Love Chicago but lyrics were always their low. what kind of ridiculous tootles is this for one of your most iconic songs. In fact, most of their famous songs have pretty ordinary lyrics. especially the older Chicago songs.
They were up all night trying to write a song and wrote a song about writing a song shortly before 4 AM. Sometimes the lyrics mean just what they say with no deep hidden meaning.
@@armadillotoe I know. But given how meticulously written the music is, the lyrics seem thrown together. A lot of Chicago songs are like the lyrics were written by an eighth grader. Make me smile, call on me, so many others...
@Hillary's emails to Lorne I believe Jimmy was going to head in that direction himself (rock band with horns), but then he died. That would have been pretty cool.
You're only 16?! Wow. I thought you were quite a bit older. I watch a lot of music reaction channels and your's exceeds most of them. You're doing a great job.
Yes, only 16, turning 17 soon. And I really appreciate that, I didn't expect any of this, but now we've got an awesome group of good music lovers watching and suggestions for music which is just the best:)
I thoroughly second the accolades you're getting. You bring a very smart, fresh, energetic appreciation to rock music that I think a lot of us thought might get forgotten by the generations coming up. You Sir are proving us wrong. Thanks for your devotion, talent, and appreciation of the great music that has come before. There's so much out there!
I don't care what the guys in Chicago might have said, this song has a double meaning (if not purely about drugs). The room spinning etc is not indicative of someone who's just searching for a lyric (even late at night).
@@fewwiggle It's not just late at night, he's been working on the song all night. So, although the lyrics do sound like drug code (he could have said try to work some more, or try to write some more, rather than do some more) I think he's talking about exhaustion.
@@christinerobinson9372 Hey Christine -- I know what they say it is about, I just don't think that makes sense -- so consciously or unconsciously, I believe they were describing doing drugs.
Chicago was a rather unique band at the time - partly because of the horns and partly because of their exceptional musical skills and having 3 lead vocalists. Almost everyone in the original lineup had a hand in writing/arranging, but the majority of the group's hits were written by keyboardist Robert Lamm and trombonist James Pankow. The group also had three vocalists who all sang leads - Lamm, Terry Kath on guitar, and Peter Cetera on bass. Cetera would later go on to a solo career singing mostly power ballads in the 80s.
Enjoyed your reaction...hell of a lot better than I could have done at your age! As to your question about why you think of Blood Sweat and Tears and Chicago as similar, there's a good reason. They were both bands that featured brass sections in an era when it wasn't all too commonplace. And BTW, if you can't master that solo, I wouldn't worry too much - very few people could. It's among the best in the rock era. Someone else in the comments mentioned the video of Chicago performing this live at Tanglewood. It's off the charts.
They were also both produced by James William Guercio, who remained Chicago's producer for most if their career. Guercio produced a BST album for Columbia records so he could gain studio experience for the debut Chicago Transit Authority album.
No horn section did and still does it better! I've seen Chicago at least 15 times in my 57 years and still, as of 2 years ago, they have NEVER disappointed!! Phenomenal always! They seem to set a standard of excellence!!
Songwriter Robert Lamm was awake after returning from a late show. Unable to sleep and trying to come up with the words to write a song, he was seeing the lights flashing outside the room from building signs, and the room clock said the time was either 25 or 26 minutes to 4 AM.
This band was unbelievably great from the late 60s until the 80s. In the early 80s, they started writing really sappy love songs exclusively. They had always done a couple love songs here and there, but they were pretty high quality and few and far between. Beginning in 1982, the love songs were getting campy and they became the majority of the album. That being said, they were more popular than ever, and their audience became mostly female. Even the rock songs from the 80s weren't very rockin. They earned my respect back with a 1995 jazz CD, and they've been pretty good since then, mostly going back to their 70s sound
Written by Robert Lamm, who wrote many of Chicago's classic songs, like Saturday in the Park, Beginnings, Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is, Dialogue Part 1 and 2, and Questions 67 & .68
25 or 6 to 4 refers to the time of day, nothing more, 25 or 26 minutes to 4 AM. This was written by Robert Lamm who was feeling pressure to write a song for an upcoming recording session. Great rhythm hook, amazing horns, Peter Cetera's soaring vocals and of course Terry Kath's ethereal guitar, which makes this song spectacular. Perhaps one of the top 10 ten songs ever recorded.
A radio D.J., in a late night story, said he'd heard that they were on a studio deadline and needed lyrics for the song to be recorded the next day when the engineers, etc. returned to the studio. The'd settled on making it a song about writing a song at some point after midnight - but the phase "25 or 6 to 4" was an organic thing when someone asked the time to see how much more time they had... and the rest fell into place. Was it a delusion of the D.J.? A flat out lie? Or is there some truth here? Who knows? But I was about your age when I heard the story and that was SO much closer to the release of the song than we are today.
Terry Kath is killing it on the guitar, so so good and Danny Seraphine on the drums. The singer is Peter Cetera. Check out one with Terry Kath singing for some real soulful sounds like "Make Me Smile/Coulor My World"
I really love watching other people fall in love with songs that I've known and loved for decades. I wish I could go back and fall in love with them all over again. This is the next best thing.
From what I remember the tag line "25 or 6 to four" was created when they were writing the song and someone happened to look at the clock and it was very early in the morning, so it means 25 or 26 minutes before four o'clock in the morning. Chicago was one of the bands during this period that didn't just use a band, they basically used an entire orchestra. They had a very unique sound and this was before bands started using synthesizers to make it sound like they have an orchestra behind them.
Gonna break a self-imposed restriction because EVERYONE does this already and I find it annoying crying wolf and all that. Check out "Aire" from Chicago VII. It's a great snapshot of the band at a later point, arguably around their golden age. And another side of Terry Kath's guitar work. Best. Leo.
