I delivered all the cedar lumber used to build Caribou recording studio. Each day I loaded it up from a railroad siding in Louisville -- and drove it up Boulder Canyon to the ranch. Jim Guercio was a really nice guy who wasn't at all a snobby rock star record producer.
Terry Kath was criminally underrated by the media, but Jimi Hendrix told Chicago "your guitar player is better than me!". Incredible guitarist, singer, and songwriter, he is sorely missed by this 60 year old who yearns to play the Strat because of "25 Or 6 To 4".
I realize most people wouldn't know that the band Return to Forever "Romantic Warrior" was also recorded at Caribou Ranch (Al DiMeola, Chic Correa, Lenny White & Stanley Clarke) the recording is incredible!!!
Worked there in '76 for about a year or so, what a blast!! Jimmy could not have been a more gracious boss!! You never knew who would be there or coming up to start a conversation!!
I lived and worked in Ft. Collins during the 70’s. The Colorado music scene was rivaling LA’s, we had no shortage of great acts to choose from every weekend.
What an amazing place! I'm honored to live so close and own a small piece of wood from inside the recording studio. If only I could transport myself back in time to witness some of these sessions firsthand...
This is so cool to me...the music of that era is my #1 thing in my life...I truly believe that I love it more than anyone alive. So thanks from my heart to whoever helped make this mini documentary! I now wished that I would have just walked into this ranch back in those days - maybe I would have offered to cook or something....Or I should have knocked on the door at Muscle Shoals back in those days....who knows who I might have met or become friends with...There is a little known true story about a teenage boy who was on vacation with his family in Alabama....he talked his parents into stopping by Muscle Shoals....He happend to catch the swampers out on break and in a good mood...he asked if he could come in and play guitar with them for a bit....they said yes...he walks in to find Bob Segar recording the song Old time rock and Roll....long story short.....that kid is on that recording. :-)
Joe's solo albums when he started playing guitar through a Leslie and all those mystical vibes on Branstorm, and The Smoker You Drink LP are just incredible. Loved Meadows. Seemed like a very appropriate song.
Thank you for including a photo of Amy Grant at the end but she should have been mentioned. She recorded Age to Age, Straight Ahead and Unguarded. All smash seminal historic Christian pop albums that defined CCM music. And all Grammy winners in 1983, 1985 and 1986. 💕💕💕
I wonder if Tommy Bolin ever got a chance to record there? It’s just staggering the amount of musicians that came through that place! God Bless the late great Terry Kath.
I'm reading David Cassidy's book, and he tells of the time he went up there to work on song ideas and record up there for 3 weeks. He said he lost his ability to sing some of his highest notes because of the high elevation. David was working up there with Bryan Johnson of the Beach Boys for song ideas and Bryan arranging the harmony vocals.
If Guercio purchased Caribou Ranch in 1971, then it was after he had produced 4 albums with Chicago, not 5. Album #1: Chicago Transit Authority was released April 1969, Album #2: Chicago (II) was released January 1970, Album #3: Chicago III was released January 1971, Album #4: Chicago (IV) At Carnegie Hall was released October 1971, Album #5: Chicago V was released July 1972.
I worked on those dude ranches near Rocky Mt. Park during those years. I can see the ranch foreman going" Boys I want you to carry up that grand piano on the hill over there and leave it over night".
I have heard of a band called "The Wakefield Band" that played in Seattle. They were a horn band similar to Chicago and did a lot of Chicago also. They said they would record an album at the Carabou Ranch. Has anybody heard of this band and if so, can you give me any information about them?
If you youtube search Wakefield, there is a band from 1983 video posted. They are not a "horn" band and may have had to change their name due to others name "wakefield" Here is one link ~th-cam.com/video/8MkzHu_8gps/w-d-xo.html
There was a band called "Madura" that also was managed and produced by James Guercio. They did two pretty decent records on Columbia. But never heard of a "Wakefield band".
@@AubreyForever Disco started in approximately 1974 with The Hues Corporation's "Rock The Boat". I was a working musician then. I remember it well. You're way off, dear.
