music.wikisort.org - Composition
"Baby, What a Big Surprise" is a power ballad written by Peter Cetera for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago XI (1977), with Cetera singing lead vocals. The first single released from the album reached number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.[1]
| "Baby, What a Big Surprise" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Chicago | ||||
| from the album Chicago XI | ||||
| B-side | "Takin’ It On Uptown" | |||
| Released | September 1977 | |||
| Recorded | April – June 1977 | |||
| Genre | Soft rock | |||
| Length | 3:04 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Peter Cetera | |||
| Producer(s) | James William Guercio | |||
| Chicago singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys and Cetera's brother, Tim Cetera, provided additional backing vocals on the recording while saxophonist Walt Parazaider plays flute on the distinctive introduction and trumpeter Lee Loughnane plays a piccolo trumpet.
Although Chicago XI yielded two more minor singles, "Baby, What a Big Surprise" was Chicago's last top ten single before the accidental death of guitarist Terry Kath, and was also their last Top Ten single produced by James William Guercio.
Reception
Cash Box said that "frequent repetition drives the memorable chorus home, while classically influenced strings, brass and vocals lend a stately touch."[2]
Personnel
- Peter Cetera - lead vocals, orchestration, backing vocals
- Robert Lamm - piano
- Terry Kath - electric guitars
- Danny Seraphine - drums
- Walt Parazaider - flute
- Lee Loughnane - piccolo trumpet, backing vocals
- Carl Wilson - backing vocals
- Tim Cetera - backing vocals
- Jimmy Guercio - orchestration, acoustic guitar, bass
- Dominic Frontiere - orchestration
Chart performance
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Cover versions
- Cetera re-recorded the song as a solo artist for his 1997 album You're the Inspiration: A Collection.
References
- "Chicago Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
- "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. October 1, 1977. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1977-12-17. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
- "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1977-11-19. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
- "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70" (in French). InfoDisc. 1977-09-30. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
- "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 1978-01-29. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
- "CHICAGO | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
- Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 55.
- Cash Box Top 100 Singles, December 10, 1977
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Chicago – Baby, What a Big Surprise". GfK Entertainment charts.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
- Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
External links
- Chicago - Baby, What a Big Surprise on YouTube
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