First time hearing Chicago "Im a Man" Reaction | Asia and BJ 

It's hard to beat early Chicago music. RIP to the great Terry Kath.

One of the few Chicago songs that features all 3 lead singers, Terry Kath (guitar), Peter Cetera (bass), and Robert Lamm (keyboard). I love how everyone got a chance to shine on this track. It's truly 🔥🔥🔥

This is Terry Kath, the real deal. I personally feel his playing and singing deserve the highest praises. So I will. He is one of the best freaking guitarists ever. This vibe is so good with all the percussion. Thanks for a great channel!!! Much love to you both BJ and Asia

This was a real band. In every respect. They really lived the life,and played like this all day,every day. This day,they just recorded it.

What a great band Chicago was in the 70s when Terry Kath was still with them. Incredible songs, great horns, guitar, and vocals. Love ya guys

Love love love the Chicago of the Terry Kath era. It just wasn't the same after he passed. You know he was something special when Jimi Hendrix was a fan ( not ignoring the others, the whole group was talented).

If you watch the live version you can see them playing all the instruments, it's kick ass

The great thing about Chicago is the number of instruments that they use.

A & BJ, this was from Chicago’s first album, and they put everything into this music to show the world what a band with horns could do. The horns are not as prevalent in this song but the drums and percussion and Terry Kathy’s guitar make this song an all time banger. They were very experimental, straight ahead funk, blues and rock. Their sound changed over time, especially after Terry’s death. Early Chicago was and is ground breaking music.

Honestly....... one of the best pieces of music played by anyone. No doubt. Terry Kath on lead guitar, RIP. ......absolute tragic story.

Everyone gets caught up in trying to define genres, good music is good music, no matter what the genre. Love y'all's reactions. Getting to see folks enjoy some good music for the first time is cool.

Watch this song and 25 or 6 to 4 live at Tanglewood, 1970. The entire concert is killer. Terry Kath was Jimi Hendrix’s favorite guitarist.❤️

Chicago had/has a golden rule. If they couldn't do a live version when putting an album together, then they wouldn't. Their format was to present an album that was identical to what your heard at a concert or on your turntable

Chicago Transit Authority burst onto the music scene in 1969 with the top ten hit "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" and took off from there, eventually shortening their name to just Chicago. Their first album is the bomb, imo -- also featuring "Beginnings", "Questions 67 and 68", and this killer version of the Steve Winwood jam "I'm a Man". Terry Kath's guitar playing is off the hook!

Asia & BJ, their “Beginnings”, “Saturday In The Park” & “Feeling Stronger Every Day” are next for you!!!

As stated earlier, while the drum solo was playing, the guitarist was making unique scratching sounds. The rest of the band were also playing different types of percussion intruments during the solo which gave it a rich full sound. Amazing sounds these guys put out for all of them in their mid twenties.

That instrument Asia couldn't identify during the drum solo was Terry Kath wonking and scratching on his guitar in time to the drum beat.

When it comes to early Chicago, you can throw all genre classification out the window. They incorporate elements of rock, blues, jazz, funk, R + B, etcetera. Utterly amazing music!✌🏻

Whenever I watch someone react to this song and see them have to sit through the long intro, I always think, "yeah.........we had more time back in the 70s. We really did."

Totally agree with others, the original Chicago in the late 60s and the 70s was an all time great band, the whole ensemble had amazing chops and killed it on their first few albums. More early Chicago, try Beginings, 25.or 6 to 4 and Questions 67 & 68. Enjoy! 🎸🎺🎷

Rock, jazz, funk, blues, classical, folk ... you name it. That's Chicago. Amazing musicians. Amazing band. Epic.

The guitar was using a Wha-Wha pedal. There were so many instruments and no synthesizers (the organ barely counts). Having so many musicians coordinated together creates that rich sound you just don't get these days. What's not obvious is that it's actually a romantic song.

CTA as they were known for their first album, called Chicago thereafter is considered by many older rock fans as one of the greatest bands on Earth. Their first 7 or 8 albums were among the best ever. When Terry Kath was leading the way with his guitar and vocals they were at their very best.RIP Terry!

