Old Days

The Zoo Crew is spinning "Old Days" by Chicago from their 1975 album Chicago VIII, and the Zoo Freaks are loving this nostalgic vibe! Written by trombonist James Pankow, the song is a heartfelt reflection of his 1950s childhood, capturing memories like watching The Howdy Doody Show, collecting baseball cards, and sneaking into drive-in movies. Pankow shared in an interview with biographer James William Ruhlmann that these lyrics were deeply personal, though they "date" him. Interestingly, lead vocalist Peter Cetera found the lyrics "corny" and refused to perform the song live, leading the band to drop it from their setlists. Despite this, "Old Days" struck a chord with fans, reaching #5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and earning praise from Cash Box for its "great horn work" and Terry Kath’s "great guitar licks."

The song’s universal appeal lies in its vivid imagery of simpler times, with Pankow noting in a Wikipedia entry that it catalogs "boyhood memories" that "seem like yesterday." Record World compared its vibrant, horn-driven sound to Chicago’s earlier hit "Saturday in the Park," predicting it would be a summer anthem. On social media, fans on platforms like Reddit continue to celebrate its upbeat energy, with posts on r/RockTheSub calling it a rock classic. The song’s nostalgic theme even inspired a review that likened it to other reflective hits like The Beatles’ "Penny Lane" or Stevie Wonder’s "I Wish."

Chicago began in 1967 when a group of DePaul University music students in Chicago, Illinois, decided to blend rock with jazz and classical influences. Originally called The Big Thing, they soon became Chicago Transit Authority, named after the city’s public transit system. The founding members—Robert Lamm (keyboards), Terry Kath (guitar), Peter Cetera (bass), Walter Parazaider (saxophone), James Pankow (trombone), Lee Loughnane (trumpet), and Danny Seraphine (drums)—honed their craft playing local clubs. Their big break came with their 1969 debut album, The Chicago Transit Authority, which featured hits like "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" After legal pressure from the actual transit authority, they shortened their name to Chicago. Their innovative use of a horn section and complex arrangements set them apart, leading to a string of successful albums in the 1970s.

Today, Chicago remains active, with original members Lamm, Loughnane, and Pankow still performing. You can stay updated on their tours and music through their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts. Fans, or Zoo Freaks in spirit, can connect on fan-driven platforms like the Chicago Fan Club on Facebook or explore tribute bands like Chicago Rewired, which performs hits like "Old Days" for nostalgic audiences. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to their sound, Chicago’s legacy of blending rock and soul continues to resonate.