It's a song about writer's block. He is up all night trying to find inspiration- he finally does at 25 (or 26) minutes to 4 am- and writes a song about trying to write a song. ETA: Before digital clocks became popular, time after the half hour was often related as x minutes to the next hour, so 3:35 am would be seen as 25 to 4.
I was literally screaming at the screen, lol! I know I understood the reference to time right away when I first heard the song. Took me a while to get the writer's block, someone may have told me. But....kids today.
Jimi Hendrix was mesmerised by Kath’s guitar playing, going so far as to claim that he thought the Chicago guitarist played better than he did, naming Kath the “best guitarist in the universe”. High praise indeed.
I first saw these guys in 1972 (my first Concert) and then saw them live 3 or 4 more times in my life. Whenever I hear this song I am air drumming the entire song!
Lamm said the song is about trying to write a song in the middle of the night. The song's title is the time at which the song is set: 25 or 26 minutes before 4 a.m., phrased as, "twenty-five or [twenty-]six [minutes] to four [o'clock]," (i.e. 03:34 or 03:35).
The level of musicianship in this band is off the chart. In the 70s, this level of musicianship was pretty much the norm. The live version at Tanglewood is awesome. Another great song from the Tanglewood concert is "Make Me Smile".
I have to slightly disagree with one thing: finding serious musical talent in bands was way more common back then, but Chicago was in the very top tier and well above the norm. Practically every musician they had could have been the big draw in another band. The talent, skill, and dedication to the craft in that group was wild. 100% agree with the Tanglewood "Make Me Smile", though. Terry Kath, man...
Boy have you got that right. The musicianship in many of the classic 70s groups were off the charts. Just excellent. Then compare to now. Most of the 'musicians' today are only successful due to auto tune and computer generated studio fixes that cover the mediocre talent. It's really sad and why I really dread AI taking over
"Make Me Smile" is part of "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon." Although it was released as a single, the band intended for it to be heard within the context of the suite. Fantastic concert but the sound quality is no match for the studio album, especially the 2016 Steven Wilson mix.
Gotta see the "live from Tanglewood" version. Friggin awesome!!! Also, pretty much every song from their first album "Chicago Transit Authority", which was the band's original name before the bus company complained. 😂
YESSSSSSS!!! Live at Tanglewood is even more amazing. And yes, watch the WHOLE beginning to hear great guitar and bass. Terry Kath is the most underrated guitar player of all time!!! He’s one of my favorites. And imo, Danny Seraphine on drugs is also not appreciated nearly enough. Thanks for taking these trips back to the 70’s, my teenage years ❤️
You'd think the Chicago Transit Authority would be thrilled that they called themselves that. I guess they just couldn't pass up a chance to sue somebody.
Songwriter Robert Lamm was living in a rented home in Hollywood. After a gig, he was up in the middle of the night sitting on the floor and staring out the window at the flashing lights of the Hollywood signs in the distance. That was the flashing lights against the sky and his staring blindly into space looking at those lights. He was looking at an old clock across the room from him and was trying to make out what the time was on the hands of the clock and it was either 25 minutes or 26 minutes to 4:00 a.m. Robert was literally writing a song about writing a song, experiencing writer's block and searching for something to say for the lyrics. He had worked on the melody first and was trying to come up with what to say in the song. He used the time of the morning, 25 or 6 to 4, as a placeholder when he presented the song to the rest of the band in the morning. It was a throwaway line at first but the all agreed to keep that in the lyrics. It was not a drug reference as some believed, but just the time of the morning on an old analog clock.
It was a song writing session that went way into the morning hours. Realizing it was 25 or 26 minutes to 4 in the morning, he was asking himself should I keep going or get some sleep.
It's in response to Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is? from their debut album, 1969, called, Chicago Transit Authority. The real Transit Authority took exception and they changed to simply Chicago. The response time check was released later in 1970. 25 or 6 to 4. Looking at a clock with hands, it was 25 or 26 minutes to four o'clock.
One of the best guitar solos in rock. The wah pedal part is off the charts. Chicago has so many great songs. Saturday in the Park, Colour My World, Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is.... too many greats to name.
Chicago had top ten songs from the first album to Chicago 19 multiple top tens more than any band besides three dog night, another great Chicago tune is no tell lover
This also goes to show how amazing Peter Ceteras vocals are bc right before recording this song they were out at a bar when they got into an altercation and Peter got his jaw broken and had to have it wired shut and they couldn’t wait so they had to record it and he had to sing with a clinched jaw.
Chicago’s song “Saturday In The Park” is musically superb and lyrical almost Utopian. “It was really kind of that peace and love thing that happened in Central Park and in many parks all over the world, perhaps on a Saturday, where people just relax and enjoy each other’s presence, and the activities we observe and the feelings we get from feeling a part of a day like that.”
OMG! Now that you know what it is about, you have to listen to it again. You guys struggling to grasp the meaning of the lyrics was hysterical for some unknown reason! Made my day!
Chicago was uniquely a group of highly trained college musicians, that's why the music is impeccable. That Guitar Rift is by Terry Kath, an amazing talent who sadly passed away young. Perter Cetera was the lead singer for a long time, but they all had great vocals.
All but Kath who was self taught. But publications of the time assert that Kath was self conscious of the fact that he was not trained but the rest of the band were in awe of him and his talent.
Supposedly this song is supposed to mean 25 or 26 mins before 4am! Not being able to sleep. At least that’s what I was told years ago! 🤷🏻♀️ Not sure if that’s true or not tho! Chicago has some CLASSICS! ❤
That's exactly what He's saying time is it 25 minutes or 26 minutes to 4 25 or 6 to 4 Trying to write a song but nothing is coming to him fucking genius
So, way back in the day my mom worked at a factory for Allied golf making golf clubs. One day a secretary my mom knows comes up to her and tells her about this band her son Peter is in and how they're going to be big. She offers my mom a free copy of the first album CTA cut, she says 'no thanks'. Of course Peter Cetera and Chicago Transit Authority (later shortened to Chicago) blows up and my mom could've had a single digit numbered first press.