That scratch sound was Terry Kath using his guitar in a percussive manor dampening the strings and using a WAWA pedal.

Terry Kath (rip) was arguably the best guitarist of his time... Grew up with these guys blasting my radio!

I got to see them several times over the years and they ALWAYS deliver. They're concerts are fantastic. Two of my favorite shows later in years were two double billings, Chicago and Huey Lewis & The News; and Chicago and Earth Wind & Fire.

This is a cover of the Spencer Davis Group song. This version is way better only because of the late, great Terry Kath. Jimi Hendrix even called him a master guitar player. This area of Chicago was so so fantastic because of their ability to fuse rock, jazz, r and b, and other infiuences to create this great music. Terry was a great part of the writing and arranging of their music. They are all phenomenal musicians. Terry left far too soon.

They also had three lead singers. The low soulful voice was Terry Kath (lead guitar & vocals), the high voice was Peter Cetera (bass & vocals), and the other was Robert Lamm (keyboards & vocals).

When the radio formats finally caught up with the musicians of the day a lot of bands were free to Jam like this. We loved it.

Jimmy Hendrix called Terry Kath the greatest 🎸 player EVER! WOW! That is just unreal coming from someone who also was phenomenal!

Chicago when Terry Kath was alive and pre-David Foster. They were incredible. I saw them live several times back in those days, they were great.

Everyone mentions Terry Kath, and rightly so. The band started going downhill (IMO) after his loss. However, Danny Seraphine does not get enough credit. He is an amazing drummer.

You almost never hear a drum solo in a studio recording, but Chicago pulls it off here. This is what happens when a bunch of jazz musicians get together to play rock & roll. But this track wasn't actually written by Chicago. It was written in 1967 by 17 year-old Steve Winwood of The Spencer Davis Group (whose other big hit was "Gimme Some Love" before Winwood left the band to form Traffic). Glad you both liked this song. Rock on!

the sound you were haring during the break was Terry Kath playing his guitars with palm muted strings and a Wah Wah pedal. He was an incredible guitarist and he used the Wah quite a bit. Jimi Hendrix said Terry Kath was the best guitarists he had heard.

Saw Chicago in 1977 and paid $12.50 for my ticket lol truly a great band...♡

The drummer is a man named Dayy Searphine. His solo break was mindbending when it was initially released. Another song, a solo guitar piece that was really amazing to me is "Freeform Guitar". I had just started guitar lessons in the summer of 1971 and a schoolmate of mine played me this song from the CTA record. I was only 13, but I knew genius when I heard it. It was written by the late Terry Kath and according to the liner notes, "Free Form Guitar" was performed entirely live using a Fender Stratocaster and a [Fender} Showman amplifier with twin 15 bottom using a Bogan P. A. amplifier as a pre-amp." No other effects or pedals were used, and it was done it a single take. Quite impressive, actually, that all of those sounds are being generated by Terry alone in the studio. BTW< the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) was the band's debut album and it was a double album at that. Not many artists have a deep enough catalogue to fill 4 comlete album sides. Not too mention the talent to pull it off so brilliantly. If you want more Chicago, I'd recommend: "Feelin' Stronger Every Day" "Dialogue (Parts 1 & 2)" "Beginnings" "Questions 67 & 68" Tioraidh an-drasta ☮️

The bass and drumming alone was a knockout

MANNNN , I’m 66 and y’all , I bet you have CDs of many of our music from my time now and in your car too , I can’t believe I lived through the most talented people ever playing ROCK AND ROLL , Thank you guys for doing this, I’ve been here with you a long time .😍

This is THE JAM!!!!!!! Great song, great review! I’m sure you noticed but it was 3 different members singing verses in the song. Terry Kath, Peter Cetera, and I’m pretty sure Bobby Lamm.

