Good evening Commentists & Commentettes,

It’s your old pal Beerguy

with another easy listening Saturday night for your enjoyment. Tonight, in honour of Peter Cetera turning 75,

we’re going to be working our way through the early Chicago catalogue.

Formed in 1967 as “The Chicago Transit Authority”, the original lineup was made up of guitarist and vocalist Terry Kath, keyboardist and vocalist Robert Lamm, drummer Danny Seraphine, saxophonist Walter Parazaider, trumpeter Lee Loughnane and trombonist James Pankow. Prior to releasing their self-titled first album, bassist Peter Cetera was added to the band, and this central lineup was what most people knew to be Chicago until Cetera left in 1985. From that first album, they scored a minor hit with “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?”

They shortened their name by the time of their second album to avoid lawsuits. This second album, titled “Chicago” but known in the canon as Chicago II, had their first Top-10 hit, “25 or 6 to 4”.

Releasing an album a year during the 1970s, their next big hit would come with Chicago V and the single “Saturday In The Park”.

They finally hit #1 in 1976 with Chicago X and the Cetera-written number, “If You Leave Me Now”.

This song won them their only Grammy, and the success of a ballad led the group to adopt a less horn-reliant sound during the late-70s and early-80s. This pattern culminated with Chicago 17 in 1984, which went six-times platinum and contained the Top-five hits “You’re the Inspiration” and “Hard Habit to Break”.

^{I’m not sure why there’s Portuguese subtitles.}

An unwillingness to let Cetera have a “Phil Collins / Genesis” type arrangement led him to leave the band for his solo career, which peaked in 1986 with a duet with Amy Grant called “Next Time I Fall”, and of course “Glory of Love”, his contribution to the Karate Kid II soundtrack.

Chicago were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. Cetera was inducted as a member of the band, but he declined to attend the ceremony. In any event, there’s your walk down memory lane for the evening. Keep on keepin’ on, you crazy cats.

Tomorrow’s games: with one-line previews (Maps courtesy 506sports.com)

CBS SINGLE

█ New England @ Miami – Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts – dogshit

█ Buffalo @ NY Giants – Greg Gumbel, Trent Green – doggier shit

█ LA Chargers @ Detroit – Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon – BOLTMAN SAYS ROBOCOP CAN HAVE DETROIT!

█ Indianapolis @ Tennessee – Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta – southern shit

█ Jacksonville @ Houston – Andrew Catalon, James Lofton – “Oh, isn’t JJ Watt the greatest?” shit

█ Kansas City @ Oakland (LATE) – Jim Nantz, Tony Romo – Jon Gruden’s bullshit

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FOX EARLY

█ Dallas @ Washington – Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis – horseshit

█ Seattle @ Pittsburgh – Kenny Albert, Ronde Barber – the good shit

█ San Francisco @ Cincinnati – Thom Brennaman, Chris Spielman – drizzling chili shits

█ Minnesota @ Green Bay – Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston – cheese curd shits

█ Arizona @ Baltimore – Brandon Gaudin, Cris Carter – crab shits

█ NO GAME due to blackout enforced by home team on CBS – FUCKING BULLSHIT!!11!11

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FOX LATE

█ New Orleans @ LA Rams – Joe Buck, Troy Aikman – the only shit is the announce team

█ Chicago @ Denver – Dick Stockton, Mark Schlereth – KHALIL MACK MUST FEED!

Tonight’s sports:

• College Football: non-creampuff games. (Auburn vs. Kent State is a joke.)
  • Florida at Kentucky – 7:00PM | ESPN
  • Clemson at Syracuse – 7:30PM | ABC
  • Oklahoma at UCLA – 8:00PM | FOX
  • Portland State at Boise State – 10:15PM | ESPN2
  • Texas Tech at Arizona – 10:30PM | ESPN
• CFL:
  • Alouettes vs. Roughriders – 7:00PM | TSN / ESPN+
• Left turns:
  • NASCAR XFINITY Series:
    • Rhino Pro Truck Outfitters 300 – 7:30PM | NBCSN / TSN5
• Fútbol:
  • Liga MX: Club América vs. UNAM – 7:55PM | UNI
  • MLS: Whitecaps FC vs. Houston – 10:00PM | TSN
• Baseball:
  • Red Sox at Phillies – 7:00PM | Sportsnet
•  Fisticuffs:
  • UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Gaethje – from Vancouver
    • Prelims – 6:00PM | TSN2 / ESPN+
    • Main card: 8:00PM | TSN2 / ESPN+
  • Top Rank Boxing:
    • Fury vs. Wallin – 11:00PM | TSN2 / ESPN+