Old Days
Encyclopedia
"Old Days" is a song written by James Pankow
for the group Chicago
and recorded for their album Chicago VIII
(1975), with lead vocals by Peter Cetera
. The second single released from that album, it reached #5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
and #3 on the Easy Listening chart.
Pankow has said that the song is a nostalgic piece about his childhood:
Cetera apparently hated singing the song in concert, as the Howdy Doody show was his least favorite show during his childhood.
The song is still popular at Chicago concerts, with Jason Scheff
or Keith Howland
now singing the lead vocal. The Sopranos
star Vincent Curatola has been known to guest vocal with the band on the song as well.
"Old Days" is featured on the soundtrack of the movie Starsky & Hutch
(2004). The band also reworked the song in 2009 to serve as the theme for the "Monsters in the Morning" show airing on Comcast SportsNet Chicago.
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:...
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 VIII
Chicago VIII
Chicago VIII is the eighth album by American rock band Chicago and was released in 1975. Following the experimental jazz/pop stylings of Chicago VII, the band returned to a more streamlined sound on this follow-up....
(1975), with lead vocals 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...
. The second single released from that album, it reached #5 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...
and #3 on the Easy Listening chart.
Pankow has said that the song is a nostalgic piece about his childhood:
- "It touches on key phrases that, although they date me, are pretty right-on in terms of images of my childhood. 'The Howdy DoodyHowdy DoodyHowdy Doody is an American children's television program that was created and produced by E. Roger Muir and telecast on NBC in the United States from 1947 until 1960. It was a pioneer in children's television programming and set the pattern for many similar shows...
Show' on television and collecting baseball cardBaseball cardA baseball card is a type of trading card relating to baseball, usually printed on some type of paper stock or card stock. A card will usually feature one or more baseball players or other baseball-related sports figures...
s and comic bookComic bookA comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
s."
Cetera apparently hated singing the song in concert, as the Howdy Doody show was his least favorite show during his childhood.
The song is still popular at Chicago concerts, with Jason Scheff
Jason Scheff
Jason Randolph Scheff is an American bassist, singer and songwriter. Since 1985 he has been the bassist and singer for the veteran pop-rock band Chicago. He is the oldest son of well-known session bassist Jerry Scheff, who toured for several years with Elvis Presley...
or Keith Howland
Keith Howland
Keith Howland is an American guitarist and singer. Since 1995, he has been the lead guitarist for the veteran pop-rock band, Chicago....
now singing the lead vocal. The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
star Vincent Curatola has been known to guest vocal with the band on the song as well.
"Old Days" is featured on the soundtrack of the movie Starsky & Hutch
Starsky & Hutch (film)
Starsky & Hutch is a 2004 American comedy film directed by Todd Phillips. The film stars Ben Stiller as David Starsky and Owen Wilson as Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson and is a film adaptation of the original television series of the same name from the 1970s....
(2004). The band also reworked the song in 2009 to serve as the theme for the "Monsters in the Morning" show airing on Comcast SportsNet Chicago.