@@michaelbastraw1493 Yep, Prelude to Aire and Aire are fine tunes. Terry Kath's "Byblos" though with his guitar and soulful baritone voice make that album another favorite.
@@craigw1911 Yes, on Byblos. I was thinking more of his electric guitar work apropos 25 or 6 to 4. With Aire bringing almost a George Benson-like jazzy style to the song as opposed to his commonly-used loving Jimi Hendrixy machinations. For the longest time, I thought he was using a hollow-body electric. An old bandmate assured me that it was a solid body, perhaps even that bastardized tele Kath turned into a sticker craft project while probably under the influence. At least he was a hockey fan; but did it have to be the Blackhawks? Well, I guess he came by it honestly being from Chicago and all that. Best. Leo.
@@michaelbastraw1493 I've seen Terry also wearing jerseys of the Blues and Rangers. I'm not sure if they were also his favorites or it was playing homage to whichever venue they were at. (Old time Islanders fan here, my longest time friend for 40 years, she's a Rangers fan. Always teasing each other).
According to SongFacts.com, it refers to the time of day: "This was written by Robert Lamm, who is a keyboard player and singer for Chicago. It's about trying to write a song, with the title referring to the time of day: either 3:35 a.m. (25 to 4) or 3:34 a.m. (26 to 4). Lamm explained on The Chris Isaak Hour: "I was living with a bunch of hippies up above Sunset Strip. One of the advantages of this particular house was that it was in the Hollywood Hills and I could look out over the city late at night. I wanted to try to describe the process of writing the song that I was writing. So, 'waiting for the break of day, searching for something to say, flashing lights against the sky' - there was a neon sign across the city. That song came from the fact that it was 25 or 6 to 4 a.m. in the morning when I looked at my watch - I was looking for a line to finish the chorus."
🌹 Don't feel bad. I've listened to this song for years and finally figured out it was all about the time and trying to get a song written. There wasn't much brass back in the day so your comparison to BS&T's was a good catch. It's rare you hear brass that tight. I may be a bit sappy but I enjoy their love songs, too.
Its about a writer with writers block trying to finish his song ! A song about writing a song @ 25 or 26 minutes before 4AM.... how cool is that ! ✌😎 That classic guitar solo by Terry Kath is amazing 😎🎸
Terry Kath. A very underappreciated guitarist. He died way before his time. Peter Cetera was the lead singer. He went solo in the late 80's. He sang Glory of Love in Karate Kid 2. He has a great tenor voice. Maybe a counter tenor like Mitch from Pentatonix. It was 25 or 26 minutes to 4 after being up all night. There is some controversy whether it was talking about drugs or just being an insomniac. I was up 42 hours in a row one time and stuff plays with your head.
Grab the debut album "Chicago Transit Authority" and listen to it in sequence. Terry wrote and sung the opener "Introduction" and each player gets to spotlight their talent as if introducing themselves to the listener. "Poem 58" is a MONSTER Terry Kath guitar song and shows how much funk they had in their formation. I'd love to see your reaction to that one.
"Poem 58" is my go-to when I want to show people Pete Cetera was not just a pretty-boy love song crooner. This is what Chicago would have been like as a power trio.
@@submandave1125 Agreed, Cetera's bass line on that was great, but Kath was THE MAN on that track with his guitar. I freakin' LOVE "Poem 58"! I wonder if that was the song that made Hendrix realize Terry Kath was a better guitarist than Jimi.
@@craigw1911 The reason I use it to highlight Pete is that TK is a beast on just about anything from the magic first three, but the trimmed down instrumentation on the first part of "Poem 58" lets him stand confidently with other lyrical bassists in classic power trios.
@@submandave1125 Peter's bass on "I'm A Man" also is noteworthy, pun unintended. He should get more praise for his bass work. That entire debut album is a masterpiece. OK, "Free Form Guitar" is way out of there but the rest of the album is a fabulous debut, and "Liberation" closes it out nicely.
This is a song about writing a song...the descending baseline is A - G - F# - F - E...the solo is in A minor. Nice reaction. Lots of great Chicago tunes to get familiar with!
Terry Kath baby! A profoundly gifted guitarist. The band was also comprised of enormously talented brass musicians and had numerous hits over several years. I’ve heard the lyrics are about ‘writing a song.’ Another great job, Daniel.
Got a new sub here . My name is Terry named after this legend guitarist Terry Kath. This is my dad's favorite band he has met them multiple times I have even met the band a couple times in my dad (never Terry Kath as that was before my time and many of the other originals) but man this is some great music and you got a great ear and feel for it. Respect!!!!!
So just imagine it's the summer of 1970 and you're cruising down the highway with three of your friends at 70 mph in your convertible, on a warm summer night, out in the countryside away from the city with the star-filled sky above you clear except for a few wispy, silvery clouds, lit up by a full moon shining brightly, and you hear this song on the radio for the first time. You crank it up full blast and the four of you just groove to the song, nodding your heads and playing air drums and air guitar, enjoying your youth and the gift of music like this...
16? really? that said, i spend most of my middle school and high school years digging through my dad's classic rock vinyl collection and transferring it to first tape then cd. I completely understand the music journey you are taking, b/c i did it when I was young too, though I had to dig through liner notes for lyrics. It's easier now, lol.
The original Chicago lineup is some of the greatest musical talent ever assembled.....Terry Kath, Peter Cetera, Robert Lamm, Walter Parazaider, Lee Loughnane, Terry Pankow, Danny Seraphine.
Terry Kath's daughter recently found the very famous guitar he father played on this and many other Chicago tracks. It had been missing since his death 40 years ago. Great documentary. You should find AXS TV and study their programming. You'll dig it.
