Just throwing this out there, but when all the talk about the great guitarists gets tossed around, why does the name Terry Kath not get added to the discussion. My only explanation is the fact that as time unwinds and the decade of the ‘70s, where Terry Kath and Chicago were at their finest continues to fade in the mirror, his work tends only to be remembered by the fans most in tune with that era.
Such a shame.
Truthfully, this subjective reality is definitely the result of the fact Terry Kath died senselessly, in his prime, on this day 45 years ago. Kath and his friend, Chicago roadie and band technician Don Johnson were hanging out in the kitchen of Johnson’s Los Angeles home after a party. There was a 9 mm handgun on the table and the guitarist pointed it at his head. According to the report Johnson was freaked out so to set his mind at ease, Kath showed him the empty magazine and returned the gun to his temple, pulling the trigger.
Don’t worry about it … look, the clip is not even in it.”
Terry Kath
These would be the last words of Terry Kath. There WAS still one round in the chamber and even though the odds were in his favour, in this moment, he lost the bet. He died instantly, just eight days before his 32nd birthday.
There is no telling where his career would have gone had he continued. His issues with drugs and alcohol were noted, but he was working on strategies to get his personal life on track. His guitar work was so strong in the live setting that his bandmate Walter Parazaider claims that Jimi Hendrix once approached him and exclaimed;
Your guitar player is better than me.”
Jimi Hendrix
Whether this is hearsay or not, Kath’s style drove the jazz rock band’s creativity, and there are countless guitarists who look back at Kath’s contributions with the highest praise. Here is the great Joe Walsh.
He was a great guy; he was a brilliant musician. He was a songwriter and a great singer. He was such a monster on guitar. … He was just a total experimenter”
Joe Walsh
When Chicago was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016, Terry Kath was included. His daughter Michelle accepted on his behalf. She was only 20 months old when he died.
Perhaps his bandmate Danny Seraphine summed it up best by simply stating.
I miss him every day.”
Danny Seraphine
Clearly, he spoke for everyone on that stage.
For a sense of how good Chicago was back in their prime, watch this show from 1970. Some of Terry Kath’s solos are jaw dropping. A wild combination of energy and virtuosic wizardry.
Truly, a very unique band. That was always the plan. It just took off, according to trombonist, James Pankow.
That music was and is to this day something that’s hard to put your finger on in terms of a direction, it’s just a culmination of the musical history of every guy in the band and what they brought to the dinner table in terms of making this sound. FM stations played whole albums without commercial interruption. This music was to become required listening on college campuses.”
James Pankow
Focusing more on today’s feature song ‘Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?’ the spotlight moves to another immense talent.
Introducing Robert Lamm. Lamm is on record as saying that ‘Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?’ was the first song Chicago recorded for their 1969 debut album known as ‘Chicago Transit Authority’.
From a humble place, the band did not release it as a single until after two tracks from their second album, ‘Chicago’ became top 10 hits. They were ‘Make Me Smile’ and ’25 or 6 to 4’.
‘Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?’ also hit the top 10 and it rose as high as #2 in Canada. Chicago was huge and this trio of songs were the catalyst for their popularity. As is so often the case the single was reduced by over a minute. In order to cut the song, Robert Lamm’s jazz fusion influenced piano introduction was omitted. Some of the things AM radio has done to music through the years is borderline criminal. The version shared at the outset of this post is the full album version, and the way it should always have been presented.
In the live setting, Chicago mixed the introduction up a little. Sometimes Lamm brought it in with piano and other times they vaulted straight into the triumvirate of Lee Loughnane on trumpet, James Pankow on trombone and Walter Parazaider on tenor saxophone.
When sitting down to write ‘Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is’ Robert Lamm had a few objectives.
[It’s] not a complicated song, but it’s certainly a quirky song. But that was my intent. I wanted to write something that wasn’t ordinary, that wasn’t blues-based, that didn’t have ice cream changes, and would allow the horns to shine and give Lee Loughnane a solo. So, all that was the intent.”
Robert Lamm
The inspiration for the profound lyrics came to Lamm while he was working on material for the ‘Chicago Transit Authority’ album. He recalled a moment from his days growing up in Brooklyn, while being interviewed on Chris Isaak’s TV show.
I was a teenager walking down the street in Brooklyn, New York where I grew up. I walked by a movie theater and there was an usher standing outside taking a cigarette break. I said to him, ‘Hey man, what time is it?’ and he said, ‘Does anybody really know what time it is?’ I remembered that when I was trying to write this sort of Beatle-esque shuffle, and just explore the idea of ‘Does anybody really know what time it is?’”
Robert Lamm
Here you go.
As I was walking down the street one day
Robert Lamm
A man came up to me and asked me
What the time was that was on my watch
Yeah… and I said
(I don’t) Does anybody really know what time it is?
(Care) Does anybody really care?
(About time) If so, I can’t imagine why
(Oh no, no) We’ve all got time enough to cry
And I was walking down the street one day
A pretty lady looked at me
And said her diamond watch had stopped cold dead
And I said
(I don’t) Does anybody really know what time it is?
(Care) Does anybody really care?
(About time) If so, I can’t imagine why
(Oh no, no) We’ve all got time enough to cry
And I was walking down the street one day
Being pushed and shoved by people
Trying to beat the clock, oh, no
I just don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know-oh
And I said… yes, I said
(People runnin’ everywhere
Don’t know where to go
Don’t know where I am
Can’t see past the next step
Don’t have time to think past the last one
Have no time to look around
Just run around, run around think why)
(I don’t) Does anybody really know what time it is?
(Care) Does anybody really care?
(About time) If so I can’t imagine why
(Oh no, no) We’ve all got time enough to die
Everybody’s working
(I don’t care) I don’t care
(About time) About time
(Oh no, no) I don’t care”
What a line. What a hook.
To this day, nobody has really answered the question.
And time marches on…
Take time to appreciate the small things because in the totality of our existence, the big things tend to look after themselves. It’s hard to explain, but somehow this just seems to be the way.
Speaking of taking time to smell the roses, why not spend some time listening to some wonderful cover versions of today’s feature. You will not be disappointed, I assure you.
Here is an upbeat version from The Dave Miller Set. This is from their album ‘Mr. Guy Fawkes’. This is thought to be the first cover version of this song ever recorded. It makes for some quality listening, and they do some really fun stuff at the end in order to put their own stamp on the song. The rhythm section really blends with the horns. Two thumbs up for sure.
Also from 1970, here is Quincy Conserve with another quality version. Not only is it about the musicianship, but in this case the vocals are outstanding. It comes across as someone standing on a soapbox, on a crowded city street. Those who take time to listen are in for a real treat.
One year later, in 1971, jazz guitarist Grant Green released a cover version on his album ‘Visions’. The tone on this makes for a very relaxing listening experience. This version also features the great bass player Chuck Rainey.
On a few occasions, Ted Tocks Covers has featured Chicago, and each time the work of Leonid and Friends has come up. Listeners are never disappointed. These guys are phenomenal. So pure and immensely talented.
Let’s finish off with some fun from the Peanuts Gang because life is for enjoying, and the best way to live to the fullest is to have some music accompanying you along the journey.
Speaking of Peanuts, I am reminded of a cartoon by Charles M. Schulz where Schroeder is speaking to Lucy and stating;
Buying records cheers me up. Whenever I feel low, I always buy some new records.”
Schroeder – The Peanuts Gang
Schroeder is a wise man. I will give the credit to his creator Charles M. Schulz and for the purpose of today’s feature the work of Robert Lamm, Terry Kath and all of the incredible players in Chicago.
Ted Tocks Covers 
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