Chicago 17 Songs Ranked

Chicago 17 is the fourteenth studio album by American band Chicago, released on May 14, 1984. It was the group’s second release for Full Moon/Warner Bros. Records, their second album to be produced by David Foster and their last with founding bassist/vocalist Peter Cetera. Four singles were released from the album, all of which placed in the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The success of the singles propelled Chicago 17 to achieve an RIAA certification of six times platinum. Chicago 17 remains the biggest-selling album in the band’s history. In 1985 the album received three Grammy Awards. David Foster won for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical (tied in this category with Lionel Richie and James Anthony Carmichael), Humberto Gatica won for Best Engineered Recording – Non-Classical, and David Foster and Jeremy Lubbock won for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) for “Hard Habit to Break” which was also nominated for Record of the Year, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals and Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices. In his review of the album for AllMusic, music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine says Chicago 17 is “the pinnacle of [producer David Foster’s] craft and one of the best adult contemporary records of the ’80s,” and one of the most influential albums “within its style.” Here are all of Chicago 17 songs ranked.

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10. Remember the Feeling

“A song that should’ve been released as a single, but wasn’t. It was written by both Peter Cetera and Bill Champlin, but was sung by Cetera. Again this was a ballad dominated by keyboards and strings and no horn section.”

9. Once in a Lifetime

“Another song that I think should’ve been released as a single. Bill Champlin’s vocals are as strong as they ever were and Peter Cetera provides vocals as well. The song starts out with synthesizers and keyboards. The guitar work is excellent and even though there is a very small string arrangement, the horn arrangement is dominating the song like it should. I especially like the vocal arrangement at the end of the song with Peter Cetera and Bill Champlin harmonizing together.”

8. Only You

“An okay song/ballad that contains both Robert Lamm and Bill Champlin on vocals. Bill Champlin proves that he can hit the high notes with his gusty vocals. This song contained a lot of Synthesizer and a weak horn section.”

See more: Chicago Albums Ranked

7. Prima Donna

“There’s nothing I can really say about this song. I think it’s the only song on the album that really doesn’t sound like a song that could be released as a single or on the B side of a single. Peter Cetera sings lead, but the horn section is alive on this song unlike some of the other songs on this album.”

6. Hard Habit to Break

“Probably Chicago’s best ballad of all time. Peter Cetera and Bill Champlin sing the vocals. The vocal arrangement on this song was very well arranged. The song is mostly keyboards, guitars, and synthesizer, but it contains a small part of the horn section and strings were perfromed at the end.”

5. Please Hold On

“Probably the best song on the album that best resembles the work the band did way back in the past (with the exception of the drum machines!) Bill Champlin sings all the vocals on this song and this song has the best horn arrangement on the entire album.”

See more: Chicago Songs Ranked

4. We Can Stop the Hurtin’

“Finally Robert Lamm comes back to sing lead on this really awesome rocking song. Richard Marx and Donny Osmond sing the background vocals and yes the horn section does play a part in this song.”

3. You’re the Inspiration

“A slow Chicago ballad that is an OKAY song but was in my opinion WAY overplayed on the radio. Peter Cetera sings lead and both he and his brother Kenny sing the background vocals. Again another Chicago ballad with keyboards, strings, but no horns.”

2. Stay the Night

“Real good rocking song with Peter Cetera singing lead and both him and his brother Kenny Cetera singing the high pitched background vocals. Lots of Keyboards and synthesizers, but no horns.”

1. Along Comes a Woman

“A REAL good rocking song with ROCKING horns. Peter Cetera sang lead with the rest of Chicago singing background vocals. The guitar work on this song was well noticed and performed well.”