Tanglewood live concert is the deep dive. Someone has already said it, but writers block at 25 or 6 to 4am. They toured with Jimmy Hendricks. Guitarists Teryy Kath and Hendricks loved/ admired/afraid of each other. Hendricks asked Chicago to tour with his band. More Chicago please.
You should listen to the studio recording of this song. Live versions can never duplicate the mix done in the studio and that's the way we heard it on the radio in 1970. This song was recorded in August for the self titled album "Chicago". The album was released in January 1970 and this song was released as a single in June1970. This live version is inferior to the studio recording. The band is from Chicago and was originally known as 'Chicago Transit Authority'. The CTA is the name of the mass transit system of Chicago, IL. They threatened to legal action if the band didn't cease and desist using that name, so they shortened it to 'Chicago'. The name of their debut double album is Chicago Transit Authority, recorded January 27-30, 1969 and released April 28, 1969 on the Columbia Records label. It didn't do well at first but fortunately, this during the advent of FM radio and eventually it sold 2 million copies on its initial pressing. The impact of FM radio can not be understated, it is what was directly responsible for the explosion of album sales and relegated the 45 rpm disc to a marketing tool to initiate /invigorate album sales. This was the beginning of the Golden Age of the music business.
You have to watch the entire concert that they performed at Tanglewood in Massachusetts. It's just phenomenal the whole thing. Every single tune is a banger
It never gets old hearing Terry Kath just go off in his own world with that guitar. And Don's right on the money at 11:40. Every musician in Chicago was an amazing talent, and having all of them together was wild. The more you listen to their music, the more cool things you find layered in.
I was a weird kid in the 90’s, growing up listening to Chicago. All my friends were listening to the radio gaga and I was like ‘have you heard Questions 67 and 68?’
In an interview I saw years ago they explained they needed a song to finish the album. This was just what was going on while they were trying to write the song. When it was finished the clock said 25 or 6 to 4
And Chicago II was (and is) awesome. It stands up to all the decades that followed. The fluidity of Terry Kath's guitar was stunning. Here is 25 or 6 to 4 at Tanglewood in 1970... th-cam.com/video/Lba2g_u1Ckg/w-d-xo.html This was back before "dancers" and "set designers'. The boys just came out and played. Terry Kath in the denim shirt... I can imagine in the writing they wrote 'T. Kath amazing solo goes here'....
I see others have already covered that he's trying to write a song in the wee hours of the morning and has writer's block. And yes, 25 or 6 to 4 is the time of day. 25 or 26 minutes to 4:00 am.
The creative struggle - the song reflects the frustration and pressure experienced by a writer who has reached a creative roadblock. Feverishly trying to describe "the process of writing the song that" he was working on, he looked at his watch and saw it was 25 or 26 minutes to 4 in the morning. Thus, the song's title was borne from that specific moment. This was taken from an interview with the song writer, hope it helps.
This whole album is fire. You really should listen to the whole thing. I think it's the best album Chicago ever did. They have a deep, deep catalogue. Triple-tonguing on the trumpets, and that guitar solo is on of the best rock solo's ever. This was two LP's back in the day. One whole side was a suite called Ballet for a Girl in Buchannan which included songs that became hit singles. There must be at least 5 hit singles on this album. Color My World, Saturday in the Park, Wake Up Sunshine, and this song, 24 or 6 to Four (a time reference from before digital clocks). This album also has some of the most unique song endings ever recorded! It was really designed to be listened to as a whole.
Chicago or CTA (Chicago Transit Authoirity) they had over 13 albumns. They were my Step Brother Prom Band. Listen to Chicago "Saturday in the Park" or Clour my World"
The band was formed in 1967 through the creativity of a group of DePaul University music students as a musical experiment. An interesting connection to Notre Dame University was due to the tutelage of Fr. George Wiskirchen, C.S.C., and former band director to these young players. Thus the heavy reliance on the brass instrumentation. Also the rhythms and drumming was very crisp as in marching bands. Many of their songs were written as college students and drawn from their experiences of all night cram sessions , band practices, etc... I graduated in 1977 and they were so popular, we hired a Chicago Cover band for our senior Prom. It was a smash hit!
Chicago & The Eagles are two of the most EPIC LEGENDARY BANDS ever!! My 2 dream concerts but their ticket prices are literally untouchable for me🙄😂 SO PHENOMENAL!!♥️🎶
I don't know what you mean. I just paid $49 for each for our tickets to see Chicago & EWF in an arena in southern california in september. I suppose it'd be a lot of money if you had to have super great seats, but these arenas you can hear and see them very well from anywhere. So yes, Mine are up in row N in the top section, but it's all good.The sound is good and they have the big screens. Where else are you going to see 2 legendary bands for 49 bucks a piece? Plus, they play 6 songs together on the same stage during the encore. Playing 3 EW&F and 3 Chicago songs together.
Jimmy Hendrix use to say that Terry Kath was his favorite guitarist "Jimi Hendrix cited Terry Kath as one of his favorite guitarists, and considered Kath to be "the best guitarist in the universe"." From the Wikipedia
Great tune! It's about writers block and he glanced at the clock and it was 25 or 26 minutes to 4am. This song is often played by college marching bands at halftime of football games. They played it live with the Notre Dame marching band twice (2017 and again in 2019), I was there for one of them. Other hits: "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is", "Saturday In The Park", "If You Leave Me Now", "Baby What a Big Surprise", "Hard To Say I'm Sorry", "You're The Inspiration". And those are just some of their hits from the 70s to the mid 80s (all Billboard charting singles and all top 10). If Led Zeppelin was the Hard Rock band of the 70s, Chicago was the Soft Rock band of the 70s.
The dude is up in the middle of the night trying to write a song. He's friggin' exhausted. Through blurry eyes he looks at the clock and sees that it's either 3:25 or maybe it's just 3:24 am. Therefore it's 25 minutes (or maybe it's 26 minutes) until 4 am. So the song title should be read this way ... 25 minutes (or 26 minutes) until 4 am.
