Album of the Day

After four consecutive multi-disc sets, Chicago focused its musical ambition on the group's first single LP and the effort paid off when V became their first Number 1 album. Singer-keyboardist Robert Lamm gets credit for all but a couple of the set's songs, including distinctive opener “A Hit by Varèse,” the two-part “Dialogue” pairing Peter Cetera and Terry Kath's vocals and the immortal “Saturday in the Park,” the band's biggest hit to date. The strong and varied material is matched by outstanding performances, from the horn arrangements to the harmonies to Kath's guitar playing. Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, the double-Platinum CHICAGO V shows the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers hitting their stride as radio-friendly innovators.