Chicago 16 (Bonus Track Version)

From a critical standpoint, Chicago's best days were behind them with the death of Terry Kath. After having been dropped by Columbia Records, Chicago used their settlement money to bankroll this album with David Foster in the producer's chair. The album was shopped to various record companies and Warner Brothers liked it enough to sign the group. The addition of Bill Champlin to the group to add some soul and R&B influences back into the group was a good move. Overall this is a nice album. It doesn't take a lot of chances and is typical of what the group has now morphed into, power ballads, adult contemporary music, and MOR. This music is more likely to be found on "Lite FM" stations rather than "Classic Rock" radio stations. Peter Cetera continues his march to a full time solo career with this album, having released his first solo album a year earlier, he is the dominant voice on this album. This Rhino release does drop the ball and use the poor single edit of "What You're Missing" instead of the original Warner album release. The partnership between David Foster and Chicago would come to full fruition with the release of Chicago 17 two years later.

I actually first started liking Chicago when 17 came out. But then I bought 16 and ended up liking it better as an album. It's one of the most cohesive albums I've heard, and continues to be a favorite after over 25 years of listening. A must-have if you want to start listening to Chicago, at least the 80's era Chicago. "What Can I Say?" I'm an 80's child.

With new producer David Foster, new keyboardist/guitarist/songwriter Bill Champlin, new record company Warner Brothers, and a whole new image, Chicago was back, and in the best shape since 1977. Though the hits may have changed to smarmy ballads in the 1980's, the supporting Chicago material is very, very good. The two opening tracks are very good, the former being a hard rocker, the latter being a more pop-oriented piece, laden with synths. Bad Advice and Chains are my two favorites form the album, the former being a bluesy-attitude song, and the latter also featuring synths heavily. Follow Me and Sonny Think Twice are probably the two most well written songs on the album. However, there are the ballads. Hard To Say I'm Sorry was a #1 hit, and Love Me Tomorrow was a big success as well. They're both, well, Peter Cetera smarmy. Though that may be, they're far better than the drivel ballads of Chicago XIV. That and the eighth and ninth tracks rest as the bad moments of Chicago 16. What Can I Say is, no joke, a very bad rewrite of Just You 'N' Me. Same key, same chord progression, same chorus, some horn lines, you don't believe me? Listen to them back to back and then tell me I'm wrong. Though Rescue You is better, it's stupid and hammy. Chicago 16 marks a new horizon for Chicago, and a very good one. Two years later, Chicago would go on to release their most successful album of all time, Chicago 17. 7.5/10, 4/5

"What Can I Say" is the best song on the album! One of the best from James Pankow. This is Chicago's big comeback album...considered THE comeback of 1982. With the exception of "Chains" the entire album is amazing!!

In 1984, I was a Freshman in college and I played this album (casette actually!) into the ground! Hard to Say I'm Sorry and Sonny Think Twice are the bomb!

iTunes finally got this album up. It may not be the best Chicago album, but it's still pure Chicago! All they need now is Chicago 21 and Night and Day, and the entire catalog will be available!

This thing is a real travesty. First of all, the version of "What Your Missing" found on the remaster is the "single edit" (note the short running time), not the actual album version. This is the kind of error that Rhino NEVER makes. Also, as is the case with "17", the compression used in the remastering is really annoying. Just buy the original Warners CD and remaster it yourself. You'll get better results. Don't waste your money.

This is my favorite Chicago album, and believe you me, I have a lot of them. The LP's Side A starts off strong with What You're Missing and flows nicely into Waiting For You To Decide. Then weakens a bit before flowing into the power ballad, Hard To Say I'm Sorry. The LP's Side B starts off well, albeit a bit weaker than Side A, with Follow Me. Side B has a sleeper gem of a ballad in What Can I Say and finishes off with a beauty in Love Me Tommorrow with its string finale. Great album. They definitely peaked with this one and Chicago 17.