I really dont see how this is so hard to figure out if you just listen to the words, jeez! 25 or 26 minutes till 4 AM He's trying to write words to a new song - THIS one!
AJR is one of my favorite bands exactly BECAUSE they use horns and all sorts of wierd instruments and editing techniques you dont hear anywhere else. They'll take the same set of notes and play it on 5 instuments AND sing it, and make them transition seamlessly into each other. If you guys read this and you're interested, I'd suggest "Maybe Man", or "Burn The House Down" as a song to react to.
I love Chicago because of the horns! That’s what got me into them as a teen. Back then I had no idea what this song was about but loved it anyway! Didn’t have any way to look up lyrics back then unless you had the album and it had the lyrics on the sleeve. I had the 45.
Chicago is amazing!! If u have ever seen the movie The Karate Kid, u are definitely familiar with the song Glory of love! They have a lot of great songs! Saturday in the Park, You're the Inspiration, Hard to say I'm sorry, If you leave me now, & Feelin stronger everyday are just a few of my favs!
Love this era of Chicago! 25 or 6 to 4 was my favorite song to play in high school pep band at basketball halftimes, lol. Lots of loud brass blasting the heck out of a small gym. Oh, and Stevie’s Sir Duke too!🎉
Terry Kath (RIP) on guitar, Danny Seraphine on drums, Peter Cetera vocals, Robert Lamm keyboards, and I don't recall the brass names. First album I ever bought back in (I think) 1969 or 1970. It's a song about trying to write a song at 25 or 26 minutes until 4am.
I believe it was about songwriting. A long session of group work where someone asked “what time is it?” and another squinted at the clock and said “25 or 6 to 4”
I have a story about this. I rarely saw my father. One day he picked me up and handed me this 45 (not a 🔫 lol) and said you like this band? I was like yeah, thanks. I wouldn't have cared if I hated it just the fact that he thought about me long enough to get and give it to me was good enough for me. I was about 12 and we had a very up and down relationship mostly down. About 5 years later when I was 17 we started to really work on things, like forgiveness. But, he died that same year. Here's to good old Dad. 🍻
From Wikipedia. " (Robert) Lamm said the song is about trying to write a song in the middle of the night. The song's title is the time at which the song is set: 25 or 26 minutes before 4 a.m., phrased as, "twenty-five or [twenty-]six [minutes] to four [o’clock]," (i.e. 03:34 or 03:35)." Although some folks have interpreted this song as a drug song too.
So the story goes that the band needed one more song to finish the album. They were working well into the night when they asked the janitor what time it was...he replied ... 25 or 6 (26) til 4am. It's a song about trying to write the last song for the album
They were trying to write a song it was the middle of the night and they decided to call this song 25 or 6 (26) minutes to 4 am the time they were struggling to write.
*Robert Lamm wrote it their home above the Sunet Strip, sitting on the floor, the clock showed 25 or 26 to 4 AM. My 7th grade wood/metal shop male teacher played this album often during class! It was starting to be cool that girls took wood class, then.
Exactly. He's staring bleary-eyed at an old school clock (not digital), unable to see the exact time because he can't quite make out the position of the minute hand.
I still remember when this album came out. I was only 6 years old. My mom's youngest brother who was quite a bit younger than her and still in high school and had bought it right after it was released. My sister and I were at my grandparents house for the day and he played the album for us. My sister, who was younger, couldn't hang, but I still remember really enjoying that music. Unfortunately we lost my uncle at a fairly young age to substance abuse, but that was a great memory of a better time, and definitely far better music.
According to a 2019 interview with Mix Magazine, Lamm actually glanced at an antique clock on the wall to see what time it was. Whether because he was extremely tired or because the clock was so ancient, Lamm had a hard time making out the true time, hence the indecision between 25 and 26 to four. “I couldn’t quite tell where the hands of the clock were pointing,” Lamm explained. “It was 25 or 26 minutes before 4 a.m. I didn’t expect to keep those words. I expected to replace them with some actual lyrics. But it ended up working out OK.”
People have speculated that the song's lyrics are drug related, but this has been largely dismissed. At the time, LSD 25 was prevalent, as was methequalone in 400 mg.(ie, qualudes). On the side of the pills was the number 624. But according to group member Robert Lamm, "the title is "just a reference to the time of day" and that "the song is about writing a song. It's not mystical." The time of day in reference is 3:35 AM (or 3:34 AM), which would then be 25 (or 26) minutes to 4 AM."
He's pulling an all nighter trying to write a song! Check out another group from the era called Blood, Sweat & Tears. More great rock horns. Good old school stuff.
They started out as The Chicago Transit Authority, until they were sued and cut it down to Chicago. They are in the same case as Doobie Brothers, Earth Wind And Fire, and Blood Sweat and Tear. a mix of Rock, big band, and Jazz. Other song is Saturday In The Park. I worked in a 24 hour restaurant and had to do doubles from 2PM to 6:30 Am, I know this feeling.
"Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is" "Saturday In The Park" "Wishing You Were Here" (Duet with the Beach Boys) Some called Chicago the "Rock band That Plays Jazz". Interestingly enough, the group Blood, Sweat & Tears was the "Jazz band that played rock".
This was the first song I played in pep band I play tuba...I loved the bass line. And it was in reference to the time he figures he had the 'ah ha'! moment.
I love this song, the horns are great! I believe he's referencing the time. 25 or 26 minutes to 4, when he gets off work. Very underrated band and song!
@@1BobsYourUncle Actually, on another TH-cam channel, Professor of Rock, it was revealed that the recording session was set up for a time during when Cetera's jaw was wired. It was also revealed that the way he sang that day and all days after, with his teeth clenched, became his signature singing style.
“Glory of Love” I thought was Chicago sang by Peter Cetera. Played in Karate Kid movie. My baby daddy died before we married this was gonna be our wedding dance song. He passed in 2001 leaving me and our 7 year son and 2 daughters 3 & 1 years old. When our son married in 2018, I finally got my dance with our son at his wedding. I still have 3 beautiful live memories of him in our children. The fact that they never knew their wonderful father is something you never get over! Beautiful song that you Peter and Chicago.
