"Alive Again" is a song written by James Pankow for the group

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

and recorded for their album '' Hot Streets'' (1978), with Peter Cetera singing lead vocals. The first single released from that album, it reached No. 14 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100. In Canada, "Alive Again" spent two weeks at No. 11. "Alive Again" was Chicago's first new single after their split with producer James William Guercio. It was also their first single after the accidental death of

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

; Donnie Dacus played

guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...

on the recording.'

Recording and production

According to Mike Stahl, Chicago's live audio engineer at the time, members of Chicago's rhythm section–Robert Lamm, Donnie Dacus, Peter Cetera, and Danny Seraphine–came into the studio, started jamming, and played what they thought was a run-through of "Alive Again" but which producer Phil Ramone had recorded. Despite recording the rhythm track ten more times, the run-through had the "feel" he was looking for, so it made the album. After the recording of "Alive Again" had been completed, Chicago's brass section recorded with the

Bee Gees The Bee Gees were a musical group formed in 1958 by brothers Barry Gibb, Barry, Robin Gibb, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was especially successful in popular music in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and later as prominent performers in ...

on their song, "

Tragedy A tragedy is a genre of drama based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful events that befall a tragic hero, main character or cast of characters. Traditionally, the intention of tragedy is to invoke an accompanying catharsi ...

". Inspired by his work with

Barry Gibb Sir Barry Alan Crompton Gibb (born 1 September 1946) is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. Along with his younger fraternal twin brothers, Robin Gibb, Robin and Maurice Gibb, Maurice, he rose to global fame as a member ...

, James Pankow rewrote the brass charts for "Alive Again" and the song was rerecorded. Mike Stahl said the new arrangements gave the song a whole new "feeling" and "sparkle". ''

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', is 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 it has " aggressive horns, high riding vocals, tight and melodic structure and a bright optimism." ''

Record World ''Record World'' magazine was one of three major weekly music industry trade magazines in the United States, with ''Billboard'' and '' Cashbox''. It was founded in 1946 as ''Music Vendor''. In 1964, it was changed to ''Record World'' under the ...

'' said that the song "rocks stronger than previous hicagoreleases with the guitar work and Cetera's lead vocals of prime interest."

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Popular culture

*The opening guitar and horns riff of this song was used in the opening highlights montage by the ''

NBA on CBS ''NBA on CBS'' is an Television in the United States, American television sports presentation show broadcast by CBS. It aired from October 20, 1973 to June 14, 1990. The branding is used for the presentation of the National Basketball Associatio ...

'' from

1979 Events January * January 1 ** United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the ''International Year of the Child''. Many musicians donate to the ''Music for UNICEF Concert'' fund, among them ABBA, who write the song ...

1981 Events January * January 1 ** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union. ** Palau becomes a self-governing territory. * January 6 – A funeral service is held in West Germany for Nazi Grand Admiral ...

. *An instrumental version was used as the opening theme to the syndicated radio show '' The Don & Mike Show'' in 2003.

References

External links

* {{authority control 1978 singles 1978 songs Chicago (band) songs Songs written by James Pankow Song recordings produced by Phil Ramone Columbia Records singles CBS Sports