On this day in music history: January 26, 1970 - “Chicago (aka “Chicago II”)”, the second album by Chicago is released. Produced by James William Guercio, it is recorded at Columbia Recording Studios in New York City and Hollywood, CA in August 1969. Following the groundswell of underground FM radio play for their debut release and the relentless touring they do in support of it, Chicago returns to the studio during breaks in their whirlwind schedule to record the follow up. In the interim period, the band shorten their name from the Chicago Transit Authority to Chicago. Like their debut, the album is another double LP set, with much of it being dominated by side long music suites, one of which titled “Ballet For A Girl In Buchannon” is its centerpiece. The album is Chicago’s commercial breakthrough spinning off three top ten singles including “Make Me Smile” (#9 Pop), “25 Or 6 To 4” (#4 Pop) and “Colour My World” (#7 Pop). Original pressings of the LP come packaged with a poster of the album cover artwork featuring the bands now famous logo, designed by CBS art director John Berg. The album is remastered and reissued on vinyl by Rhino Records in 2009, with audiophile label Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab also issuing a hybrid SACD in 2015. The album is also reissued on January 27, 2017, with a new remix by Steven Wilson. The new mixes are made from the original 16-track multi-track masters, bringing more clarity and definition to the recordings which had sounded flat and muddy in previous releases going back to the first LP pressings in 1970. “Chicago II” peaks at number four on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA.
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