Now I've moved on to "Chicago (II)". I have never heard the 5.1 mix so I cannot compare how this remastered Quad sounds in comparison to the 5.1, but what I can say is that it starts off in a very discrete fashion with "Movin' In". I would have preferred that the horns stay in surround the whole time, but it's still a good mix nonetheless.
"The Road" is another great track that features a very good discrete mix, then we come to "Poem for the People", which sounds like it has a strong Blood Sweat & Tears influence to it, especially in the horn section right before the full band comes in. This is another mix that I wish had the horns in the surrounds the whole time, but it's a minor nitpick.
"In the Country" is another very discrete mix and fantastic song before moving on to Side 2, which thankfully is a discrete mix, unlike the stereo on this disc, which is actually mono…
"Wake Up Sunshine" is pleasant enough, but then we get to the best suite of music Chicago has ever composed IMHO, the "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon". It starts off with the incredible "Make Me Smile". In the middle of the suite, the bass drum sounds a little strange coming from the back, plus it would be lovely if the horns were in the surrounds for their breakdown section. "To Be Free" has a particularly good mix after the mellow "Colour My World" before the suite ends with "Now More Than Ever". That was just great!
Next up is "Fancy Colours" and "25 or 6 to 4". The tinkly atmosphere of the former gives way to the horns in the surrounds to great effect. Cetera's voice is also passed around the surround channels too for the echo effect. It's certainly one of the most unique tracks on the album, that's for sure.
Following the rocking "25 or 6 to 4" is Chicago at their most gentle with the "Memories of Love" suite. It reminds me a lot of the Prelude on the King Crimson album "Islands". The strings really do sound lovely in the surrounds. This could have been the soundtrack to a 1950s or 60s Romantic movie.
But the Romance doesn't last that long cause then it's on to the final suite "It Better End Soon". (But I don't want it to!) This is a funky rocker with Kath on one side and Lamm on the other. Lots of good music in all three suites.
So "Where Do We Go From Here"? (as the last song asks).
Well I'm headed to "Chicago V", but before I do that, here's my vote:
Music: 3/3; Surround Mix: 2.5/3; Fidelity: 3/3; High-Res Disc: 1/1. That's a 9.5 which rounds up to 10!