You guys were surprisingly close to the meaning of the song. As another commenter mentioned, it's about writer's block and being up all night trying to find inspiration for lyrics or, "searching for something to say", and, for a musician, that is their job.
Peter Cetera on the lead vocal there! Same guy who, years later, would go on to sing a duet with Cher (of all people) entitled "After All." Interesting to compare the two! And in my view, Peter's work as Chicago's bassist was supelative!
The title is referring to the time of day; 25 minutes OR 26 minutes to 4 AM (ie 3:35AM). The song writer is trying to come up with a song, but can't think of "what to say". So he is trying to stay awake and ends up writing this song about his struggle. The horns were unique back then as well, which was a big reason for their success. Peter Cetera is the lead singer on this track and plays bass, Terry Kath is the phenomenal lead guitarist and the drummer deserves HUGE credit....AWESOME.
I saw Chicago live at Shoulders Feild in Chicago In 1977. It was a great concert, I hear! LOL!!! I fell asleep during the 1st song and woke up at the end!! 😡😡😡😡 My house burned the night before waking me from a drunk night before at 4 AM!!! So I was dead beat tired!!!
They are the premier horn band. In the 80s the horns were not heard as much, but when Peter Cetera left the group the horns reappeared and the ultimate album that showcase the horn line is the album Night and Day. They play big band standards but they are Chicagofied. It a great album!
I would like you to react to any track off this album. Pick one you are familiar with and compare it to the original. There’s some Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Benny Goodman and others on there.
25 or 26 minutes to 4am. Writer's block. (nurses can work 12 hours.) Another group that uses a lot of brass is Blood, Sweat and Tears, and Herb Alpert (a Taste of Honey). They started as the Chicago Transit authority until the city of Chicago told them they couldn't use that.
Lamm said the song is about trying to write a song in the middle of the night. The song's title is the time at which the song is set: 25 or 26 minutes before 4 a.m.
I have a double DVD concert with Chicago & Earth Wind & Fire. It's so good especially when they come out towards the end & all play each other's songs together ✌🏽
Chicago Transit Authority March 5,1970 Gonzaga University Kennedy Pavillion, Spokane, WA First concert to which I drove myself (and friends). Concert scheduled at to begin "half past 7," but started "about quarter to 8" as I recall.
I saw this group in concert Aug 2023 and they are still amazing. They put on an amazing show. The show was at 6000+ feet elevation and Neil Donell (new lead singer) held a high note sooo long we were stunned. He joked at the end of the song that he lives at sea level--so that says a lot about his vocal prowess! I'm so glad I got to see them, they are amazing in concert.
It's a song about writer's block. He is up all night trying to find inspiration- he finally does at 25 (or 26) minutes to 4 am- and writes a song about trying to write a song. ETA: Before digital clocks became popular, time after the half hour was often related as x minutes to the next hour, so 3:35 am would be seen as 25 to 4.
The young ones don't know this, ty for explaining to them
I was literally screaming at the screen, lol! I know I understood the reference to time right away when I first heard the song. Took me a while to get the writer's block, someone may have told me. But....kids today.
Right in 1
Instead of reading the lyrics, Google what the song means.
While suffering from writers block, he wrote a song about suffering from writers block- a lyrical "Reverse Uno" card if you will.
You need to hear the live version and watch the live video it's amazing ! He is one of the best guitar players ever! Terry Kath, died young 💔❤️
I am pretty sure I hear the lead singer on the live version had some dental work and jaw wired up. Know if that's true?
@@greatwhitewing I don't know for sure Peter Cereta
@@greatwhitewingI’ve not heard that about Cetera.
I was hoping they were gonna do the live version when I saw the title of the video, too! It's so freaking good. ✌❤
Yes
Terry Kath was a genius! Extremely talented and underrated!
Jimi Hendrix was mesmerised by Kath’s guitar playing, going so far as to claim that he thought the Chicago guitarist played better than he did, naming Kath the “best guitarist in the universe”. High praise indeed.
"...their horns are one set of lungs, and the guitarist is better than ME!" I believe was one of the quotes
Tru dat!
It’s my understanding that he also said “this guy blows my mind”.
My dad loved Chicago. After Terry Kath died, my dad (still) refuses to acknowledge them as Chicago.
Everyone is talking about vocals, horns, guitar… but freaking DANNY SERAPHINE ON DRUMS IS A BEAST !!
I first saw these guys in 1972 (my first Concert) and then saw them live 3 or 4 more times in my life. Whenever I hear this song I am air drumming the entire song!
absolutely dude sure is ! one of my favorite drummers and i never knew his name.
Lamm said the song is about trying to write a song in the middle of the night. The song's title is the time at which the song is set: 25 or 26 minutes before 4 a.m., phrased as, "twenty-five or [twenty-]six [minutes] to four [o'clock]," (i.e. 03:34 or 03:35).
My boyfriend was a professional drummer and he said Chicago had the best musicians.
The level of musicianship in this band is off the chart. In the 70s, this level of musicianship was pretty much the norm. The live version at Tanglewood is awesome. Another great song from the Tanglewood concert is "Make Me Smile".
Or....Ballet for a girl from Buchannon ;)
I have to slightly disagree with one thing: finding serious musical talent in bands was way more common back then, but Chicago was in the very top tier and well above the norm. Practically every musician they had could have been the big draw in another band. The talent, skill, and dedication to the craft in that group was wild.
100% agree with the Tanglewood "Make Me Smile", though. Terry Kath, man...
Boy have you got that right. The musicianship in many of the classic 70s groups were off the charts. Just excellent.
Then compare to now. Most of the 'musicians' today are only successful due to auto tune and computer generated studio fixes that cover the mediocre talent.
It's really sad and why I really dread AI taking over
"Make Me Smile" is part of "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon." Although it was released as a single, the band intended for it to be heard within the context of the suite. Fantastic concert but the sound quality is no match for the studio album, especially the 2016 Steven Wilson mix.
Yeah man you hit that nail right on the head ...Make Me Smile live is definitely the shit!!!
