"Baby, What a Big Surprise" is a song written by Peter Cetera

Peter Cetera

Peter Paul Cetera is an American singer, songwriter, bassist and producer best known for being an original member of the rock band Chicago, before launching a successful solo career...

 for the group Chicago

Chicago (band)

Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The self-described "rock and roll band with horns" began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, becoming famous for producing a number of hit ballads. They had...

 and recorded for their album Chicago XI

Chicago XI

Chicago XI is the 11th album by American rock band Chicago and was released in 1977. As the successor to Chicago X, the album marked the end of an era for Chicago in more ways than one...

(1977), with Cetera singing lead vocals. The first single released from that album, it reached #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100

Billboard Hot 100

The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...

 chart.

Carl Wilson

Carl Wilson

Carl Dean Wilson was an American rock and roll singer and guitarist, best known as a founding member, lead guitarist and sometime lead vocalist of The Beach Boys...

 of The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...

 provided additional backing vocals on the recording.

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

Terry Kath

Terry Alan Kath , born in Chicago, Illinois, was the original guitarist and founding member of the rock band Chicago...

, and was also their last Top Ten single produced by James William Guercio.

Cover versions

• Cetera re-recorded the song as a solo artist for his 1997 album You're the Inspiration: A Collection
  You're the Inspiration: A Collection
  You're the Inspiration: A Collection is largely a compilation of music artist Peter Cetera's duets, though it does feature remakes of the songs "You're the Inspiration," "If You Leave Me Now," and "Baby What a Big Surprise" which he had previously written and recorded with the group Chicago...
  
  .