Beginnings (Chicago song)

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"Beginnings"
Single by Chicago Transit Authority
from the album Chicago Transit Authority
B-side
Released
  • October 1969
  • June 1971 (re-release)
RecordedJanuary 27/30, 1969
GenrePop soul,[1] Jazz rock
Length
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Robert Lamm
Producer(s)James William Guercio
Chicago Transit Authority singles chronology
"Questions 67 and 68"
(1969) 		"Beginnings"
(1969) 		"Make Me Smile"
(1970)
Lowdown
(1971)
Beginnings/Colour My World
(1971)
Questions 67 and 68/​I'm a Man
(1971)

"Beginnings" is a song written by Robert Lamm for the rock band Chicago Transit Authority and recorded for its debut album Chicago Transit Authority, released in 1969. The song is the band's second single (after "Questions 67 and 68"), but failed to chart on its initial release.[2]

After the band's success with subsequent singles, "Beginnings" was re-released in June 1971, backed with "Colour My World". Both sides became U.S. radio hits, and the combined single climbed to number seven on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.[3] "Beginnings" reached number one on the U.S. Easy Listening chart.[4][5] Writing for Ultimate Classic Rock, Dave Swanson rates "Beginnings" as number two in his list of top ten Chicago songs.[2] It has been covered by many bands.

Composition[edit]

Robert Lamm said "Beginnings" was inspired by a performance by Richie Havens that he attended at the Ash Grove music club in Los Angeles when the group moved to that area.[6] In a 2013 interview he said he composed it on a twelve-string guitar that was missing the two low E strings.[7]

Chart performance[edit]

Personnel[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Billboard Staff (October 19, 2023). "The 500 Best Pop Songs: Staff List". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2024. Soul-pop, horns, blissed-out lovey-doveyness that anticipates even clearer skies ahead: Hey, that sounds like Chicago's "Beginnings"...
  2. ^ a b Swanson, Dave (December 17, 2015). "Top 10 Chicago Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Chicago Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  4. ^ "Billboard Singles". All Media Guide / Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Chicago Chart History: Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  6. ^ Ruhlmann, William James (1991). Chicago Group Portrait (Box Set) (Media notes). New York City, NY: Columbia Records. p. 2. Archived from the original (CD booklet archived online) on November 12, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  7. ^ Lamm, Robert; Loughnane, Lee; Scheff, Jason; Pardini, Lou (Oct 24, 2013). "Exclusive Interview with Chicago!". 947WLS.com (radio and video). Interviewed by Danny Lake. Chicago, Illinois: 94.7 WLS-FM. At time 11:12-12:20. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  8. ^ "RPM 100 Singles". RPM. Canada. September 4, 1971. Retrieved February 20, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  9. ^ "RPM MOR Playlist". RPM. Canada. July 24, 1971. Retrieved February 20, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  10. ^ a b Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  11. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles". Cash Box. August 28, 1971. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  12. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  13. ^ "RPM 100 Top Singles of '71". RPM. Vol. 16, no. 20. January 8, 1972. Retrieved February 20, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  14. ^ "Top Pop 100 Singles". Billboard. Vol. 83, no. 52. December 25, 1971. p. TA-36. Retrieved February 20, 2019 – via Google books.
  15. ^ "Top Easy Listening Singles". Billboard. Vol. 83, no. 52. December 25, 1971. p. TA-38. Retrieved February 20, 2019 – via Google books.
  16. ^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1971". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  17. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Chart Hits of 1971" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XXXIII, no. 27. December 25, 1971. p. 31. Retrieved February 20, 2019 – via AmericanRadioHistory.com.

External links[edit]

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