Chicago
| PROFILE | |
| Songwriter | Fred Fisher |
| Year Written | 1922 |
| About Chicago | |
| If there is any song associated with the great city of Chicago, it is this song. It’s been widely recorded by singers including Count Basie and Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and many, many more. | |
Lyrics
Chicago, Chicago, that toddling town
Chicago, Chicago, I’ll show you around, I love it
Bet your bottom dollar, you’ll lose the blues in Chicago
Chicago, the town that Billy Sunday couldn’t shut down
On State Street, that great street, I just want to say
They do things that they don’t do on Broadway
They have the time, the time of their life
I saw a man, he danced with his wife in Chicago
Chicago, my home town
Chicago, Chicago, that toddling town
Chicago, Chicago, I’ll show you around, I love it
Bet your bottom dollar, you’ll lose the blues in Chicago
Chicago, the town that Billy Sunday could not shut down
On State Street, that great street, I just want to say
They do things that they never do on Broadway, say
They have the time, the time of their life
I saw a man and he danced with his wife in Chicago
Chicago, Chicago that’s my home town
Session / Album Information
1959
Chicago was recorded on January 5, 1959 and was released in 1959 on Basie/Bennett. The song was arranged by Ralph Sharon.
This recording also released on:- 1959: Emus Records LP 12″: ES-12026 — Strike Up The Band
- 1961: Roulette LP 12″: R/SR-25072 — Basie Swings, Bennett Sings
- 1961: Roulette LP 12″: SR 25231 — Bennett & Basie – Strike Up The Band
- 1963: Roulette LP 12″: R/SR-25231 — Strike Up the Band
- 1966: Allegro LP 12″: ALLR 799 — A One Night Stand! [UK]
- 1969: Saga Eros LP 12″: EROS 8076 — Tony Bennett and Count Basie
- 1981: Reactivation LP 12″: JR 149 — Bennett & Basie [UK]
- 1987: Roulette CD: RCD 59021 — Strike Up the Band
- 1987: Pickwick CD: PWK 032 — Count Basie Featuring Tony Bennett
- 1990: Roulette Jazz CD: CDP 7 93899 2 — Basie/Bennett
- 1990: Roulette CD: B2-93899 — Basie Swings, Bennett Sings
- 1995: DCC CD: DZS 004 — Chicago
- 1995: Garland CD: 21 — Chicago
- 1999: St.Clair CD: 5731 — Forever Gold
- 2002: Prestige Elite CD: 220 — Chicago
- 2007: Proper CD: PROPERBOX 121 — Young Tony
- 2007: St.Clair CD: STCR 52282 — Forever Gold: Tony Bennett & Friends
- 2008: Jasmine CD: JASCD482 — Together At Last/A Perfect Combination
- 2011: Disc #13 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK13) Basie/Bennett
- 2012: Essential Media Group: Bennett & Basie Strike Up The Band (Digitally Remastered) (CD-R on-demand)
1962-1
“Chicago” was recorded live at Tony Bennett’s concert at Carnegie Hall on June 9, 1962, but was not released until 1997 on the album Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall: Complete Concert. Ralph Sharon arranged the song.
This recording released on:
- 1997: Columbia CD: C2K 64609 — At Carnegie Hall June 9, 1962: Complete Concert
- 2011: Disc #25 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK24) Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall
1962-2
“Chicago” was recorded on August 28, 1962 and released in 2013 on the album Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962. This number was from an unrehearsed improv set with the Dave Brubeck Trio.
This recording released on:
- 2013: Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962 (88883718042)
1964
“Chicago” was recorded on April 8, 1964 and released in 2011 on Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On, as part of the 2011 Complete Collection. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.
This recording released on:
- 2011: Disc #74 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK72) Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On