47: Chicago’s Chicago Transit Authority (1969)

Sometimes people laugh when I tell them how much I love Chicago. Hold your snorts and forget about Cetera’s ’80s for a minute. Listen to this double LP with an open mind, understanding that it was unbelievably influential, being one of the first rock’n'roll albums to blend totally experimental jams, straight jazz fusion and r&b so seamlessly. From the pop-tinged “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” to the avant improvisation of “Free Form Guitar” — this record is a hidden gem every good rock’n'roll fan requires in their collection.

Chicago: “Introduction”