Everybody sings on this track. The lead vocals are Terry Kath (Lead Guitar) on the first verse, Peter Cetera (Bass) on the second, and Bobby Lamm (Piano) on the third. The rest of the crew is in on backing vocals throughout. Kath's lead licks and Danny Seraphine's drum technique class are heavily featured. Asia, to answer your question, once the drum solo gets going full speed, the lead guitar (Kath) is hammering muted power chords to the rhythm. It almost sounds like another percussion instrument, but it's a Strat, which he slowly opens up to include a wah-wah pedal, making that 'wakka-wakka' sound you noticed.

I’ve listened to this song for decades. And this is the first time I really keyed into Terry’s wha-wha rhythm work under Danny’s drum solo. It’s super-atonal, but sooooooooo funky and conversational underneath all of the extra percussion that the horn players provided.

This is a great song and it features all 3 lead singers doing various verses. Terry Kath does the first, Peter Cetera does the second, and Robert Lamm does the third.

I don't care what kind of music you like you have to appreciate the instrumental part of this...A true band ! Love you guys...

Brilliant cover and Terry Kath was an absolute legend. You have to also watch the original Spencer Davis Group live version with a very young Steve Winwood and his amazing voice.

If you want to hear some more good jams from Chicago, please try these to start, "Listen ", " California purple " or " introduction", there's more but these three are just as good as" l'm a man"

I would add that the drummer is playing a single bass drum, which means his right foot is doing a TON of work throughout this entire song. Believe me, that is very hard to do...

Love early Chicago....got a little soft & poppy in later years...

There's a live version of this song that's totally amazing 🤗

DANNY SERRAPHINE...!!!!! One of the greatest drummers EVER..!! Love you guys

The "sound" that Asia is referring to is the sound of muted guitar strings, being strummed rhythmically, by Terry Kath, running his guitar through a wah-wah pedal, to add something different. It was the first time I remember anyone doing anything like this for an effect. Also, remember that the wah-wah pedal was a brand new effect for guitarists in the late sixties, so guitar players were trying different ways to use it to create some very different sounds. Most of them simply used it very badly. Jazz trombonists & trumpeters used to use the end of a plunger over the bell of their horns to get the same sound.

I really enjoy how you guys keep bringing back memories of just how damn spoiled with great music my entire life has had! FANTASTIC song and musicianship by Chicago! So fun!!! Allman bros, Doobie Bros, Chicago, Earth Wind and Fire, Sly and the family stone, Billy Preston - not to mention the regulars like Zepp, Floyd, Rush, Queen etc etc.... God blessed my ears!

This song was originally written and sung by Bo Diddley in April of 1955 as a Rhythm and Blues song. By the way there is a live version of this song by Chicago live at Tanglewood 1970.

Old chicago were dynamite 🤘❤️ poem 58 will melt your face

That sound was Terry Kath scratching guitar string through a wah wah pedal. Jimi Hendrix while on tour with Chicago told them "Your guitarist is better than me & your horn sound like one voice." Listen to "Beginnings". Another popular band from the same era with a horn section was Blood Sweat & Tears. Try "God Bless The Child" & "And When I Die"

I grew up with this great band from the 70's-80's. They were a rock & roll band with horns & blended elements of classical music, jazz, R&B, & pop music. They had a lot of great songs such as "Make Me Smile", "25 or 6 to 4", "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?", "Beginnings", "Questions 67 & 68", "Where Do We Go From Here?", "Free", "Lowdown", "Saturday In The Park", "Make Me Smile", "Colour My World", "Hard To Say I'm Sorry", "You're The Inspiration", "Will You Still Love Me?", "Look Away", "Feelin' Stronger Every Day", "If You Leave Me Now", "Old Days" etc.

Next "Chicago" song has to be "Beginnings", but it must be the studio version because the radio version edits out the fantastic extended percussion outro.

This is from what I’d rate as Chicago Transit Authority’s best of the greatest records ever made. Such a sad and empty loss! Terry gave us 10 years of his genius, for which we’re all better for, and we’ve since had nearly fifty years to live in those first ten.