Yes that's right. And I think the word Daniel was looking for was "descending". Daniel, the riff possibly sounds familiar to you because Green Day borrowed the same progression for their song "Brain Stew".
This is an original Chicago song written by the piano player in the group Robert Lamm. Song sung by the amazing Peter Cetera (bass player). That’s dancing lights against the sky talking about a flashlight neon sign he saw out the window at 4 am
It's the time, it's about 3:35 or 3:34 AM. After staying up all night working and being semi-delusional from lack of sleep. It's about working hard and pushing yourself to the limit.
The song is not about drugs in any way.Peter Cetera was up one night trying to write a song. Nothing was coming to him, and it got later and later till the time was 25 or 26 minutes to 4:00 am. That's how he came up with the lyrics and the title. Nothing more, nothing less.
As to the uncertainty about the time (25 or 26 to 4), it's key to realize clocks back then were analog and the exact position of the minute hand as seen from across the room wasn't always clear. Even the terminology is affected, since what today would be read as "3:35" would have been "25 to 4".
I have to concur, you owe it to yourself to watch the Tanglewood concert of this song. The guitar work performed by Terry goes far beyond their studio/radio version, that you would think he's possessed for the time period in which this was recorded.
He's (the singer) is writing a song. He looks at the clock. It's 3:35 or 3:36 a.m. (hard to see, his eyes are blurry from being up all night writing the song). The English language is notorious for having multiple ways to say the same thing. (Thank God for that. It makes songs in English fun to interpret). Thanks for your reactions. They are fun and interesting.
25 or 6 before 4 am.... they were writing this song. CHICAGO @ TANGLEWOOD LIVE IS A VERY AWESOME CONCERT WORTH YOUR TIME IN WATCHING....GREAT REACTION....
Wow checked out the comments during your intro. Thanks for the chuckles. So true analog vs digital age telling time... can't wait to watch. Terry Kath Chicago VERY different from post Terry...
Time. They needed a song to complete their debut album. Robert Lamm was up all night and at about 25 or 26 minutes before 4 AM, he came up with the song. Kismet. Serendipity.
This song was written while the band was in L.A., in a not so great hotel room. The room was located over the hotel's flashing neon sign (thus the flashing lights against the sky). The writer was struggling to come up with something, and just decided to document what was going on at that exact moment. He looked over and the clock told him it was 25 (or 26) minutes before 4:00 A.M. He was really tired but trying to press on. At times, giving up and closing his eyes, etc. Nothing deeper than that. I forget who wrote it, but this was explained (by the song writer) in the CNN documentary on Chicago that came out a few years ago.
If you are interested, there's a group from Russia called "Leonid & Friends" and they do an absolutely incredible cover of this (and other Chicago songs). You can see them play and sing, they're all incredible musicians, they've been said to sound "more like Chicago than Chicago". Their cover of "I'm a Man" is killer.
At the time, Chicago were known for the offbeat endings to some of their songs. Other songs with odd endings were "Make Me Smile", "Wake Up Sunshine", "Fancy Colours", and the really awesome "Introduction."
Daniel - at the 6:25 mark off this review you as about the riff, you like it but don't know who started it. This is the opening and repeating walk down riff of bar chord A, then G, F#, F, and E. My best guess is that Terry Kath is doing an homage to the Ventures 1960 version of "Walk Don't Run" intro. The Ventures version does not include the F#, or call it Gb if you like. The song Walk Don't Run was a jazz melody written by Johnny Smith in 1954 and covered nicely by Chet Atkins in 1956, however neither of those included an Intro that I have found. Wiki says that Kath was influenced by the Ventures in his early years. As far as who first started the descending chromatic scale, something to be further researched, but I'm sure it appears in classical music from centuries gone by. The Beatles also used it in a number of their songs underneath the main melody, While My Guitar Gently Weeps (G.Harrison) comes to mind. Thank you for what you are doing!
I believe Chicago's horn section was a trumpet, saxophone, and trombone. I think. They were the first professional music concert I ever went to. I was about the age you are now. I walked out of that concert with my ears ringing, and literally couldn't hear much for about an hour. Today I have some hearing loss, and have ever since that concert. They were loud! The fact that they used the horn section in their music is one of the reasons I loved them. Hearing loss or not, I would gladly go see them again!
Yup! You got the horn section right! They were my first concert too, at age 14 on a triple date with a friend from school and my 2 older sisters and their boyfriends. Ended up seeing them 5 more times in the '70s!
You are my new favorite, you are an intelligent young man and I love your appreciation for great music And love your interpretation Of the lyrics and then you actually do the research to get the back story. I watched you and your Dad do the Moody Blues and I Was hooked
The beginning of the main riff reminds me of Gimme Some Lovin, by the Spencer Davis Group, with a very young (about your age) Steve Winwood on organ and lead vocal.
NOTHING is beyond your grasp! Just slow it down to learn it then ramp up the speed once you have it down. I'm an old man, old enough to be your grandfather, and I just have to say that at age 16, the World is Yours! You have time enough to do ANYTHING you want to do! Listen to Pink Floyd "Time" for perspective 😁 Peace ✌
Wow what a great choice to start listening to Chicago, great fast paced song with one of the best guitar solos in rock, Terry Kath was a master at his craft...Been going through some of your vids, and for your age you got some great insight into these differnt styles of music your listening to, Just earned yourself a new Sub.👌
What does 25 or 6 to 4 mean? The song was written by Chicago keyboardist and singer Robert Lamm (Brooklyn, October 13, 1944) and would indicate a night time slot: 3:35 (25 minutes at 4) or 3:34 (26 minutes at 4). Lamm explained on the point: “At the time I was living with a bunch of hippies on the Sunset Strip. One of the advantages of this particular house was that it was located in the Hollywood Hills and that I could look out over the city late at night. Here, I was trying to describe the creative moment when I realized that there was a neon sign that marked that moment and which I decided to use as a refrain ". The other explanation An explanation that according to some was actually artfully constructed ex post, to disprove that the title of the popular piece was actually a tribute to the synthetic drug LSD, whose nickname was 624 ("6 to 4") because you took it at 6 in the afternoon the effects of the drug would wear off by 4 am, that is 10 hours later (a dose of just 25 μg of LSD can cause minimal alterations in perception and mood for more than 10 hours).
