Peter Cetera’s Bass Work Shines in Chicago’s 1970 Tanglewood Performance
I’ve been on a bit of an early Chicago kick lately and footage like this reminds me why. The songwriting and energy from this band was just incredible.
Chicago performed “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” in Massachusetts in July of 1970. Robert Lamm’s “Free Form Piano” leads directly into the tune, which he wrote for the band’s 1969 debut, Chicago Transit Authority.
My ears go straight to Peter Cetera, playing his trusty P Bass. His part has so much movement, but it fits perfectly around Lamm’s piano, Danny Seraphine’s drums, Terry Kath’s guitar, and that incredible horn section. His bass is also sitting nicely in the mix.
The whole Tanglewood set is worth watching. They also performed “25 or 6 to 4,” “Beginnings,” the “Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon” suite, and closed with “I’m a Man.” What a band.
No Treble CEO Jody Miller is a Chicago-based bassist, guitarist, engineer, and producer best known for his bass gear demo videos and as the co-host of The Bass Nerds podcast.
