Chicago Transit Authority (50th Anniversary Remix)

I’m not taking the time to go song by song but this, to my ears, is a terrible mix. The horns(which you think the most time would be taken) generally sound terrible. Harsh and midrangy with no warmth. Also the acoustic piano sounds equally as thin. Like a toy piano. It’s nice that there is a more modern stereo image and Kath’s vocals are more up front, but the older remaster sonically sounds better. Listen to the Steven Wilson remix of Chicago II and compare. You might think twice about purchasing this CTA version.

This review is solely based on the SOUND of this remix, not the album itself. The album itself gets 5 stars because it is just such an amazing album and the fact that it was their DOUBLE LP debut album just makes it even better! But back to the sound: it sounds absolutely awful! The real mix of the album with the 2002 remaster just sounds amazing. It sounds so crisp and crystal clear compared to this garbage. I got the vinyl of this remix a few months ago, excited that it was a 50th anniversary remix of a classic album. But when we turned it on, it was SO DISAPPOINTING to hear how bad it was! It sounded overly compressed and muffled, and the drums sounded just like mud in these mixes. On the other hand, Steven Wilson's recent remix of Chicago II is outstanding! In fact, it matches, and maybe even exceeds the sound of the ORIGINAL mix of THIS album! And that says a lot, since this album's original mix sounded amazing. On top of all that, when I met the drummer Danny Seraphine, he told me that the Steven Wilson remix of the second album is much clearer, and the drums sound so much better. But don't get that remix confused with this one. I don't think this album even had to be touched in the first place...

A remix wasn't necessary. A remix that sounds like it was made by a seven-year-old having fun twirling knobs is a total travesty. And really … autotune? On a recording from 1969? Save your money and listen to the original mix.

I have re-mstered releases that sound much better than the original release, some where I rreally can't tell the difference. Now I have one that sounds WORSE than the original release!

Not so much, but September 13 is Peter Cetera's birthday and I'm sure more than one of the original members probably caught that factoid. Anyway, in listening to the remixed version of "Beginnings," I understand now why the horns were kind of mixed down on the original release. Jimmy's trombone solo is loud and proud, with all of the quirks and features and clams and big brass you would expect from seven guys in their mid-20s trying to prove that they had the chops to be a succesful rock band with horns. Looking forward to the rest of the album in September!!