@@DiconDissectionalReactions I'm sure you'll probably do their most famous song, Saturday in the park, and another great one, Does anybody really know what time it is. The late 60's thru late 70's were tough to beat.
You mentioned Blood Sweat and Tears sounding like Chicago. They do. Also Ides of March. Their biggest hit was a song called Vehicle. This Jazz fusion genre was popular sound at the time. I heard you comment on the dissonance from the horns at the end of the song. Chicago loved using dissonance like jazz musicians to create texture and emotion to their music
111th!! Another song from my youth. What time is it? Eh, 25, or 6 to 4. IMO GREATEST GUITAR SOLO EVER. WATCH THEIR TANGLEWOOD LIVE. That riff you’re thinking of is Greenday’s Brainstew
Hey Daniel. A very mature reaction for someone of your age. I was surprised to hear that you were only 16. I assumed that you were a college student (rather than a high-school student).
that opening riff is also heard 2 minutes 20 seconds into led zeppelin's "babe i'm gonna leave you", which came out 6 months before "25 or 6 to 4". coincidence? hmmmm.....
Chicago was one of the first rock bands to use a horn section giving them that unique sound. That amazing voice you hear is bass player Peter Cetera who sang many of thier songs and keyboard player Robert Lamm sang many songs.
Chicago and BS&T were more or less contemporaries; similar instrumentation and musical influences. Come to think of it, they were both produced by James Guercio who brought BS&T out to California first. Best. Leo.
I'm SO OLD Arrrggg! It just means everything is relative, as in "6 To1, 1/2 dozen to the other". This is the 1st SERIOUS rock song I ever heard as a child coming from my brothers room when he came back from Vietnam. I was standing in the hall waiting with my mouth open! What happend to the Partridge Family,Osmonds,and the Carpenters. I promptly stole the record! I was only 11 at the time and I would play this to keep the shadows away. Chicago is a legendary band! Defender Of Shadows!
He’s a Songwriter trying to come up with lyrics. He’s has Writer’s block and can’t “come up with something to say”. So he’s just “waiting for the break of day”. So it’s 25 or 6 (26) minutes to 4:00 AM. SanJoseBob
I think it means time "25 or 26 minutes to 4:00"
Love Chicago but lyrics were always their low. what kind of ridiculous tootles is this for one of your most iconic songs. In fact, most of their famous songs have pretty ordinary lyrics. especially the older Chicago songs.
Tony Allen, you are absolutely correct
Tada ! Yes indeed as he was trying to write this very song!
They were up all night trying to write a song and wrote a song about writing a song shortly before 4 AM. Sometimes the lyrics mean just what they say with no deep hidden meaning.
@@armadillotoe I know. But given how meticulously written the music is, the lyrics seem thrown together. A lot of Chicago songs are like the lyrics were written by an eighth grader. Make me smile, call on me, so many others...
Yup, sitting cross legged on the floor trying to come up with a song to write at night hence 25 or 6 minutes until 4 am.
Jimi Hendrix said Terry Kath was the best guitarist he'd ever seen. That says a lot.
Jimi, Terry and Stevie!!!!!!!
@@Bearjumper55 SRV is my fave! 😊👍
I believe the quote was: "I like your guitar player. He's better than me". And yes, it says a great deal.
@Hillary's emails to Lorne I believe Jimmy was going to head in that direction himself (rock band with horns), but then he died. That would have been pretty cool.
They were planning on touring together.
You're only 16?! Wow. I thought you were quite a bit older. I watch a lot of music reaction channels and your's exceeds most of them. You're doing a great job.
Yes, only 16, turning 17 soon.
And I really appreciate that, I didn't expect any of this, but now we've got an awesome group of good music lovers watching and suggestions for music which is just the best:)
I thoroughly second the accolades you're getting. You bring a very smart, fresh, energetic appreciation to rock music that I think a lot of us thought might get forgotten by the generations coming up. You Sir are proving us wrong. Thanks for your devotion, talent, and appreciation of the great music that has come before. There's so much out there!
Isn't he! I want to adopt him but nobody will take my kids!
He IS working, he's trying to write a song, and it's now 25 or 26 minutes to 4am.
It's the bass playing that riff, and the bass player is also the lead singer in this song.
If you get a chance watch the live at Tanglewood version from 1970 the late, great Terry Kath goes off on that solo, you'll love it...
That solo gives me chills everytime I watch it!!
Absolutely, Kath's performance was legendary at Tangelwood. Thank God its on video for all to see and marvel in.
Aint no doubt. Absolutely amazin!
Not a drug song. It's about a songwriter not being able to come up with anything staying up all night 25 minutes or 26 minutes 'til 4 in the morning.
Thanks for lettin the young man know. Saved me the time. Glad he's listenin to our music!
I never could figure that out for myself, it was many years before I heard the explanation. Oh, THAT'S what it means!
I don't care what the guys in Chicago might have said, this song has a double meaning (if not purely about drugs).
The room spinning etc is not indicative of someone who's just searching for a lyric (even late at night).
@@fewwiggle It's not just late at night, he's been working on the song all night. So, although the lyrics do sound like drug code (he could have said try to work some more, or try to write some more, rather than do some more) I think he's talking about exhaustion.