@@derhandtrommler I believe the band had 8 or 9 people. Fairly large for at least a west coast touring band. I think they said they were from Denver but I can't find anything on them.
Ladies and gentlemen for your half time entertainment please make welcome Elton John. He showed up at the Beach Boys and Chicago show on a Sunday in fort Collins. It was out side . He was a unbelievable as was the Chicago.
If anyone has ever watched terry cast the Chicago experience where his wife and daughter came to the ranch to see it for the last time before it was demolished it doesn’t seem like there was any fire damage in there to me just saying maybe I’m wrongMaybe I’m right check it out
Neither the ranch nor the barn was demolished. The fire smoldered inside a stairway wall then crept up thru it to the control room and cieling above it. Cause was a small space heater on the ground floor that had been left on . No one was in the barn at the time. Jim G had the rooms rebuilt but removed all the gear since it was a good point in time to end the studio's run.
@@ashleygrace4633 My apologies for my skepticism. I'm a lawyer and when a facility has lost its use and is no longer doing business and then it suddenly and unexpectedly catches fire and burns to the ground, our spidey-senses start chirping. Did he lose many of the original master recordings? I sure hope not.
Mark Brown Thanks! You may be right. Nonetheless, the studio was never the same nor used as it once was. Now it’s completely gone. I’ll be sure to bring up your comment next time we chat, curious if there was anything of interest following the fire.
Chicago split with Jimmy Guercio just before Terry died. What a mistake. 11 platinum albums and "you're outta here, pal.". Then, Terry dies and we get Donnie Dacus and oblivion. Until David "Schmaltz" Foster turned them into Air Supply with horns. I know Terry wanted out and wanted a rock trio of his own, but ditching Guercio was as if The Beatles had dumped George Martin after Brian Epstein passed away. Foster, my ass.
@@JeffreyOConnell-g4x That was alleged, but never proven. Lee Loughnane and Danny Seraphine remain friends with Guercio even after all the controversy. So, I'm skeptical about anyone being ripped off. A decent manager would have prevented Donnie Dacus and David Foster from happening and we'd be listening to a very different band, now.
I delivered all the cedar lumber used to build Caribou recording studio. Each day I loaded it up from a railroad siding in Louisville -- and drove it up Boulder Canyon to the ranch. Jim Guercio was a really nice guy who wasn't at all a snobby rock star record producer.
Thanks for sharing that Gerald...Loved living in Colorado in the 90s ..
Sooo CoooooOL!Take care,nah! Da SmoKeR U R,da PlaYeR,ya GeT,nah!Dont cha 4 GeT!Jcs
The late great Terry Kath at 5:11 he was the heart of Chicago. RIP to one of the all-time greats 🙏🏻
Terry Kath was criminally underrated by the media, but Jimi Hendrix told Chicago "your guitar player is better than me!". Incredible guitarist, singer, and songwriter, he is sorely missed by this 60 year old who yearns to play the Strat because of "25 Or 6 To 4".
I realize most people wouldn't know that the band Return to Forever "Romantic Warrior" was also recorded at Caribou Ranch (Al DiMeola, Chic Correa, Lenny White & Stanley Clarke) the recording is incredible!!!
Did not know that, love that album.
Worked there in '76 for about a year or so, what a blast!! Jimmy could not have been a more gracious boss!! You never knew who would be there or coming up to start a conversation!!
Very lucky guy. Why only one year?
@@Baci302 Moved to California with Supertramp and worked and toured with them for about 3 years!! The rest is history!!
@@915buck Well done! Where preparation meets opportunity!
I met Jim in 2013 in Montana. I didn't know who he was until a day or two later. Yes, a very gracious man.
Did you know Lydia?
Great footage. Those were the days my friend we thought they would never end???
Thank you. The footage is mine, stolen by G. Brown and CME
My uncle, Bob Shoffner, was the studio tech for Caribou.
I lived and worked in Ft. Collins during the 70’s. The Colorado music scene was rivaling LA’s, we had no shortage of great acts to choose from every weekend.
What an amazing place! I'm honored to live so close and own a small piece of wood from inside the recording studio. If only I could transport myself back in time to witness some of these sessions firsthand...