Saturday in the Park is another great one from Chicago. They had one of the best horn sections, competing with Earth, Wind, and Fire!
❤❤❤
Loved Earth Wind and Fire also...
toured w them for a while. i have the dvd. 🙂
Gotta see the "live from Tanglewood" version. Friggin awesome!!! Also, pretty much every song from their first album "Chicago Transit Authority", which was the band's original name before the bus company complained. 😂
YESSSSSSS!!! Live at Tanglewood is even more amazing. And yes, watch the WHOLE beginning to hear great guitar and bass.
Terry Kath is the most underrated guitar player of all time!!! He’s one of my favorites. And imo, Danny Seraphine on drugs is also not appreciated nearly enough.
Thanks for taking these trips back to the 70’s, my teenage years ❤️
Yes definitely the best
The live version of Tanglewood terry Kath guitar solo is amazing phenomenal work and ahead of his time
Exactly 💯 this performance!!..
Absolutely MUST SEE the live version---you will appreciate them 1000% more.
It's about trying to write a song at 25 or 26 minutes to 4 AM. Many assumed a drug theme. Guitar solo compliments of Terry Kath. RIP.
Try some LSD and you will see
Yes, it’s because they’re from Chicago. Their original name was Chicago transit authority until they got sued by the Chicago transit Authority.
You'd think the Chicago Transit Authority would be thrilled that they called themselves that. I guess they just couldn't pass up a chance to sue somebody.
Their original name was "The Big Thing"
Songwriter Robert Lamm was living in a rented home in Hollywood. After a gig, he was up in the middle of the night sitting on the floor and staring out the window at the flashing lights of the Hollywood signs in the distance. That was the flashing lights against the sky and his staring blindly into space looking at those lights. He was looking at an old clock across the room from him and was trying to make out what the time was on the hands of the clock and it was either 25 minutes or 26 minutes to 4:00 a.m.
Robert was literally writing a song about writing a song, experiencing writer's block and searching for something to say for the lyrics. He had worked on the melody first and was trying to come up with what to say in the song. He used the time of the morning, 25 or 6 to 4, as a placeholder when he presented the song to the rest of the band in the morning. It was a throwaway line at first but the all agreed to keep that in the lyrics. It was not a drug reference as some believed, but just the time of the morning on an old analog clock.
It was a song writing session that went way into the morning hours. Realizing it was 25 or 26 minutes to 4 in the morning, he was asking himself should I keep going or get some sleep.
What about spinning room is sinking deep. That's a trip
It's in response to Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is? from their debut album, 1969, called, Chicago Transit Authority. The real Transit Authority took exception and they changed to simply Chicago. The response time check was released later in 1970. 25 or 6 to 4. Looking at a clock with hands, it was 25 or 26 minutes to four o'clock.
No one does horns like Chicago. Terry Kath - amazing guitar player. Drums awesome.
This is some facts!! Those horns!!!! I miss this in music today!
I"d say Tower of Power is pretty darn close as far as horns go
Your friend was right. It’s drugs. All good
I always thought Earth Wind and Fire had some awesome brass sounds too, They did tour together for a bit.
Don't forget Blood Sweat and Tears for awesome horns...
One of the best guitar solos in rock. The wah pedal part is off the charts. Chicago has so many great songs. Saturday in the Park, Colour My World, Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is.... too many greats to name.
25 Or 6 To 4 means It's 3:35 or 3:34 AM and he's been up all night trying to write a song. The music of my high school days.
Bullshit. Lsd25
Black PAGISUS THIS WAS THE GOOD OL 1970s
I grew up listening to this stuff. Some of the greatest music ever. Color my world is my parents wedding song.
Wow I forgot about that song! Color my World was one of my first favorite Chicago songs I heard.
It's also our wedding song..May 24, 1980. Still the one!
Nice! It’s one of my all-time favorites. The epitome of short, but sweet!
Color My World reminds me of High Schools Dances
Chicago had top ten songs from the first album to Chicago 19 multiple top tens more than any band besides three dog night, another great Chicago tune is no tell lover
One of the best 70s group ever. Music still on fire. Their concerts were fabulous!
Terry's guitar solo in the live version of this from Tanglewood is mildly effing insane.
He was on another plane during that solo. Absolutely amazing.
This also goes to show how amazing Peter Ceteras vocals are bc right before recording this song they were out at a bar when they got into an altercation and Peter got his jaw broken and had to have it wired shut and they couldn’t wait so they had to record it and he had to sing with a clinched jaw.
I heard he was coming out of a Dodgers game in LA when he got in a fight with a Dodger fan. The rest sounds accurate to me
@@rubroken you are right sorry for the misinformation.
@@blakelejeune368 I didn't find that out until recently. Makes his vocals all the more impressive
Chicago’s song “Saturday In The Park” is musically superb and lyrical almost Utopian. “It was really kind of that peace and love thing that happened in Central Park and in many parks all over the world, perhaps on a Saturday, where people just relax and enjoy each other’s presence, and the activities we observe and the feelings we get from feeling a part of a day like that.”
OMG! Now that you know what it is about, you have to listen to it again. You guys struggling to grasp the meaning of the lyrics was hysterical for some unknown reason! Made my day!
Chicago was uniquely a group of highly trained college musicians, that's why the music is impeccable. That Guitar Rift is by Terry Kath, an amazing talent who sadly passed away young. Perter Cetera was the lead singer for a long time, but they all had great vocals.
All but Kath who was self taught. But publications of the time assert that Kath was self conscious of the fact that he was not trained but the rest of the band were in awe of him and his talent.
@@user-um2rc2tx4n Glen Campbell was also self-taught and both could tear up any professional. Raw talent.
Supposedly this song is supposed to mean 25 or 26 mins before 4am! Not being able to sleep. At least that’s what I was told years ago! 🤷🏻♀️ Not sure if that’s true or not tho! Chicago has some CLASSICS! ❤
That's exactly what He's saying time is it 25 minutes or 26 minutes to 4 25 or 6 to 4 Trying to write a song but nothing is coming to him fucking genius
❤
This is 70s CHICAGO THE REAL THING
So, way back in the day my mom worked at a factory for Allied golf making golf clubs. One day a secretary my mom knows comes up to her and tells her about this band her son Peter is in and how they're going to be big. She offers my mom a free copy of the first album CTA cut, she says 'no thanks'. Of course Peter Cetera and Chicago Transit Authority (later shortened to Chicago) blows up and my mom could've had a single digit numbered first press.