@@christinerobinson9372 Hey Christine -- I know what they say it is about, I just don't think that makes sense -- so consciously or unconsciously, I believe they were describing doing drugs.
Chicago was a rather unique band at the time - partly because of the horns and partly because of their exceptional musical skills and having 3 lead vocalists. Almost everyone in the original lineup had a hand in writing/arranging, but the majority of the group's hits were written by keyboardist Robert Lamm and trombonist James Pankow. The group also had three vocalists who all sang leads - Lamm, Terry Kath on guitar, and Peter Cetera on bass. Cetera would later go on to a solo career singing mostly power ballads in the 80s.
Enjoyed your reaction...hell of a lot better than I could have done at your age! As to your question about why you think of Blood Sweat and Tears and Chicago as similar, there's a good reason. They were both bands that featured brass sections in an era when it wasn't all too commonplace. And BTW, if you can't master that solo, I wouldn't worry too much - very few people could. It's among the best in the rock era. Someone else in the comments mentioned the video of Chicago performing this live at Tanglewood. It's off the charts.
They were also both produced by James William Guercio, who remained Chicago's producer for most if their career. Guercio produced a BST album for Columbia records so he could gain studio experience for the debut Chicago Transit Authority album.
No horn section did and still does it better! I've seen Chicago at least 15 times in my 57 years and still, as of 2 years ago, they have NEVER disappointed!! Phenomenal always! They seem to set a standard of excellence!!
Songwriter Robert Lamm was awake after returning from a late show. Unable to sleep and trying to come up with the words to write a song, he was seeing the lights flashing outside the room from building signs, and the room clock said the time was either 25 or 26 minutes to 4 AM.
This band was unbelievably great from the late 60s until the 80s. In the early 80s, they started writing really sappy love songs exclusively. They had always done a couple love songs here and there, but they were pretty high quality and few and far between. Beginning in 1982, the love songs were getting campy and they became the majority of the album. That being said, they were more popular than ever, and their audience became mostly female. Even the rock songs from the 80s weren't very rockin. They earned my respect back with a 1995 jazz CD, and they've been pretty good since then, mostly going back to their 70s sound
Some say it's about acid. LSD 25 is the association, but it's not. It's about writing a song.
Written by Robert Lamm, who wrote many of Chicago's classic songs, like Saturday in the Park, Beginnings, Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is, Dialogue Part 1 and 2, and Questions 67 & .68
25 or 6 to 4 refers to the time of day, nothing more, 25 or 26 minutes to 4 AM. This was written by Robert Lamm who was feeling pressure to write a song for an upcoming recording session. Great rhythm hook, amazing horns, Peter Cetera's soaring vocals and of course Terry Kath's ethereal guitar, which makes this song spectacular. Perhaps one of the top 10 ten songs ever recorded.
A radio D.J., in a late night story, said he'd heard that they were on a studio deadline and needed lyrics for the song to be recorded the next day when the engineers, etc. returned to the studio. The'd settled on making it a song about writing a song at some point after midnight - but the phase "25 or 6 to 4" was an organic thing when someone asked the time to see how much more time they had... and the rest fell into place. Was it a delusion of the D.J.? A flat out lie? Or is there some truth here? Who knows? But I was about your age when I heard the story and that was SO much closer to the release of the song than we are today.
My young friend, I love how you resisted the urge to be a pause pirate and kill the rhythm of the high seas! You have my respect kid!
They joy on your face says it all. My son who is 14 and plays trumpet in school jazz band loves this song and band.
This music (hard to believe) is 50 yrs old.
Terry Kath is killing it on the guitar, so so good and Danny Seraphine on the drums. The singer is Peter Cetera. Check out one with Terry Kath singing for some real soulful sounds like "Make Me Smile/Coulor My World"
I really love watching other people fall in love with songs that I've known and loved for decades. I wish I could go back and fall in love with them all over again. This is the next best thing.
From what I remember the tag line "25 or 6 to four" was created when they were writing the song and someone happened to look at the clock and it was very early in the morning, so it means 25 or 26 minutes before four o'clock in the morning.
Chicago was one of the bands during this period that didn't just use a band, they basically used an entire orchestra. They had a very unique sound and this was before bands started using synthesizers to make it sound like they have an orchestra behind them.
The late great Terry Kath on guitar
Gonna break a self-imposed restriction because EVERYONE does this already and I find it annoying crying wolf and all that. Check out "Aire" from Chicago VII. It's a great snapshot of the band at a later point, arguably around their golden age. And another side of Terry Kath's guitar work. Best. Leo.
@@michaelbastraw1493 Yep, Prelude to Aire and Aire are fine tunes. Terry Kath's "Byblos" though with his guitar and soulful baritone voice make that album another favorite.
@@craigw1911 Yes, on Byblos. I was thinking more of his electric guitar work apropos 25 or 6 to 4. With Aire bringing almost a George Benson-like jazzy style to the song as opposed to his commonly-used loving Jimi Hendrixy machinations. For the longest time, I thought he was using a hollow-body electric. An old bandmate assured me that it was a solid body, perhaps even that bastardized tele Kath turned into a sticker craft project while probably under the influence. At least he was a hockey fan; but did it have to be the Blackhawks? Well, I guess he came by it honestly being from Chicago and all that. Best. Leo.
@@michaelbastraw1493 I've seen Terry also wearing jerseys of the Blues and Rangers. I'm not sure if they were also his favorites or it was playing homage to whichever venue they were at. (Old time Islanders fan here, my longest time friend for 40 years, she's a Rangers fan. Always teasing each other).
@@craigw1911 Right you are. I was referring to the non-Pignose sticker on his guitar. Best. Leo.
