"Harry Truman" is a song written by

Robert Lamm Robert William Lamm (born October 13, 1944) is an American keyboardist, guitarist, singer and songwriter best known as a founding member of the rock band Chicago. He wrote many of the band's biggest hits, including " Questions 67 & 68", " Does ...

for the group Chicago and recorded for their album ''

Chicago VIII ''Chicago VIII'' is the seventh studio album, and eighth album overall, by American rock band Chicago, released in 1975. Following the experimental jazz/ pop stylings of ''Chicago VII'', the band returned to a more streamlined rock-based sound ...

'' (1975), with lead vocals by Lamm. The first single released from that album, it reached number 13 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100. It also reached number 23 on the Adult Contemporary chart. In Canada, the song peaked at number 16. Written after the resignation of

U.S. President The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...

Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a representative and senator from California and was ...

, the lyrics are a tribute to a former President that Lamm felt the American people could trust — straight-talking

Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. A leader of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 34th vice president from January to April 1945 under Franklin ...

. "America needs you, Harry Truman". ''

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', was an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'' said that it "starts out sounding like a

Randy Newman Randall Stuart Newman (born November 28, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist known for his Southern-accented singing style, early Americana-influenced songs (often with mordant or satirical lyrics), and vari ...

song and evolves into a

Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developmen ...

que romp." Despite its popularity at the time, the Beatlesque "Harry Truman" only appears on three of Chicago's compilation albums: ''Group Portrait'' (now out of print) and '' The Box'', plus the Canada-only "Overtime" released in 1995. It is rarely performed in the band's live shows. This song was "performed" by Chicago in late 1974 as part of the 1975 ''

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve ''Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve'' (''NYRE'') is an annual New Year's Eve television special broadcast by ABC. The special broadcasts primarily from New York City's Times Square and prominently features coverage of its annual ball drop e ...

'' special, in which Chicago guitarist

Terry Kath Terry Alan Kath (January 31, 1946 – January 23, 1978) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter, best known as a founding member of the rock band Chicago. He played guitar and sang lead vocals on many of the band's early hit sing ...

can be seen mocking the band's lip-synching by holding cue cards depicting the song's lyrics.

Personnel

– lead vocals, piano *

– guitar, backing vocals *

Peter Cetera Peter Paul Cetera ( ; born September 13, 1944) is an American retired musician best known for being a lead vocalist and the bassist of the rock band Chicago from 1967 until his departure in 1985, before launching a successful solo career. His c ...

– bass, backing vocals *

Danny Seraphine Daniel Peter Seraphine (born August 28, 1948) is an American drummer, record producer, theatrical producer and film producer. He is best known as the original drummer and a founding member of the rock band Chicago, a tenure which lasted from ...

– drums *

Laudir de Oliveira Laudir Soares de Oliveira (6 January 1940 – 17 September 2017) was a Brazilian musician and producer mostly renowned for his time as percussionist with the band Chicago. Oliveira grew up in Rio de Janeiro, and started working professionally in ...

– percussion *

Jimmy Pankow James Carter Pankow is an American trombone player, songwriter and brass instrument player, best known as a founding member of the rock band Chicago. Early life, family and education Born in St. Louis, Missouri of German and Irish descent, Pan ...

– trombone *

Lee Loughnane Lee David Loughnane (pronounced LOCK-nain; born October 21, 1946) is an American trumpeter, flugelhorn player, vocalist, and songwriter, best known for being a founding member of the rock band Chicago. Early life and education Lee David Loughna ...

– trumpet *

Walter Parazaider Walter Parazaider (born March 14, 1945) is an American woodwind musician best known for being a founding member of the rock band Chicago. He plays a wide variety of wind instruments, including saxophone, flute, and clarinet. He also occasionall ...

– tenor saxophone, clarinet * Caribou Kitchenettes – backing vocals The "Caribou Kitchenettes" were Loughnane, de Oliveira, Pankow, Parazaider, Joanne Roccone, Brandy Maitland, Katherine Ogden, Kristy Ferguson, Linda Greene, Donna Conroy, Bob Eberhardt, John Carsello, Steve Fagin, and Richard Torres.

References

1975 songs 1975 singles Chicago (band) songs Songs written by Robert Lamm Song recordings produced by James William Guercio Columbia Records singles Songs about presidents of the United States Cultural depictions of Harry S. Truman {{1970s-single-stub