"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]
| "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 | ||||
| ||||
Background
editCarl 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
editCash 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
editChicago
edit- Peter Cetera – lead vocals
- 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
edit- Jimmy Guercio – acoustic guitars and bass
- Carl Wilson – additional backing vocals
- Tim Cetera – additional backing vocals
- Dominic Frontiere – orchestral conception and orchestration
Chart performance
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
Cover versions
edit- Cetera re-recorded the song as a solo artist for his 1997 album You're the Inspiration: A Collection.
References
edit- ^ 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.