This is so cool to me...the music of that era is my #1 thing in my life...I truly believe that I love it more than anyone alive. So thanks from my heart to whoever helped make this mini documentary! I now wished that I would have just walked into this ranch back in those days - maybe I would have offered to cook or something....Or I should have knocked on the door at Muscle Shoals back in those days....who knows who I might have met or become friends with...There is a little known true story about a teenage boy who was on vacation with his family in Alabama....he talked his parents into stopping by Muscle Shoals....He happend to catch the swampers out on break and in a good mood...he asked if he could come in and play guitar with them for a bit....they said yes...he walks in to find Bob Segar recording the song Old time rock and Roll....long story short.....that kid is on that recording. :-)
Rock history is so cool! Characters, destinations and the journey. So happy and privileged I've been alive at the right time to experience it all.
What a place, ICONIC!!!!!!
It really is a magical place. Thank you for sharing this so we can show our younger students!! Cheers to the Colorado Music Experience!
Colorado Mucis Experience stole this from me, so cheers to me.
J O E W A L S H - did some AMAZING RECORDING AT CARIBOU RANCH with Dan Fogelberg AND some members of the Eagles. BARNSTORM !!!
Joe's solo albums when he started playing guitar through a Leslie and all those mystical vibes on Branstorm, and The Smoker You Drink LP are just incredible. Loved Meadows. Seemed like a very appropriate song.
Thank you for including a photo of Amy Grant at the end but she should have been mentioned. She recorded Age to Age, Straight Ahead and Unguarded. All smash seminal historic Christian pop albums that defined CCM music. And all Grammy winners in 1983, 1985 and 1986. 💕💕💕
And all platinum sellers and number 1s on Billboards Christian Pop chart to boot 🎉
Great stories on that ranch they where treated with respect the earth 🌏 helped them out it bought out the best in every one and what they did🥰🌍
I wonder if Tommy Bolin ever got a chance to record there? It’s just staggering the amount of musicians that came through that place! God Bless the late great Terry Kath.
Bolin was gone from Colorado by the time Caribou opened.
Great time to be a young adult in those years 👌🏼
This is absolutely a blessing of a video/post
Yes, and it uses my stolen interviews. You're welcome!
I'm reading David Cassidy's book, and he tells of the time he went up there to work on song ideas and record up there for 3 weeks. He said he lost his ability to sing some of his highest notes because of the high elevation. David was working up there with Bryan Johnson of the Beach Boys for song ideas and Bryan arranging the harmony vocals.
Way to both start and end this clip with music by Chicago.
Geez... I wonder if John Denver wrote any inspirational songs while visiting
😁
Mountain magic, it affects your vibe. Lived out there 75 to 85.
Chicago was it's absolute best under you Jim!
Killer trivia. Love it.
You're welcome. CME stole my footage.
Good times i bet. @markbrown3700
Awesome!
If Guercio purchased Caribou Ranch in 1971, then it was after he had produced 4 albums with Chicago, not 5. Album #1: Chicago Transit Authority was released April 1969, Album #2: Chicago (II) was released January 1970, Album #3: Chicago III was released January 1971, Album #4: Chicago (IV) At Carnegie Hall was released October 1971, Album #5: Chicago V was released July 1972.
I worked on those dude ranches near Rocky Mt. Park during those years. I can see the ranch foreman going" Boys I want you to carry up that grand piano on the hill over there and leave it over night".
Very interesting !!
GREAT!
I guess if you wanted to visit the Caribou Ranch today, before you leave, be ready to show your receipt.
I wish I could have visited here 😩 4400 acres
🧡
I have heard of a band called "The Wakefield Band" that played in Seattle. They were a horn band similar to Chicago and did a lot of Chicago also. They said they would record an album at the Carabou Ranch. Has anybody heard of this band and if so, can you give me any information about them?
If you youtube search Wakefield, there is a band from 1983 video posted. They are not a "horn" band and may have had to change their name due to others name "wakefield"
Here is one link ~th-cam.com/video/8MkzHu_8gps/w-d-xo.html
There was a band called "Madura" that also was managed and produced by James Guercio. They did two pretty decent records on Columbia. But never heard of a "Wakefield band".
