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 Ben Joseph
'Chicago - Feelin' Stronger Every Day'
(Quarry Press Paperback - 240 pages (August 30, 2000)
ISBN: 1550822454)
The
definitive inside story of a band whose influence echoes from the 60s
to the present, Chicago created some of the most memorable songs and beautiful
harmonies from the 1960s to the present moment: "25 Or 6 To 4,"
" Colour My World," "Wishing You Were Here," Saturday
In The Park." Now the story behind the songs has been told in this
engrossing account of the group's personal and musical history.
Joseph traces each of the performers from their early musical roots to
their first hit song together, tracing their stormy years of creative
conflicts through their reunions and reconciliations. I've been a big
fan for over twenty years, and I found
lots of great information that I never knew about them! I had to go back
and buy it for my mother for her birthday, who is a BIG Chicago fan.
Ben Joseph is a meticulous, lucid and utterly welcome credit to his profession.
Unaffectedly poised above the silly sensationalism, spin and wordiness
other writers employ for whatever reasons, Joseph offers a lovely, descriptive
and respectful visit with the minds and hearts of Chicago. Sharp and generous,
though never starstruck, Ben Joseph is the consummate musician's biographer.
Obviously, Chicago feel safe with Ben--an opportunity as unwasted by him
as any words he employs. One soulful, irresistible thing about books of
author's like Ben Joseph--and of Chicago--you experience it again and
again, but it remains new. This book offers a very complete history of
Chicago. It divides the book into album related chapters that introduce
the individual members as the band's musical foundation is laid, then
gives the reader an inside look at the various array of musicians that
have united to form one of the most enduring rock bands of all time. I
applaud this book for respecting the privacy that is so elusive for today's
public figures. I recommend this book to anyone curious about the band,
but it is definitely not for the reader that only wants to "dish
the dirt."
Review by Jorge Strunz
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