"
Beginnings" is a song written by
Robert LammRobert William Lamm is an American keyboardist, singer and songwriter who came to fame as a founding member of the pop rock band Chicago...
for the rock band
ChicagoChicago 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 debut album
The Chicago Transit AuthorityThe Chicago Transit Authority is the eponymous debut album by the Chicago-based rock band The Chicago Transit Authority, who would later be known as Chicago. It was recorded and released in 1969.-History:...
, released in 1969. Lamm also provided lead vocals. The song was the band's second single but failed to chart on its initial release.
After the band's success with subsequent singles, "Beginnings" was re-released in June 1971, backed with "
Colour My World"Colour My World" is a song written by American musician James Pankow, one of the founding members of the rock/jazz fusion band Chicago. Part of Pankow's Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon song cycle/suite, it was recorded for their second album Chicago II...
". Both sides became U.S. radio hits, and the combined single climbed to number seven on the U.S.
Billboard Hot 100The 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...
singles chart. "Beginnings" reached number one on the U.S. Easy Listening chart.
The distinctive rhythm guitar was originally played by Chicago's guitarist Terry Kath. In concert, Lamm has played guitar for the song, though he is the group's keyboard player.
The uncut album version clocked in at 7:54. The original single version was cut to just under three minutes, leaving only a fraction of the climactic second half. A later edit of just over six minutes for subsequent compilation albums restores much of the second half.
In 1974, "Beginnings" was covered by pianist
Gene HarrisGene Harris was an American jazz pianist known for his warm sound and blues and gospel infused style that is known as soul jazz....
on his Blue Note album
Astral SignalAstral Signal is a soul/funk influenced jazz album recorded in 1975 by jazz keyboardist Gene Harris.Gene Harris covered the Robert Lamm tune Beginnings on this album, one of the very few times Gene Harris can be heard as lead vocalist.-Track listing:...
. This is one of the very few times Harris can be heard as lead vocalist.
WJMK in
ChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
played this song first when they reverted to a
Classic HitsClassic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format...
format.