According to SongFacts.com, it refers to the time of day:
"This was written by Robert Lamm, who is a keyboard player and singer for Chicago. It's about trying to write a song, with the title referring to the time of day: either 3:35 a.m. (25 to 4) or 3:34 a.m. (26 to 4). Lamm explained on The Chris Isaak Hour: "I was living with a bunch of hippies up above Sunset Strip. One of the advantages of this particular house was that it was in the Hollywood Hills and I could look out over the city late at night. I wanted to try to describe the process of writing the song that I was writing. So, 'waiting for the break of day, searching for something to say, flashing lights against the sky' - there was a neon sign across the city. That song came from the fact that it was 25 or 6 to 4 a.m. in the morning when I looked at my watch - I was looking for a line to finish the chorus."
🌹 Don't feel bad. I've listened to this song for years and finally figured out it was all about the time and trying to get a song written. There wasn't much brass back in the day so your comparison to BS&T's was a good catch. It's rare you hear brass that tight. I may be a bit sappy but I enjoy their love songs, too.
You are right having Chicago and BST grouped together as the two groups were, along with Ides of March, considered a new genre of jazz/blues/rock.
Its about a writer with writers block trying to finish his song !
A song about writing a song @ 25 or 26 minutes before 4AM.... how cool is that ! ✌😎
That classic guitar solo by Terry Kath is amazing 😎🎸
That opening riff is cool, it's Peter playing bass. To quote the kids mom in Almost Famous...Don't Do Drugs! ;)
Terry Kath. A very underappreciated guitarist. He died way before his time.
Peter Cetera was the lead singer. He went solo in the late 80's. He sang Glory of Love in Karate Kid 2. He has a great tenor voice. Maybe a counter tenor like Mitch from Pentatonix.
It was 25 or 26 minutes to 4 after being up all night.
There is some controversy whether it was talking about drugs or just being an insomniac.
I was up 42 hours in a row one time and stuff plays with your head.
Grandson, you have over 20 YEARS of Chicago to absorb! I guarantee you've heard more than one song from them.
He was on acid.
"Wondering how much I can take... should try to do some more ?"
25th song... or 6 to 4am.
Grab the debut album "Chicago Transit Authority" and listen to it in sequence. Terry wrote and sung the opener "Introduction" and each player gets to spotlight their talent as if introducing themselves to the listener. "Poem 58" is a MONSTER Terry Kath guitar song and shows how much funk they had in their formation. I'd love to see your reaction to that one.
"Poem 58" is my go-to when I want to show people Pete Cetera was not just a pretty-boy love song crooner. This is what Chicago would have been like as a power trio.
@@submandave1125 Agreed, Cetera's bass line on that was great, but Kath was THE MAN on that track with his guitar. I freakin' LOVE "Poem 58"! I wonder if that was the song that made Hendrix realize Terry Kath was a better guitarist than Jimi.
@@craigw1911 The reason I use it to highlight Pete is that TK is a beast on just about anything from the magic first three, but the trimmed down instrumentation on the first part of "Poem 58" lets him stand confidently with other lyrical bassists in classic power trios.
@@submandave1125 Peter's bass on "I'm A Man" also is noteworthy, pun unintended. He should get more praise for his bass work. That entire debut album is a masterpiece. OK, "Free Form Guitar" is way out of there but the rest of the album is a fabulous debut, and "Liberation" closes it out nicely.
This is a song about writing a song...the descending baseline is A - G - F# - F - E...the solo is in A minor. Nice reaction. Lots of great Chicago tunes to get familiar with!
Terry Kath baby! A profoundly gifted guitarist. The band was also comprised of enormously talented brass musicians and had numerous hits over several years. I’ve heard the lyrics are about ‘writing a song.’ Another great job, Daniel.
"Excuse God." Haha! If you liked this one, check out Tower of Power "What Is Hip" and Blood, Sweat & Tears "Spinning Wheel" or "And When I Die".
Got a new sub here .
My name is Terry named after this legend guitarist Terry Kath. This is my dad's favorite band he has met them multiple times I have even met the band a couple times in my dad (never Terry Kath as that was before my time and many of the other originals) but man this is some great music and you got a great ear and feel for it. Respect!!!!!
So just imagine it's the summer of 1970 and you're cruising down the highway with three of your friends at 70 mph in your convertible, on a warm summer night, out in the countryside away from the city with the star-filled sky above you clear except for a few wispy, silvery clouds, lit up by a full moon shining brightly, and you hear this song on the radio for the first time. You crank it up full blast and the four of you just groove to the song, nodding your heads and playing air drums and air guitar, enjoying your youth and the gift of music like this...
16? really? that said, i spend most of my middle school and high school years digging through my dad's classic rock vinyl collection and transferring it to first tape then cd. I completely understand the music journey you are taking, b/c i did it when I was young too, though I had to dig through liner notes for lyrics. It's easier now, lol.
The original Chicago lineup is some of the greatest musical talent ever assembled.....Terry Kath, Peter Cetera, Robert Lamm, Walter Parazaider, Lee Loughnane, Terry Pankow, Danny Seraphine.
Terry Kath's daughter recently found the very famous guitar he father played on this and many other Chicago tracks. It had been missing since his death 40 years ago. Great documentary. You should find AXS TV and study their programming. You'll dig it.
The walking down a step at a time reflects the chord changes, Am, G,F, and then E. So you got it right, step, step, step, half-step.
Yes that's right. And I think the word Daniel was looking for was "descending". Daniel, the riff possibly sounds familiar to you because Green Day borrowed the same progression for their song "Brain Stew".
When they were a rocking band. Before they became a wedding reception "love song" band.
This is an original Chicago song written by the piano player in the group Robert Lamm. Song sung by the amazing Peter Cetera (bass player). That’s dancing lights against the sky talking about a flashlight neon sign he saw out the window at 4 am
At 11:14 I always liked how he ends the long guitar solo with a slide down the strings and an audible "OOOOWWWW"!!!
