Hi there!!! Welcome to Tuesday's Musical Notes! This is a blog for those who love all kinds of music!! Each week we dig into a little of the history of our feature song and the band that performs it. Each week we delve into the nooks and crannies of the lyrics and see if perhaps there is an interpretation that we had not considered. Each week we dive into an application of said interpretation to bring encouragement, enlightenment, and edification.
So sit back, relax, you've come to the right place to get your musical fix. And what better place to start than...
The above video is emblematic of what has made the band Chicago a fan favorite for over 50 years. The beginning lineup included: Robert Lamm (keyboards/vocals), Terry Kath (guitar/vocals), Peter Cetera (bass/vocals), Danny Seraphine (drums), Lee Loughnane (trumpet), Walter Parazaider (woodwinds), and James Pankow (trombone). With the exception of Cetera, this is the group who met on February 15, 1967, to form a band called The Big Thing.
After a move to Los Angeles, signing with Colombia music and transitioning their name to Chicago Transit Authority, the debut single, "Questions 67 & 68" was released in July 1969 (charting at #71 on Billboard's Hot 100). Chicago (name shortened due to the actual CTA in Chicago not liking the affiliation or use of their moniker) then released "Beginnings" which failed to chart in its initial release.
Not deterred, Chicago would release " "Make Me Smile" " from their 2nd studio album Chicago, released in 1970. "Make Me Smile" peaked at #9 and established Chicago as top 10 hitmaker.
The success of "Make Me Smile" also enabled the rerelease of singles from Chicago Transit Authority. "Beginnings" saw its second attempt as a single in June of 1971. Columbia partnered "Beginnings" with "Color My World" and saw the single soar up the charts, peaking at #7. It finished the year as the #56 song in Billboard's 1970-1972 year-end charts.
The original single of "Beginnings" was an edit from the 7:54 album cut. The edited version came in at just under 3 minutes and allowed "Beginnings" to immediately be radio friendly at a time when songs rarely went past 3:30. It also solidified the beginnings of a band that is heralded by fans all over the world.
Chicago continues to record, the latest release is Now, and to tour with Lamm, Pankow, and Loughnane. (sidenote: I saw them live last May. ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! If you have the opportunity, Chicago is one of those bands that you should see while original members are still touring)
In our finite minds, all things have a beginning. Logic would dictate, therefore that all things have a time of existence and then they have an end. Chicago began as The Big Thing. It has existed since 1967 as Chicago. There may be a day (gasp!) when Chicago no longer exists as a band.
Tuesday's Musical Notes began as a newsletter entry. It exists as an email which has a dual existence as a blog. While we don't know the near future, Tuesday's Musical Notes will have an end.
Regardless of whether you advocate for "old earth" (billions of years old) ideology or "young earth" (approximately 6500 years old) ideology, we are told that the earth had a beginning. The Notes must point out that both of these ideologies require a modicum of faith as scientific evidence has yet to satisfactorily prove the argument in either direction.
We see all around us the existence of the earth currently. And there will be a time when the earth will end.
However, there is one exception to the above logic. God.
At the beginning of the Bible, we see this: Genesis 1:1 New American Standard Version of the Bible/The Message Paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel Did you notice that the Bible doesn't begin with God's origin story? God already existed at the time of earth's beginning.
The Bible tells us that He has always been and will always be. Psalm 90:2 NASB/The Message/KJV Our limited minds cannot comprehend what that truly means and God's eternal (past and future) existence must be excepted by faith.
So the Bible starts with what we know as earth's beginnings. The only thing we know that existed before that time was God. He is the One who created all that we know. He is the One who spoke and the heavens and earth became. This same Creator knew your beginnings. Jeremiah 1:5 NASB/The Message/KJV
This same God is waiting for you to have your relationship with Him restored. We'll be exploring how it was broken in future Musical Notes, but for now, just know that God is waiting, He provided a way of reclamation through Jesus, and He calls through Holy Spirit to you today. Today could be a day when you sing..."Only the beginning, of what I want to feel forever, Yes, only the beginning, only just the start..." Let her rip Mr. Pankow...
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving You,
randy
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