Colour My World (Chicago song)
Encyclopedia
"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
(1970). Terry Kath
is heard in the lead vocal, and Walter Parazaider
performs the highly recognizable flute solo.
The song was initially released as the B-side to "Make Me Smile
" in March 1970. It was re-released in June 1971 as the B-side to the re-release of "Beginnings
"; this second single reached #7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
.
"Colour My World" became a popular "slow-dance" song at high school proms and university dances during the 1970s.
Chicago continues to perform the song, either on its own, or as part of the Ballet. Since Kath's death in 1978, the vocal has been performed by Bill Champlin
until 1991, and subsequently by Robert Lamm
. In later years it has been performed by trumpeter Lee Loughnane
.
The major seventh chord
that begins the song has been called, "the most famous major seventh chord in the history of music."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician James Pankow
James Pankow
James Carter "Jimmy" Pankow is an American trombone player, songwriter and brass instrument arranger best known as a founding member of the rock band Chicago.-Early life:...
, one of the founding members of the rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
/jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
band 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...
. Part of Pankow's Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon
Ballet For A Girl In Buchannon
"Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon" , a nearly thirteen-minute song cycle/suite from Chicago's 1970 album Chicago II, was the group's first attempt at a long-format multi-part work....
song cycle
Song cycle
A song cycle is a group of songs designed to be performed in a sequence as a single entity. As a rule, all of the songs are by the same composer and often use words from the same poet or lyricist. Unification can be achieved by a narrative or a persona common to the songs, or even, as in Schumann's...
/suite, it was recorded for their second album Chicago II
Chicago (album)
Chicago is the second album by Chicago-based rock band Chicago. It was released in 1970 after the band had shortened its name from The Chicago Transit Authority after releasing their same-titled debut album the previous year.-History:...
(1970). Terry Kath
Terry Kath
Terry Alan Kath , born in Chicago, Illinois, was the original guitarist and founding member of the rock band Chicago...
is heard in the lead vocal, and Walter Parazaider
Walter Parazaider
Walter Parazaider is best known for being a founding member and saxophone player for the rock band Chicago. He also plays the flute and other woodwind instruments in the band, including clarinet. On the hit "You're Not Alone," he played backing rhythm guitar.Parazaider began playing the clarinet...
performs the highly recognizable flute solo.
The song was initially released as the B-side to "Make Me Smile
Make Me Smile
"Make Me Smile" is a song written by James Pankow for the rock band Chicago. Part of Pankow's Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon song cycle/suite, it was recorded for their second album Chicago II...
" in March 1970. It was re-released in June 1971 as the B-side to the re-release of "Beginnings
Beginnings (song)
"Beginnings" is a song written by Robert Lamm for the rock band Chicago and recorded for their debut album The Chicago Transit Authority, released in 1969. Lamm also provided lead vocals...
"; this second single reached #7 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...
.
"Colour My World" became a popular "slow-dance" song at high school proms and university dances during the 1970s.
Chicago continues to perform the song, either on its own, or as part of the Ballet. Since Kath's death in 1978, the vocal has been performed by Bill Champlin
Bill Champlin
William Bradford "Bill" Champlin is an American singer, guitarist, keyboard player, arranger, producer, and songwriter. His performance work is principally associated with the bands Chicago and the Sons of Champlin...
until 1991, and subsequently by Robert Lamm
Robert Lamm
Robert William Lamm is an American keyboardist, singer and songwriter who came to fame as a founding member of the pop rock band Chicago...
. In later years it has been performed by trumpeter Lee Loughnane
Lee Loughnane
Lee Loughnane , born 21 October 1946 in Elmwood Park, Illinois to Juanita Wall and Philip Louis Loughnane, is an American trumpeter, flugelhorn player, vocalist, and songwriter, best known for being a founding member of the rock band Chicago.- Biography :...
.
The major seventh chord
Major seventh chord
In music, a major seventh chord is any nondominant seventh chord where the "third" note is a major third above the root.Most typically, major seventh chord refers to where the "seventh" note is a major seventh above the root . This is more precisely known as the major/major seventh chord, and it...
that begins the song has been called, "the most famous major seventh chord in the history of music."