Chicago: Greatest Hits 1982-1989 (LIVE)

A curated deep-dive into Chicago’s second wave of chart-topping success.

The early to mid 80s marked one of the strongest commercial periods in Chicago’s entire career. Chicago 16 reintroduced the band to a global audience with a #1 single and a massive international tour. Chicago 17 became their biggest-selling album ever, spawning four Top 20 singles and moving over 6 million copies. With Chicago 18, the band demonstrated they were bigger than any one member, scoring a Top 5 hit immediately out of the gate. Chicago 19 only cemented that truth, delivering four more Top 10 singles and solidifying their rebirth as radio mainstays of the decade. Their momentum was so strong that the compilation Greatest Hits 1982–1989 itself went on to sell over 5 million copies, becoming one of the best-selling releases of their career.

This fan made compilation captures that era of renewed momentum while the band navigated another wave of lineup changes: Peter Cetera and guitarist Chris Pinnick departed in 1985, opening the door for the arrival of Jason Scheff and Dawayne Bailey, while the 1990s saw the legendary Danny Seraphine exit and Tris Imboden step in. Even with reinvention, Chicago remained a touring powerhouse whose live performances defined adult-contemporary and soft-rock radio for nearly a decade.

All footage has been carefully upscaled to 1080p for a more immersive viewing experience. Please note: these are not first-generation masters, and the intention is preservation and enjoyment, not competition with any official commercial releases from the band or their label.

A couple archival notes for fellow fans:
• “You’re Not Alone” replaces “We Can Last Forever,” as no known live footage of the latter currently exists.
• No 1980s live video of “Hard Habit to Break” has surfaced, so a 1993 performance has been used to complete the set.

All in all, this is a fascinating look at a band navigating a new era, and proving why their legacy endures.
Enjoy the music.

TRACKLIST:

00:00 Hard To Say I'm Sorry/Getaway - 1982 - Dortmund, Germany
05:23 Look Away - 1992 - Pine Knob, Clarkston, MI
09:37 Stay The Night - 1984 - Budakon Hall, Tokyo, Japan
13:27 Will You Still Love Me? - 1987 - Budakon Hall, Tokyo, Japan
18:53 Love Me Tomorrow - 1982 - Dortmund, Germany
24:14 What Kind Of Man Would I Be? - 1990 - Seattle Center, Seattle, WA
28:40 You're The Inspiration - 1989 - Budakon Hall, Tokyo, Japan
34:28 I Don’t Wanna Live Without Your Love - 1989 · Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan
38:45 Hard Habit to Break - 1993 · Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
44:00 Along Comes a Woman - 1984 · Phoenix, AZ
49:21 If She Would’ve Been Faithful - 1987 · Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan
53:11 You’re Not Alone - 1992 · Pine Knob, Clarkston, MI

BAND MEMBERS (Era-Specific)

Peter Cetera — bass/vocals (departed 1985)
Robert Lamm — keys/vocals
Lee Loughnane — trumpet
James Pankow — trombone
Walter Parazaider — woodwinds
Bill Champlin — keys/vocals/guitar
Jason Scheff — bass/vocals (joined 1985)
Chris Pinnick — guitar (departed 1985)
Dawayne Bailey — guitar/vocals (joined 1986)
Danny Seraphine — drums (departed 1990)
Tris Imboden — drums (joined 1990)

#chicagolive #petercetera #chicagoband