Writer: James Pankow
Producer: James William Guercio
Recorded: August 1969 at CBS Studios in New York City
Released: February 1970
| Players: | Peter Cetera — vocals Terry Kath — guitar, vocals Robert Lamm — keyboard, vocals Danny Seraphine — drums, vocals Lee Loughnane — trumpet, vocals James Pankow — trombone, vocals Walt Parazaider — sax, vocals |
| Album: | Chicago II (Columbia, 1970) |
The first single from Chicago's second album, “Make Me Smile”–written by trombonist James Pankow–was the group's first top 10 hit, reaching Number Nine on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Make Me Smile” was extracted from “Suite For A Girl In Buchannon,” a seven-song suite on Chicago II's second side that also included the subsequent Pankow-written hit “Colour My World.”
Pankow recalled hearing “Make Me Smile” on the radio for the first time: “I was driving my car down Santa Monica Boulevard in L.A., and I turned the radio on and 'Make Me Smile' came on. I almost hit the car in front of me, 'cause it's my song, and I am hearing it on the biggest station in L.A. At that point, I realized, 'Hey, we have a hit single.' They don't play you in L.A. unless you're hit-bound. That was one of the more exciting moments in my early career.”
The Chicago II album peaked at Number Four on the Billboard 200 chart and was a million-seller.
The album introduced the famous Chicago script logo, dropping “Transit Authority” from the group's name.
Chicago II's liner notes also had a defiantly political edge. The album was dedicated “to the people of the revolution…and the revolution in all its forms.”
Chicago promoted the album with an appearance at the Isle of Wight Festival in England on August 28, 1970.
With the exception of four releases, all of Chicago's album titles have been Roman numerals corresponding to which number the album is in the band's career.
Guitarist Terry Kath died on January 23, 1978 after accidentally shooting himself.
Singer-bassist Peter Cetera left the group in 1985 to pursue a solo career.
Drummer Danny Seraphine left in 1989.
With original members Pankow, Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane, and Walt Parazaider still on board, Chicago continues to record and tour.
At two shows this summer, the band welcomed Sopranos cast members Federico Castelluccio (Furio Giunta) and Vince Curatola (Johnny Sack) as special guest lead vocalists on the song “Old Days.”
