NEM#97: Taking Danny Seraphine Back to Chicago

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Danny drummed with Chicago from its founding in 1967 through 1990 and wrote several songs for the band during the mid-late ’70s, often with David “Hawk” Wolinski.

We discuss “Little One” (and our intro music, “Take Me Back to Chicago”) from Chicago XI (1977), “Street Player” from Chicago 13 (1979), and “Devil’s Sweet” from Chicago VII (1974). End song: “The Real World” by California Transit Authority from Sacred Ground (2013). His book is Street Player: My Chicago Story (2011). For more, see dannyseraphine.com.

Here’s that live performance of “Little One” we talk about that was recorded very shortly before Terry Kath’s death. Here’s the full suite as it appears on the album, opening with “Inner Struggles of a Man.” Other Seraphine/Wolinski Chicago compositions that we mention are “Aloha Mama” and “The Greatest Love on Earth.” The other Seraphine/Parazaider instrumental from Chicago VII was “Aire,” which also included a Prelude that Danny wrote. His first composition on a Chicago album was a drum solo “Motorboat to Mars” (1971).

Here’s the song “Sacred Ground” by California Transit Authority, and here they are live playing some Chicago tracks. Here’s the original group in 1977 playing “Take Me Back to Chicago.”

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Photo by Steve Busken.

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