Many of the Chicago band members were graduates of Julliard School for the Performing Arts, that expalins the “musicality” you spoke of … Highly talented, Highly trained musicians that formed an amazing and irreplaceable band. They were the real deal for sure.. RIP Terry Kath

I was all excited to bring up the Terry Kath Chicago , but I see everyone has beat me to it! I'm so glad to know that there are still followers of the early Chicago.

What Asia heard was Terry Kath scratching on his guitar with a wah wah pedal to the beat, basicly he was playing percussion on the guitar.

Great Song- Terry Kath the guitarist was called “ The greatest guitarist in The Universe” by Jimi Hendrix. Jimmy died young and Kath not many years later at 31. Terry Kath did Tribute to Jimi called “ Thank you Great Spirit.”

That scratching sound that Asia asked about around the 8:00 mark was a guitar. The effect is achieved by a slight muting of the strings with the edge of the guitarist's right hand while he's also strumming the scratchy part. He also incorporated a "Wah" pedal (effect) to give it the little extra funk.

A trip back to 1968. The year I graduated from high schoool. There was alot of great music in the late 60's

When they played this at our high school dances back in the day, EVERYBODY hit the dance floor. And funny how you can remember every little nuance of a song like this, right down to each shake of the tambourine. Check out the original...The Spencer Davis Group (with Steve Winwood). Everyone danced their asses off to that too. Equally great!💙☮

I love how after the drum solo break, Terry doesn’t do a verse but just lets his guitar do the talking.

Chicago had a way of throwing everything in their music, including the kitchen sink. 👍😁😜👍

My first concert ever was Chicago, at Buffalo's War Memorial Audotorium, August 13, 1972. Sixth row seats 1 & 2. Original lineup! I've seen them a half dozen other times and am never disappointed. Will be attending their concert here in Tampa later in June! Cannot wait! Chicago music is the soundtrack to my life!

What you were hearing was Terry Kath on the guitar. He was strumming muted strings and incorporating a wah wah pedal to get that sound.

The guitarist is the late Terry Kath, he also sings the first line of this song! Jimi Hendrix said Terry Kath was his favorite guitar player! Terry was the soul of Chicago! We lost him way too early, tragically he was playing around with a gun and shot himself and died! We lost a great in Terry Kath that day!

Y'all should check out "introduction", "poem 58", "listen", "south California purples", or pretty much anything else from the Chicago Transit Authority album. One of the greatest records ever produced.

CHICAGO to this day plays I’m a Man with about a 7 minute drum solo that is unbelievable!!! It is my favorite part in the concert to this day!!!! Go check them out live; you will NOT be disappointed by any means!!!! Age is just a number and CHICAGO proves that to being true!!!!

That sound I believe was created by the guitar. Mr Kath is a legendary guitarist may he rest in peace !

To see them do this live was an outta body experience especially when Danny did a longer drum solo.

Chicago was described as "a rock band with horns" in the early days, but they went into other genres too, as you two know. "Introduction" is the first song off the first LP and is a smorgasboard; "South California Purples" off that same LP is blues; "Man vs. Man - The End" and "Aire" (off the third and seventh LPs) are jazz; "What's this World Coming to" and "Woman Don't Want to Love Me" (sixth and seventh LPs respectively) bring some funk. So many examples, way more than I mentioned.

Chicago is a whole vibe of it's own. This was my jams growing up. I wore out many a 8 track and then cassettes tape!

This is the cover song that sent me down a rabbit hole where I now own I-XIV. I-XI is Terry Kath era. 3 part harmonies and a guitar player that was the living embodiment of soul. EDIT due to comment below.

Played this album for my dad,(ww2 vet) he sat and listen thought whole album, said he ready enjoyed it, a men that grow u thru some the best music recorded (Big Band era)

Late 60's through the 70's rock music was legendary. The writing and musicianship was never the same after that time.

They had Drums, Bongos, Congas, Maracas, Shakers, Quakers, Blocks, Cowbells. A whole percussionist jam

Every song on this album is great.Just listen to them all.Poem 58,South California purples, Questions 67 and 68..all great..

