There are some songs that everyone knows regardless of their age because the songs are always played on the radio somewhere every single day. Chicago’s “25 or 6 To 4” from the band’s second album (Chicago II as some call it) is one of these iconic songs. Here’s a number of the tracks from that song broken out. You’ll hear the bass and drums as a reference, but Peter Cetera’s lead vocal is loud and clear as well as Terry Kath’s excellent guitar playing.

1. The bass and drums and really tight, but not like the tightness we find today where it’s note for note perfect with the kick, snare and bass. This tightness is the organic kind achieved from lots of time playing together. Both instruments push and pull the tempo, but that’s what makes it exciting.

2. Terry Kath’s guitar playing is excellent as always. His sound is sort of distorted, but without a lot of sustain. When I saw him on the tour for this record, he was using an old Bogen Challenger PA head for his amp plugged into a Fender Bassman 2×15 speaker cabinet. Very unusual to say the least.

3. There are a number of small guitar fills that you’ll hear that didn’t make the record. Listen after the solo and before the last verse, and at the very end of the song. We miss you, Terry.

4. Listen the compression on the lead vocal. The melody is very dynamic because it spans ranges so the compression has to keep it in check.