@@derhandtrommler The year was about 1981 not long before disco music took over.
@@AubreyForever Disco started in approximately 1974 with The Hues Corporation's "Rock The Boat". I was a working musician then. I remember it well. You're way off, dear.
@@derhandtrommler I believe the band had 8 or 9 people. Fairly large for at least a west coast touring band. I think they said they were from Denver but I can't find anything on them.
Sir Elton John recorded his Caribou album here :)
Yep, there were reports of him be-bopping around Boulder in the mid 70's.
Ladies and gentlemen for your half time entertainment please make welcome Elton John. He showed up at the Beach Boys and Chicago show on a Sunday in fort Collins. It was out side . He was a unbelievable as was the Chicago.
he also recorded "Rock Of The Westies" there. Look at the back cover photo on the porch of the ranch.
You are one of the few people that know" the story".
Liked
If anyone has ever watched terry cast the Chicago experience where his wife and daughter came to the ranch to see it for the last time before it was demolished it doesn’t seem like there was any fire damage in there to me just saying maybe I’m wrongMaybe I’m right check it out
Terry Kath
Neither the ranch nor the barn was demolished. The fire smoldered inside a stairway wall then crept up thru it to the control room and cieling above it. Cause was a small space heater on the ground floor that had been left on . No one was in the barn at the time. Jim G had the rooms rebuilt but removed all the gear since it was a good point in time to end the studio's run.
I have always loved the horses ! But will always love the love the Gratefuldead ! ♥️🐰🐇🌹☠️💀💦💧🌧️🫧⚡️🕊️🪽👻👽🪐🛸🚀🌟⭐️✨☄️🔥🌙🌈💫🥰😍😘not fade away !
⭐🎸🎶🎭
Sorry for the blue Slush Puppy I spilled in '80.
Ripping off Mark Brown’s research again.
Those folks were so lucky ! I wish I could have been there ! ♥️🐰🐇🌹🥰😍😘🌙🌟🔥⭐️🌈✨🕊️🪽
$1 million in 1971, up for sale in 2024 - a bargain at $48 million.
Ah, yes...... the ranch that the members of Chicago paid for but didn't own.
So the control room just happened to catch on fire. Oh, okay.
It was the most heartbreaking thing to ever happen to my uncle.
@@ashleygrace4633 My apologies for my skepticism. I'm a lawyer and when a facility has lost its use and is no longer doing business and then it suddenly and unexpectedly catches fire and burns to the ground, our spidey-senses start chirping. Did he lose many of the original master recordings? I sure hope not.
I’m not sure, but he doesn’t speak about the studio and never recorded again after that happened.
@@ashleygrace4633 Not true. He spoke to me about it, and Jeff Beck later recorded there, albeit in a cabin.
Mark Brown Thanks! You may be right. Nonetheless, the studio was never the same nor used as it once was. Now it’s completely gone. I’ll be sure to bring up your comment next time we chat, curious if there was anything of interest following the fire.
Now there's Daryl s House..!!
Caribou ranch sounds like a salad dressing
LMAO!
-No caribou in Colorado, after all.
Chicago split with Jimmy Guercio just before Terry died. What a mistake. 11 platinum albums and "you're outta here, pal.". Then, Terry dies and we get Donnie Dacus and oblivion. Until David "Schmaltz" Foster turned them into Air Supply with horns. I know Terry wanted out and wanted a rock trio of his own, but ditching Guercio was as if The Beatles had dumped George Martin after Brian Epstein passed away. Foster, my ass.
That's the music and entertainment business for you. The evolution is ever changing!
I do agree with you, though.
The band realized Guercio had been screwing them out of royalties for many years.
@@JeffreyOConnell-g4x That was alleged, but never proven. Lee Loughnane and Danny Seraphine remain friends with Guercio even after all the controversy. So, I'm skeptical about anyone being ripped off. A decent manager would have prevented Donnie Dacus and David Foster from happening and we'd be listening to a very different band, now.