Peter Cetera: bass and vocals
Robert Lamm: keyboards and vocals
Terry Kath: guitar and vocals
James Pankow: trombone
Lee Loughnane: trumpet
Walter Parazaider: sax and flute
Danny Seraphine: drums
As a half-baked guitar player, I cannot but stand in awe of Terry Kath's contribution to this band. He was an excellent lead vocalist and a powerful rhythmn guitarist who just happened to be an amazing soloist. Terry also knew how to go too far and make it come right, in many dimensions simultaneously. All but one.
As a picky matter of technique: Terry used his wah-wah pedal more than anyone I've ever heard. With a wah-wah, as with many other things, it's easy to do too much and end up with something awful. Terry used way too much and made it sound fabulous! You'll hear it at the begining of this song, where he's just flicking muted strings and rocking back and forth on the pedal. By changing the tonal characteristics of the "flicka flicka flicka", he makes an otherwise boring noise fascinating. And that's just "for starters".
As a picky matter of non-technique: Please don't mess around with guns, especially at parties. Sob. RIP Terry K.
Sing a mean tune, kid
Sock 'em in the gut, yeah, yeah, yeah
Sing a mean tune, kid, oh yeah
Sock 'em in the gut, yeah, yeah, yeah
Don't you ever let your mama catch you cryin'
Woo ooh yeah
Play the bad song, kid
Every one's the blues, yeah, yeah, yeah
Play the bad song, kid
Every one's the blues, yeah, yeah, yeah
And the people never know you're only lyin'
Woo hoo, sing a mean tune
What a scary song, kid
Never heard before, yeah, yeah, yeah
What a scary song, kid
Never heard before, yeah, yeah, yeah
Soon the groupies will start rollin' by your door
Look out
Oh yeah
Burn the groove to death, kid
Nail 'em to the cross, yeah, yeah, yeah
Burn the groove to death, kid, oh yeah
Nail 'em to the cross, yeah, yeah, yeah
'Til you're not a super pop star any more, yeah
Ooh hoo, sing a mean tune
Oh yeah