I once got a ticket for a Chicago show given to me. I knew a couple of there songs and liked those just fine, but really knew little about their catalog. Every song was a smash. The show was amazing and really one of the best I'd ever seen. This is coming from someone who's seen Pink Floyd 3 times, the Rolling Stones 3 times, Eric Clapton 2 times and the Allman Brothers 5 times. Chicago is smokin'!!!

Terry Kath, the guitar player, is using a wah-wah pedal to get that sound effect. The "cup" was the guitar player holding his strings tight then he strummed them in the rhythm you heard. The distortion is called "feedback" made by the guitar player standing in front of his amplifier which causes static distortion. Chicago is fusion rock - funk, jazz, even big band influences. It was all planned!

This song was co-written by Steve Winwood when he was with the Spencer Davis Group a band he joined at age 15. He was 18 or 19 when the song was released.

This is the REAL Chicago. They had a few hits in the 80's with ballads but it was pop and the quality and feel was just not the same.

For anyone who grew up in the 80s with MTV and Chicago's string of hit ballads like i did----I'm begging you--- listen to Chicago's first album. Its heavy. It rocks. Hendrix invited them on tour with him.

The sound you asked about at 8:12 is Kath's guitar using a wah-wah pedal. This song was a percussive romp in the hay for the group.

An Early Must Hear Classic,, Chicago "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is"

This was released in 1967! Their only album as Chicago Transit Authority. They just the name Chicago and still tour and still release new music!

This song was co wrote by a 17 year old Steve Winwood and performed by the Spencer Davis Group

This song (I'm a man) was a cover of the original by Steve Winwood (Spencer Davis Group) who was a prodigy in his time. Check out Steve's songs as he was with couple bands (e.g., Traffic) and a solo artist in his career that resurged in the early 80's with songs like "While you see a chance [take it]", Valerie, Roll with it, Back in the high life again, etc.

Great cover of "I'm A Man", written by Steve Winwood when he was with The Spencer Davis Group. Winwood was 15 years old when he wrote this song.

I grew up with Chicago, I’m so lucky to had great music in my teens. Just like Santana need so Europa or No one to depend on.

That was Terry Kath on guitar. If you want to see how it is done watch Leonid and Friends do their rendition of I’m A Man.

That sound you're talking about during the drum solo was Terry Kath, he muted his guitar strings with his fretting hand, while strumming a rhythm, and using the wah wah pedal. Hendrix also did that sort of thing a LOT.

Asia, the guitar sound you were hearing was Terry Kath "palm muting" his Gibson SG guitar. and adding the "Wah-wah" foot pedal, later in the mix. Love you guys !!

Terry Kath on guitar and lead vocals (the first singer) is using a Wah Wah pedal and overdrive to get that sound. Danny Seraphine on Drums. Peter Cetera on Bass and lead vocals (the second singer) The sound you are hearing Asia is Terry Kath muting the strings with the Wah pedal on and then getting amp feedback at the end of the drum solo.

A history fact about this song I'm A Man....it was written by a young 15 year old Steven Winwood of the Spencer Favis Group. He played Hammond B-3 organ and sang the song which became a hit for the SDG.

The sound your are referring to is Terry muting the strings on his guitar with his left hand and strumming with his right while manipulating the wah wah pedal with his foot. The muted strings make a scratching sound and the pedal modulates the tone opening and closing. Think of a mouth opening and closing. The pedal looks like the gas pedal of a car and operates the same way. It sounds like WAH WAH WAH.

Chicago was fire while Terry Kath was still alive. Make Me Smile, 25 or 6 to 4, Beginnings are all great songs. The drum solo was a 70s thing. Originally used to showcase the drummer's talent, it morphed into break time for the rest of the band during concerts.

Speaking of funky, as I young kid in inner city Atlanta I noticed my all uncles had handful of rock albums in their collection: Chicago, Blood Sweat & Tears, The Rare Earth, Led Zeppelin and Santana right along side Stevie Wonder, Donnie Hathaway, Isaac Hayes and Mandrill.