“25 or 6 to 4” (Chicago)

Today’s classic song of the day is another horn rock (or jazz-rock) classic, “25 or 6 to 4” by Chicago. This one was off their second album, the first after shortening their name from Chicago Transit Authority; released in June of 1970, it hit #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“25 or 6 to 4” was written by the band’s keyboard player, Robert Lamm, and sung by bass player Peter Cetera. The song is a self-referential little number about staying up all night trying to write a song; the lyrics refer to looking at the clock and discovering that it’s 25 or 26 minutes before 4 o’clock in the morning.

The song is somewhat famous for its iconic opening guitar riff and amazing guitar solo by the legendary Terry Kath. Drummers know it for Danny Seraphine’s insistent beat, complete with what appear to be double sixteenth notes on the bass drum. I found out later, after years of sweating through playing what I thought was a very demanding bass drum part, that the double sixteenth-note thing was actually added via overdubs in the studio.

Danny recalls how that came about: “I said I wanted to do two drumkits. I told Jimmy [James William Guercio, the producer], ‘I want to do two drum passes, one with just straight time,’” with a second recorded as an overdub with more accents and detail, including those double notes on the bass drum. “The two kick drums are playing at the same time, which was really cool.” Seraphine played easier-to-maintain straight eighths when they did the song live.

In case you’re wondering, the opening chords on “25 or 6 to 4” go Am – G – F# – F – E, and over again. The song itself is in A minor, with the verse hanging on an Am7 chord, more or less. The chorus shifts to F – C – G – F, which is kind of sort of the IV – I – V – IV of the relative C major key.

In any case, the song is simple enough, and with a cool horn part, that horn bands and marching bands everywhere played it throughout the 1970s and well beyond. “25 or 6 to 4” is a true classic, not only of the genre but also of the era. It’s everything you love about horn rock, all in one three minute-plus package.

And here’s your daily bonus video of the day, Chicago playing “25 or 6 to 4” live at Tanglewood on July 21, 1970. Wait for that extended mid-song guitar solo; Terry Kath was a monster!