It's the time, it's about 3:35 or 3:34 AM. After staying up all night working and being semi-delusional from lack of sleep. It's about working hard and pushing yourself to the limit.
He was up all night trying to write a song. Title is him wondering what time it is. FABULOUS song!!
The song is not about drugs in any way.Peter Cetera was up one night trying to write a song. Nothing was coming to him, and it got later and later till the time was 25 or 26 minutes to 4:00 am. That's how he came up with the lyrics and the title. Nothing more, nothing less.
As to the uncertainty about the time (25 or 26 to 4), it's key to realize clocks back then were analog and the exact position of the minute hand as seen from across the room wasn't always clear. Even the terminology is affected, since what today would be read as "3:35" would have been "25 to 4".
The power and experience of Chicago is that they were big band in a rock form. Amazing.
I have to concur, you owe it to yourself to watch the Tanglewood concert of this song. The guitar work performed by Terry goes far beyond their studio/radio version, that you would think he's possessed for the time period in which this was recorded.
So refreshing to see young people enjoying diverse music styles from various time periods...great react.
He's (the singer) is writing a song. He looks at the clock. It's 3:35 or 3:36 a.m. (hard to see, his eyes are blurry from being up all night writing the song). The English language is notorious for having multiple ways to say the same thing. (Thank God for that. It makes songs in English fun to interpret). Thanks for your reactions. They are fun and interesting.
25 to 4 = 3:35 a.m. or 26 to 4 = 3:34 a.m. The meaning might have been clearer if the lyrics had been 26 or 5 to 4 (or maybe even 26 or 25 to 4).
The late great Terry Kath was the guitarist. Jimi Hendrix sung his praises....in fact said he was the best.
25 or 6 before 4 am.... they were writing this song. CHICAGO @ TANGLEWOOD LIVE IS A VERY AWESOME CONCERT WORTH YOUR TIME IN WATCHING....GREAT REACTION....
The live version of this song from Tanglewood California I think 1971 is unbelievable you need to check it out
I was your age when I first heard this song.
You MUST doe Chicago's "Dialogue Part 1 & 2" - right up your alley.
Chicago and Blood, Sweat and Tears both feature awesome brass sections. That’s probably why one reminds you of the other.
I'd call them horn sections, as the saxophone is a woodwind, not a brass instrument. Plus, Walter doubles on flute sometimes.
@@debrabrabenec3731 Valid point!
Wow checked out the comments during your intro. Thanks for the chuckles. So true analog vs digital age telling time... can't wait to watch. Terry Kath Chicago VERY different from post Terry...
You have to see them doing this song @ Tanglewood. Terry's solo.
Time. They needed a song to complete their debut album. Robert Lamm was up all night and at about 25 or 26 minutes before 4 AM, he came up with the song. Kismet. Serendipity.
This song was written while the band was in L.A., in a not so great hotel room. The room was located over the hotel's flashing neon sign (thus the flashing lights against the sky). The writer was struggling to come up with something, and just decided to document what was going on at that exact moment. He looked over and the clock told him it was 25 (or 26) minutes before 4:00 A.M. He was really tired but trying to press on. At times, giving up and closing his eyes, etc. Nothing deeper than that. I forget who wrote it, but this was explained (by the song writer) in the CNN documentary on Chicago that came out a few years ago.
BS&T and Chicago were predominantly heavy brass bands. Both very popular in the early seventies.
Horn sections with brass and woodwind instruments.🙂
If you are interested, there's a group from Russia called "Leonid & Friends" and they do an absolutely incredible cover of this (and other Chicago songs). You can see them play and sing, they're all incredible musicians, they've been said to sound "more like Chicago than Chicago". Their cover of "I'm a Man" is killer.
Dave Oplinger I will second this. They are amazing!
Yep, love those guys too.
They does a serious version of this! All transcribed off the album.
At the time, Chicago were known for the offbeat endings to some of their songs. Other songs with odd endings were "Make Me Smile", "Wake Up Sunshine", "Fancy Colours", and the really awesome "Introduction."
Daniel - at the 6:25 mark off this review you as about the riff, you like it but don't know who started it. This is the opening and repeating walk down riff of bar chord A, then G, F#, F, and E. My best guess is that Terry Kath is doing an homage to the Ventures 1960 version of "Walk Don't Run" intro. The Ventures version does not include the F#, or call it Gb if you like. The song Walk Don't Run was a jazz melody written by Johnny Smith in 1954 and covered nicely by Chet Atkins in 1956, however neither of those included an Intro that I have found. Wiki says that Kath was influenced by the Ventures in his early years. As far as who first started the descending chromatic scale, something to be further researched, but I'm sure it appears in classical music from centuries gone by. The Beatles also used it in a number of their songs underneath the main melody, While My Guitar Gently Weeps (G.Harrison) comes to mind. Thank you for what you are doing!
I believe Chicago's horn section was a trumpet, saxophone, and trombone. I think. They were the first professional music concert I ever went to. I was about the age you are now. I walked out of that concert with my ears ringing, and literally couldn't hear much for about an hour. Today I have some hearing loss, and have ever since that concert. They were loud! The fact that they used the horn section in their music is one of the reasons I loved them. Hearing loss or not, I would gladly go see them again!
Yup! You got the horn section right! They were my first concert too, at age 14 on a triple date with a friend from school and my 2 older sisters and their boyfriends. Ended up seeing them 5 more times in the '70s!
Anyone who has had to work until 3:30 in the morning trying to finish a project can relate to this song.
