XXX Chicago #AtoZChallenge
As in years past, this month I’m participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. 2016 marks my fifth anniversary, so to celebrate, I’m hosting Friday Blog-Ins here in San Diego; you can find out more info about where we’re meeting each week on my A to Z Challenge page.
My monthly theme is Chicago From A to Z, so stay tuned from Monday to Saturday for new posts on the Windy City. Or sign up for my mailing list (delivered weekly, on Fridays) so you don’t miss a thing!
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While XXX typically refers to the adult entertainment industry in most parts of the world (and on this blog!), today’s post is actually about something completely different.
It’s about a band from Chicago…
NAMED Chicago…
With an album entitled…
You guessed it:
XXX
Now, I’ll admit I’m not actually a fan of Chicago (the band, anyway). I couldn’t name a single one of their tunes, even if my life depended on it.
But it turns out, they were just inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year. (Along with NWA, Cheap Trick [another Chicago band!], Steve Miller and Deep Purple, for those keeping score.)
And they wrote these songs:
https://youtu.be/3O0O8Hp8b7Y
I have no idea what “25 or 6 to 4” even means, but I’ve definitely heard this song on various classic rock stations throughout the years. Their horn section pretty much rocks.
Apparently Jimi Hendrix even told the band that their guitarist was better than he was. Whoa.
But I still have to wonder why they named their twentieth album “XXX,” since X is the Roman numeral for 10, and therefore 3 Xs = 30, not 20. Is the extra X for extra credit? Predicting another 10 years of rockin’?
I guess you’d have to ask them.
Chicago bands that aren’t Chicago
Here are a few bands and solo artists that I do like, who are originally from Chicago:
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- The Chi-Lites
- Fall Out Boy
- Liz Phair
- Smashing Pumpkins
- Veruca Salt
- Wesley Willis
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Not to mention the many talented jazz and blues artists Chicago has produced over the decades!
Additional Resources
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- NBC: NWA, Chicago Among Groups Inducted Into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- Rapid City Journal: On the Record: Chicago’s “25 or 6 to 4” about time, not drugs
- Wikipedia: Chicago (band)
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What about you?
What’s your favorite Chicago band?
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2 Comments
Kevin
Chicago XXX was the band’s twentieth studio album, but their thirtieth album overall. As for the title, “25 or 6 to 4,” it’s an answer to the Chicago song “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?”. The answer is 25 or 26 minutes to 4 o’clock.
Laura Roberts
Aha! That explains it. Thanks, Kevin, for your Chicago musical insights! :D