Tanglewood live concert is the deep dive. Someone has already said it, but writers block at 25 or 6 to 4am. They toured with Jimmy Hendricks. Guitarists Teryy Kath and Hendricks loved/ admired/afraid of each other. Hendricks asked Chicago to tour with his band. More Chicago please.
Terry Kath absolutely murdered the wah for all time here.
You should listen to the studio recording of this song. Live versions can never duplicate the mix done in the studio and that's the way we heard it on the radio in 1970. This song was recorded in August for the self titled album "Chicago". The album was released in January 1970 and this song was released as a single in June1970. This live version is inferior to the studio recording. The band is from Chicago and was originally known as 'Chicago Transit Authority'. The CTA is the name of the mass transit system of Chicago, IL. They threatened to legal action if the band didn't cease and desist using that name, so they shortened it to 'Chicago'. The name of their debut double album is Chicago Transit Authority, recorded January 27-30, 1969 and released April 28, 1969 on the Columbia Records label. It didn't do well at first but fortunately, this during the advent of FM radio and eventually it sold 2 million copies on its initial pressing. The impact of FM radio can not be understated, it is what was directly responsible for the explosion of album sales and relegated the 45 rpm disc to a marketing tool to initiate /invigorate album sales. This was the beginning of the Golden Age of the music business.
You have to watch the entire concert that they performed at Tanglewood in Massachusetts. It's just phenomenal the whole thing. Every single tune is a banger
It never gets old hearing Terry Kath just go off in his own world with that guitar. And Don's right on the money at 11:40. Every musician in Chicago was an amazing talent, and having all of them together was wild. The more you listen to their music, the more cool things you find layered in.
I was a weird kid in the 90’s, growing up listening to Chicago. All my friends were listening to the radio gaga and I was like ‘have you heard Questions 67 and 68?’
In an interview I saw years ago they explained they needed a song to finish the album.
This was just what was going on while they were trying to write the song. When it was finished the clock said 25 or 6 to 4
And Chicago II was (and is) awesome. It stands up to all the decades that followed. The fluidity of Terry Kath's guitar was stunning. Here is 25 or 6 to 4 at Tanglewood in 1970... th-cam.com/video/Lba2g_u1Ckg/w-d-xo.html
This was back before "dancers" and "set designers'. The boys just came out and played. Terry Kath in the denim shirt... I can imagine in the writing they wrote 'T. Kath amazing solo goes here'....
My impression on the song is that creativity doesn’t punch a time clock.
I see others have already covered that he's trying to write a song in the wee hours of the morning and has writer's block.
And yes, 25 or 6 to 4 is the time of day. 25 or 26 minutes to 4:00 am.
The creative struggle - the song reflects the frustration and pressure experienced by a writer who has reached a creative roadblock. Feverishly trying to describe "the process of writing the song that" he was working on, he looked at his watch and saw it was 25 or 26 minutes to 4 in the morning. Thus, the song's title was borne from that specific moment. This was taken from an interview with the song writer, hope it helps.
This whole album is fire. You really should listen to the whole thing. I think it's the best album Chicago ever did. They have a deep, deep catalogue. Triple-tonguing on the trumpets, and that guitar solo is on of the best rock solo's ever. This was two LP's back in the day. One whole side was a suite called Ballet for a Girl in Buchannan which included songs that became hit singles. There must be at least 5 hit singles on this album. Color My World, Saturday in the Park, Wake Up Sunshine, and this song, 24 or 6 to Four (a time reference from before digital clocks). This album also has some of the most unique song endings ever recorded! It was really designed to be listened to as a whole.
Chicago or CTA (Chicago Transit Authoirity) they had over 13 albumns. They were my Step Brother Prom Band. Listen to Chicago "Saturday in the Park" or Clour my World"
The band was formed in 1967 through the creativity of a group of DePaul University music students as a musical experiment. An interesting connection to Notre Dame University was due to the tutelage of Fr. George Wiskirchen, C.S.C., and former band director to these young players. Thus the heavy reliance on the brass instrumentation. Also the rhythms and drumming was very crisp as in marching bands. Many of their songs were written as college students and drawn from their experiences of all night cram sessions , band practices, etc... I graduated in 1977 and they were so popular, we hired a Chicago Cover band for our senior Prom. It was a smash hit!
Chicago & The Eagles are two of the most EPIC LEGENDARY BANDS ever!! My 2 dream concerts but their ticket prices are literally untouchable for me🙄😂 SO PHENOMENAL!!♥️🎶
I don't know what you mean. I just paid $49 for each for our tickets to see Chicago & EWF in an arena in southern california in september. I suppose it'd be a lot of money if you had to have super great seats, but these arenas you can hear and see them very well from anywhere. So yes, Mine are up in row N in the top section, but it's all good.The sound is good and they have the big screens. Where else are you going to see 2 legendary bands for 49 bucks a piece? Plus, they play 6 songs together on the same stage during the encore. Playing 3 EW&F and 3 Chicago songs together.
Jimmy Hendrix use to say that Terry Kath was his favorite guitarist "Jimi Hendrix cited Terry Kath as one of his favorite guitarists, and considered Kath to be "the best guitarist in the universe"." From the Wikipedia
Great tune!
It's about writers block and he glanced at the clock and it was 25 or 26 minutes to 4am.
This song is often played by college marching bands at halftime of football games. They played it live with the Notre Dame marching band twice (2017 and again in 2019), I was there for one of them. Other hits: "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is", "Saturday In The Park", "If You Leave Me Now", "Baby What a Big Surprise", "Hard To Say I'm Sorry", "You're The Inspiration". And those are just some of their hits from the 70s to the mid 80s (all Billboard charting singles and all top 10). If Led Zeppelin was the Hard Rock band of the 70s, Chicago was the Soft Rock band of the 70s.