I THINK YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE LYRICS ARE RIGHT ON POINT, D. WELL DONE. I LOVE THIS BAND.🌻🌻🌻🤣😃❤🌻😊
You are my new favorite, you are an intelligent young man and I love your appreciation for great music
And love your interpretation
Of the lyrics and then you actually do the research to get the back story. I watched you and your Dad do the Moody Blues and I
Was hooked
Listen to live 25 or 6 to 4 video from Tanglewood!! You get to see perfection
The beginning of the main riff reminds me of Gimme Some Lovin, by the Spencer Davis Group, with a very young (about your age) Steve Winwood on organ and lead vocal.
He's dealing with writer's block. He's been up all night and he's stuck. It's 3:35 AM (25 or 6 to 4!)
NOTHING is beyond your grasp! Just slow it down to learn it then ramp up the speed once you have it down. I'm an old man, old enough to be your grandfather, and I just have to say that at age 16, the World is Yours! You have time enough to do ANYTHING you want to do! Listen to Pink Floyd "Time" for perspective 😁 Peace ✌
Wow what a great choice to start listening to Chicago, great fast paced song with one of the best guitar solos in rock, Terry Kath was a master at his craft...Been going through some of your vids, and for your age you got some great insight into these differnt styles of music your listening to, Just earned yourself a new Sub.👌
Welcome to the channel, I'm glad you're enjoying the videos my Diamond Lord:)
25 or 6 to 4, 3:35, 3:36 am 25 or 26 minutes to 4am.............He's trying to write a song all night long!
"That Singer" is a little known singer by the name of Peter Cetera. Look him up if you've never heard of him before.
What does 25 or 6 to 4 mean?
The song was written by Chicago keyboardist and singer Robert Lamm (Brooklyn, October 13, 1944) and would indicate a night time slot: 3:35 (25 minutes at 4) or 3:34 (26 minutes at 4).
Lamm explained on the point: “At the time I was living with a bunch of hippies on the Sunset Strip. One of the advantages of this particular house was that it was located in the Hollywood Hills and that I could look out over the city late at night. Here, I was trying to describe the creative moment when I realized that there was a neon sign that marked that moment and which I decided to use as a refrain ".
The other explanation
An explanation that according to some was actually artfully constructed ex post, to disprove that the title of the popular piece was actually a tribute to the synthetic drug LSD, whose nickname was 624 ("6 to 4") because you took it at 6 in the afternoon the effects of the drug would wear off by 4 am, that is 10 hours later (a dose of just 25 μg of LSD can cause minimal alterations in perception and mood for more than 10 hours).
Oh! You are gonna love this! Great song.
It was indeed awesome:)
@@DiconDissectionalReactions
I'm sure you'll probably do their most famous song, Saturday in the park, and another great one, Does anybody really know what time it is. The late 60's thru late 70's were tough to beat.
Make Me Smile and Feeling Stronger Everyday. Also maybe throw in some Southern California Purples for older Chicago Transit Authority.
You mentioned Blood Sweat and Tears sounding like Chicago. They do. Also Ides of March. Their biggest hit was a song called Vehicle. This Jazz fusion genre was popular sound at the time. I heard you comment on the dissonance from the horns at the end of the song. Chicago loved using dissonance like jazz musicians to create texture and emotion to their music
Yeah, its basically a song about writer's block at 3 in the morning, lol
111th!!
Another song from my youth.
What time is it? Eh, 25, or 6 to 4.
IMO GREATEST GUITAR SOLO EVER. WATCH THEIR TANGLEWOOD LIVE.
That riff you’re thinking of is Greenday’s Brainstew
It is a song about him writing this song, sitting in his apartment over looking the sunset strip, 25 or 6 to 4 am
Hey Daniel. A very mature reaction for someone of your age. I was surprised to hear that you were only 16. I assumed that you were a college student (rather than a high-school student).
that opening riff is also heard 2 minutes 20 seconds into led zeppelin's "babe i'm gonna leave you", which came out 6 months before "25 or 6 to 4". coincidence? hmmmm.....
Green Day did that riff in Brain Stew. It can be heard in a variation in their Hitchin' a Ride.
Good luck with the guitar, Kath is a madman!
Chicago was one of the first rock bands to use a horn section giving them that unique sound. That amazing voice you hear is bass player Peter Cetera who sang many of thier songs and keyboard player Robert Lamm sang many songs.
It is Terry Kath's most famous solo, but I think his best is "Poem 58"
He's writing a song .It's getting late.He's tired .It's 25 or 26 minutes to 4 o'clock in the morning.
That A, G, F, E riff is used in a lot of songs. Green day, Led Zeppelin, and these guys are popular for using almost the same thing timed differently.
Chicago and BS&T were more or less contemporaries; similar instrumentation and musical influences. Come to think of it, they were both produced by James Guercio who brought BS&T out to California first. Best. Leo.
the riff is Terry Kath, his riff, one guitar
Think of a digital clock. Most times when they would turn into bed was 25 minutes or 6 to 4 in the morning. The 2 for 26 is not used.
You just found one of the best bands, and one of the best guitarists ever. Terry Kath.
I'm SO OLD Arrrggg! It just means everything is relative, as in "6 To1, 1/2 dozen to the other". This is the 1st SERIOUS rock song I ever heard as a child coming from my brothers room when he came back from Vietnam. I was standing in the hall waiting with my mouth open! What happend to the Partridge Family,Osmonds,and the Carpenters. I promptly stole the record! I was only 11 at the time and I would play this to keep the shadows away. Chicago is a legendary band! Defender Of Shadows!
One of my fave solos of all time....
He’s a Songwriter trying to come up with lyrics. He’s has Writer’s block and can’t “come up with something to say”. So he’s just “waiting for the break of day”. So it’s 25 or 6 (26) minutes to 4:00 AM. SanJoseBob
One of the best solos ever. The best music came from the 60's and 70's.
I saw them in Knoxville, Tn in the early seventies! They were amazing~