chicago (1978) 8/15/22

The year was 1978, and the group Chicago was in definite transition.

They had broken ties with their long-time producer James William Guercio, but far worse: they were still reeling from the death of founding member and guitarist Terry Kath who had accidentally shot himself.

Moving forward toward a fresh start, they hired Donnie Dacas to replace Terry. and decided that after 11 albums titled with Roman numerals, they'd give their next album an actual name: "Hot Streets."

In an effort to put forth a positive outlook, trombonist James Pankow wrote a "Great Song" about a man who was sad and depressed--until he found a new love, and now he was "Alive Again!" Peter Cetera sang lead.

Interestingly, when the group went into the studio to record the song, they started jamming, and although they finally got around to playing the song as written, producer Phil Ramone decided the jam session take was better, so they went with that instead.

Until...

Shortly thereafter, Chicago's brass section worked with the Bee Gees on their song, "Tragedy." Inspired the experience, James Pankow rewrote the brass arrangement for "Alive Again" and the song was re-recorded and released as a single.

The optimism of the song was not lost on music critics, who thought it sounded bright and cheerful. And, of course, Chicago fans and radio listeners loved it--sending it to #14 on the Hot 100 and #12 on Canada's Top 40.

It was a new beginning for Chicago. You "could" say they were "Alive Again," with a "Great Song of 1978!