The dude is up in the middle of the night trying to write a song. He's friggin' exhausted. Through blurry eyes he looks at the clock and sees that it's either 3:25 or maybe it's just 3:24 am. Therefore it's 25 minutes (or maybe it's 26 minutes) until 4 am. So the song title should be read this way ... 25 minutes (or 26 minutes) until 4 am.
The live version of this is even more outstanding. Needed to check that out first actually. Rare when the live is better.
The late great Terry Kath. When Jimi Hendix. was asked how it feels to be the greatest guitarist ever, he said “I don’t know, ask Terry Kath.
Terry Kath absolutely filthy on this track. Check out the live version. Won't regret it. RIP big man.
One of my favorite bands ever. Along with Rush, the Beatles, the Monkees, and the indigo girls. And many others lol
I really dont see how this is so hard to figure out if you just listen to the words, jeez! 25 or 26 minutes till 4 AM He's trying to write words to a new song - THIS one!
Chicago is another rabbit hole of musical excellence to explore! You should watch a live version.
AJR is one of my favorite bands exactly BECAUSE they use horns and all sorts of wierd instruments and editing techniques you dont hear anywhere else. They'll take the same set of notes and play it on 5 instuments AND sing it, and make them transition seamlessly into each other. If you guys read this and you're interested, I'd suggest "Maybe Man", or "Burn The House Down" as a song to react to.
I love Chicago because of the horns! That’s what got me into them as a teen. Back then I had no idea what this song was about but loved it anyway! Didn’t have any way to look up lyrics back then unless you had the album and it had the lyrics on the sleeve. I had the 45.
Chicago is amazing!! If u have ever seen the movie The Karate Kid, u are definitely familiar with the song Glory of love! They have a lot of great songs! Saturday in the Park, You're the Inspiration, Hard to say I'm sorry, If you leave me now, & Feelin stronger everyday are just a few of my favs!
Seen Chicago in the 70's ....with Earth Wind and Fire....Spectacular concert!!!
Love this era of Chicago! 25 or 6 to 4 was my favorite song to play in high school pep band at basketball halftimes, lol. Lots of loud brass blasting the heck out of a small gym. Oh, and Stevie’s Sir Duke too!🎉
Terry Kath (RIP) on guitar, Danny Seraphine on drums, Peter Cetera vocals, Robert Lamm keyboards, and I don't recall the brass names. First album I ever bought back in (I think) 1969 or 1970. It's a song about trying to write a song at 25 or 26 minutes until 4am.
I believe it was about songwriting. A long session of group work where someone asked “what time is it?” and another squinted at the clock and said “25 or 6 to 4”
I have a story about this. I rarely saw my father. One day he picked me up and handed me this 45 (not a 🔫 lol) and said you like this band? I was like yeah, thanks. I wouldn't have cared if I hated it just the fact that he thought about me long enough to get and give it to me was good enough for me. I was about 12 and we had a very up and down relationship mostly down. About 5 years later when I was 17 we started to really work on things, like forgiveness. But, he died that same year. Here's to good old Dad. 🍻
As bands go they were the best of the best musicians. Best drummer, best guitarist, best horns, and great singers!
68yo here, saw them live on the 4th of July as a teen singing "Saturday In The Park". Their little known opening band was The Doobie Brothers.
From Wikipedia. " (Robert) Lamm said the song is about trying to write a song in the middle of the night. The song's title is the time at which the song is set: 25 or 26 minutes before 4 a.m., phrased as, "twenty-five or [twenty-]six [minutes] to four [o’clock]," (i.e. 03:34 or 03:35)." Although some folks have interpreted this song as a drug song too.
So the story goes that the band needed one more song to finish the album. They were working well into the night when they asked the janitor what time it was...he replied ... 25 or 6 (26) til 4am. It's a song about trying to write the last song for the album
They were trying to write a song it was the middle of the night and they decided to call this song 25 or 6 (26) minutes to 4 am the time they were struggling to write.
*Robert Lamm wrote it their home above the Sunet Strip, sitting on the floor, the clock showed 25 or 26 to 4 AM. My 7th grade wood/metal shop male teacher played this album often during class! It was starting to be cool that girls took wood class, then.
This was my song the summer I turned 18. “Saturday in the park “ great song. 25 or 6 to 4, is about writers block. Trying to come up with something
Exactly. He's staring bleary-eyed at an old school clock (not digital), unable to see the exact time because he can't quite make out the position of the minute hand.
You never stop during a guitar solo, and one of the best ever at that.
He did that to the Eagles also. Don't think he realizes the importance of guitar in this music.
Or a drum solo … or a sax solo!!! Ought to be a law against that!
I still remember when this album came out. I was only 6 years old. My mom's youngest brother who was quite a bit younger than her and still in high school and had bought it right after it was released. My sister and I were at my grandparents house for the day and he played the album for us. My sister, who was younger, couldn't hang, but I still remember really enjoying that music. Unfortunately we lost my uncle at a fairly young age to substance abuse, but that was a great memory of a better time, and definitely far better music.
According to a 2019 interview with Mix Magazine, Lamm actually glanced at an antique clock on the wall to see what time it was. Whether because he was extremely tired or because the clock was so ancient, Lamm had a hard time making out the true time, hence the indecision between 25 and 26 to four.
“I couldn’t quite tell where the hands of the clock were pointing,” Lamm explained. “It was 25 or 26 minutes before 4 a.m. I didn’t expect to keep those words. I expected to replace them with some actual lyrics. But it ended up working out OK.”
People have speculated that the song's lyrics are drug related, but this has been largely dismissed.
At the time, LSD 25 was prevalent, as was methequalone in 400 mg.(ie, qualudes). On the side of the pills was the number 624. But according to group member Robert Lamm, "the title is "just a reference to the time of day" and that "the song is about writing a song. It's not mystical." The time of day in reference is 3:35 AM (or 3:34 AM), which would then be 25 (or 26) minutes to 4 AM."
