Baby, What a Big Surprise
"Baby, What a Big Surprise" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Single by Chicago | ||||
from the album Chicago XI | ||||
B-side | "Takin’ It On Uptown" | |||
Released | September 1977 | |||
Recorded | April – June 1977 | |||
Genre | Soft rock[1] | |||
Length | 3:04 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) | Peter Cetera | |||
Producer(s) | James William Guercio | |||
Chicago singles chronology | ||||
|
"Baby, What a Big Surprise" is a ballad written by Chicago's then bassist/singer Peter Cetera, which appeared on their album Chicago XI (1977), with Cetera singing lead vocals. The first single released from the album reached number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.[2]
Background
Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys and Cetera's brother, Tim Cetera, provided additional backing vocals on the recording while saxophonist Walt Parazaider plays flute on the distinctive introduction and trumpeter Lee Loughnane plays a piccolo trumpet.
Although Chicago XI yielded two more minor singles, "Baby, What a Big Surprise" was Chicago's last top ten single before the accidental death of guitarist Terry Kath, and was also their last Top Ten single produced by James William Guercio.
Reception
Cash Box said that "frequent repetition drives the memorable chorus home, while classically influenced strings, brass and vocals lend a stately touch."[3] Record World said that "the interesting structure and chorus hook" explain why the song was a popular song on pop music radio stations even before it was released as a single.[4]
Personnel
Chicago
- Peter Cetera – lead vocals, bass guitar
- Terry Kath – electric guitar, percussion
- Robert Lamm – acoustic piano, backing vocals
- Lee Loughnane – piccolo trumpet
- James Pankow – trombone, keyboards, percussion, backing vocals, brass arrangements
- Walt Parazaider – saxophone, flute, clarinet
- Danny Seraphine – drums, percussion
Additional personnel
- Jimmy Guercio – acoustic guitars and bass
- Carl Wilson – additional backing vocals
- Tim Cetera – additional backing vocals
- Dominic Frontiere – orchestral conception and orchestration
Chart performance
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Cover versions
- Cetera re-recorded the song as a solo artist for his 1997 album You're the Inspiration: A Collection.
References
- ^ Breihan, Tom (Jun 12, 2020). "The Number Ones: Chicago's "Hard To Say I'm Sorry". Stereogum. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
...Columbia, the band's label, wanted more of Cetera's gooey soft-rock ballads. "Baby, What A Big Surprise", another Cetera ballad, was a #4 hit for the group in 1977.
- ^ "Chicago Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
- ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. October 1, 1977. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. October 1, 1977. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1977-12-17. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1977-11-19. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
- ^ "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70" (in French). InfoDisc. 1977-09-30. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 1978-01-29. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
- ^ "CHICAGO | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 55.
- ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, December 10, 1977
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Chicago – Baby, What a Big Surprise" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
External links
- Chicago - Baby, What a Big Surprise on YouTube
- v
- t
- e
- Robert Lamm
- Lee Loughnane
- James Pankow
- Walfredo Reyes Jr.
- Ray Herrmann
- Neil Donell
- Ramon Yslas
- Tony Obrohta
- Loren Gold
- Eric Baines
- Chicago Transit Authority
- Chicago
- Chicago III
- Chicago V
- Chicago VI
- Chicago VII
- Chicago VIII
- Chicago X
- Chicago XI
- Hot Streets
- Chicago 13
- Chicago XIV
- Chicago 16
- Chicago 17
- Chicago 18
- Chicago 19
- Twenty 1
- Night & Day: Big Band
- Chicago XXX
- Chicago XXXII: Stone of Sisyphus
- Chicago XXXV: The Nashville Sessions
- Chicago XXXVI: Now
- Chicago XXXVIII: Born for This Moment
- Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album
- Chicago XXXIII: O Christmas Three
- Chicago XXXVII: Chicago Christmas
- Chicago at Carnegie Hall
- Live in Japan
- Chicago XXVI: Live in Concert
- Chicago XXXIV: Live in '75
- Chicago IX: Chicago's Greatest Hits
- Greatest Hits, Volume II
- If You Leave Me Now
- Take Me Back to Chicago
- Greatest Hits 1982–1989
- Group Portrait
- The Heart of Chicago 1967–1997
- The Heart of Chicago 1967–1998 Volume II
- The Very Best of Chicago: Only the Beginning
- The Box
- Love Songs
- The Best of Chicago: 40th Anniversary Edition
- "Questions 67 and 68"
- "Beginnings"
- "Make Me Smile"
- "25 or 6 to 4"
- "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?"
- "Free"
- "Lowdown"
- "Saturday in the Park"
- "Dialogue (Part I & II)"
- "Feelin' Stronger Every Day"
- "Just You 'n' Me"
- "(I've Been) Searchin' So Long"
- "Call on Me"
- "Wishing You Were Here"
- "Harry Truman"
- "Old Days"
- "Brand New Love Affair"
- "Another Rainy Day in New York City"
- "If You Leave Me Now"
- "Baby, What a Big Surprise"
- "Take Me Back to Chicago"
- "Alive Again"
- "No Tell Lover"
- "Hard to Say I'm Sorry"
- "Love Me Tomorrow"
- "Stay the Night"
- "Hard Habit to Break"
- "You're the Inspiration"
- "Along Comes a Woman"
- "Will You Still Love Me?"
- "If She Would Have Been Faithful..."
- "Niagara Falls"
- "I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love"
- "Look Away"
- "You're Not Alone"
- "We Can Last Forever"
- "What Kind of Man Would I Be?"
- "Chasin' the Wind"
- "Here in My Heart"