He's pulling an all nighter trying to write a song! Check out another group from the era called Blood, Sweat & Tears. More great rock horns. Good old school stuff.
They started out as The Chicago Transit Authority, until they were sued and cut it down to Chicago. They are in the same case as Doobie Brothers, Earth Wind And Fire, and Blood Sweat and Tear. a mix of Rock, big band, and Jazz. Other song is Saturday In The Park. I worked in a 24 hour restaurant and had to do doubles from 2PM to 6:30 Am, I know this feeling.
She was given the nickname "Dusty" for playing football with boys in the street and was described as a tomboy. She always went home covered in dust.
Best part of music cut off, common in this genre for meaningless lyrics.😢
You NEED to watch the life performance in Tanglewood, of this song!
The Guitar solo is fire!!!
It's about an acid trip which if taken at 6 is over by 4am...6 to 4 was a slang for an acid trip
The singer on this song is Peter Centra who did the famous song that was on The Karate Kid 2, Glory Of Love.
Dudes, you were so close. 25 or 26 minutes till 4 am.
Say you're looking at the anolog clock on the wall. You can't quite tell if it's reading 3:34 or 3:35. So you would say the time is 25 or 6 to 4. 😮
"Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is"
"Saturday In The Park"
"Wishing You Were Here" (Duet with the Beach Boys)
Some called Chicago the "Rock band That Plays Jazz". Interestingly enough, the group Blood, Sweat & Tears was the "Jazz band that played rock".
This was the first song I played in pep band I play tuba...I loved the bass line. And it was in reference to the time he figures he had the 'ah ha'! moment.
I love this song, the horns are great! I believe he's referencing the time. 25 or 26 minutes to 4, when he gets off work. Very underrated band and song!
The lead singer, Peter Cetera recorded this while his jaw was broken and wired shut! That is f-ing amazing!!!
No he didn’t, his jaw had been broken several months before this was recorded and the wires had been removed before they had recorded the song.
@@1BobsYourUncle Actually, on another TH-cam channel, Professor of Rock, it was revealed that the recording session was set up for a time during when Cetera's jaw was wired. It was also revealed that the way he sang that day and all days after, with his teeth clenched, became his signature singing style.
“Glory of Love” I thought was Chicago sang by Peter Cetera. Played in Karate Kid movie.
My baby daddy died before we married this was gonna be our wedding dance song. He passed in 2001 leaving me and our 7 year son and 2 daughters 3 & 1 years old. When our son married in 2018, I finally got my dance with our son at his wedding. I still have 3 beautiful live memories of him in our children. The fact that they never knew their wonderful father is something you never get over! Beautiful song that you Peter and Chicago.
That was a solo song by Cetera. Not Chicago.
You guys were surprisingly close to the meaning of the song. As another commenter mentioned, it's about writer's block and being up all night trying to find inspiration for lyrics or, "searching for something to say", and, for a musician, that is their job.
You hardly ever hear horns anymore? You mean you hardly ever hear REAL MUSIC anymore! That's a much more accurate statement.
Fact
Chicago was one of my absolute favorite bands as a teenager.
They have a serious catalog... Saturday in the park... check it
Peter Cetera on the lead vocal there! Same guy who, years later, would go on to sing a duet with Cher (of all people) entitled "After All." Interesting to compare the two! And in my view, Peter's work as Chicago's bassist was supelative!
The title is referring to the time of day; 25 minutes OR 26 minutes to 4 AM (ie 3:35AM). The song writer is trying to come up with a song, but can't think of "what to say". So he is trying to stay awake and ends up writing this song about his struggle. The horns were unique back then as well, which was a big reason for their success. Peter Cetera is the lead singer on this track and plays bass, Terry Kath is the phenomenal lead guitarist and the drummer deserves HUGE credit....AWESOME.
I saw Chicago live at Shoulders Feild in Chicago In 1977. It was a great concert, I hear! LOL!!! I fell asleep during the 1st song and woke up at the end!! 😡😡😡😡 My house burned the night before waking me from a drunk night before at 4 AM!!! So I was dead beat tired!!!
It was 25 0r 6 minutes till 4am when they wrote the song. And that's what the song is about YW
One of the great things about great lyrics is like all great art you bring your own meanings to them to.
They are the premier horn band. In the 80s the horns were not heard as much, but when Peter Cetera left the group the horns reappeared and the ultimate album that showcase the horn line is the album Night and Day. They play big band standards but they are Chicagofied. It a great album!
I would like you to react to any track off this album. Pick one you are familiar with and compare it to the original. There’s some Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Benny Goodman and others on there.
It's about staying up all night trying to write a song. Writers block! Love Chicago! Have their albums. Love Color My World! Nice rabbit hole, guys.✌️
25 or 26 minutes to 4am. Writer's block. (nurses can work 12 hours.) Another group that uses a lot of brass is Blood, Sweat and Tears, and Herb Alpert (a Taste of Honey). They started as the Chicago Transit authority until the city of Chicago told them they couldn't use that.
Lamm said the song is about trying to write a song in the middle of the night. The song's title is the time at which the song is set: 25 or 26 minutes before 4 a.m.
I have a double DVD concert with Chicago & Earth Wind & Fire. It's so good especially when they come out towards the end & all play each other's songs together ✌🏽
Chicago Transit Authority March 5,1970
Gonzaga University Kennedy Pavillion, Spokane, WA
First concert to which I drove myself (and friends).
Concert scheduled at to begin "half past 7," but started "about quarter to 8" as I recall.
I saw this group in concert Aug 2023 and they are still amazing. They put on an amazing show. The show was at 6000+ feet elevation and Neil Donell (new lead singer) held a high note sooo long we were stunned. He joked at the end of the song that he lives at sea level--so that says a lot about his vocal prowess! I'm so glad I got to see them, they are amazing in concert.
Of all the concerts I've been blessed to see, one of my greatest regrets is I've never seen Chicago live
I remember when they first came out and were called, "The Chicago Transit Authority".
Love these bands with big brass...Paul Butterfield and the original and following Blood, Sweat, and Tears. Al Kooper was a genius.