‘Chicago II’ Reissues Include Vinyl, New Dolby ATMOS Mix on Blu-ray

Share This:

Fifty-five years after its debut, 1970’s Chicago II is getting a brand new Dolby ATMOS mix of its Steven Wilson Remix, along with stereo, quadrophonic, and 5.1 mixes in high-resolution, as a Blu-ray disc. Wilson’s 2016 remix of the album will also be re-released on 2-LPs on 140-gram vinyl. Both editions arrive on May 23, 2025, via Rhino. They’re available for pre-order in the U.S. here. The vinyl edition is available to pre-order in the U.K. here. (The Blu-ray is not yet available in the U.K.)

From the April 3 announcement: Chicago’s second album brims with confidence and inspiration as it draws on everything from orchestral music to heavy rock. The album reached #4 on the Billboard chart and spawned a trio of Top Ten hits.

Chicago II previously received stereo, quadrophonic, and 5.1 hi-res mixes from the multi-track tapes, making it possible for Wilson to bring out elements that were muffled or submerged in the mix. This resulted in a version that boasts clearness, punch and definition that it didn’t have before.

Wilson explains: “Working with high-resolution 96K/24 bit digitally transferred files, I had every element from the recording sessions isolated, which meant I was able to rebuild the mix from the drums upwards, recreating as closely as I could the equalization, stereo placement, reverbs, other effects, and volume changes of each individual instrument or vocal — but at the same time looking to gain definition and clarity in the overall sound.”

In 1969, Chicago recorded the band’s follow-up to their acclaimed debut album, Chicago Transit Authority. When it arrived in January 1970, Chicago II became an instant sensation. Principal composers James Pankow and Robert Lamm emerged further as the band’s source of top 10 hits for the group, including such signature songs as “Make Me Smile” and “Colour My World,” as well as “25 or 6 to 4,” which peaked at #4. Lamm, Pankow, Terry Kath, Lee Loughnane, Walter Parazaider, Danny Seraphine and Peter Cetera … somehow found time (while touring the world behind the success of CTA) to prepare another double LP album.

“So rich was their creative seam at the time that, like their debut, and the album that followed this one, it was a two-record set,” says Wilson. “In fact, with unprecedented boldness, the run of double albums was only broken by their fourth, which was a quadruple (live) set! I consider all of these albums to be classics, but perhaps Chicago II is the pre-eminent masterpiece. It’s got everything: moments of tender beauty to power riffs and scorched-earth jazz-rock, catchy melodies and gorgeous vocal harmonies. When I first heard it as a teenager, I was captivated by the mixture of jazz, blues, pop, classical, progressive and heavy rock styles, including both improvisational elements and intricate arrangements, and by songs written and sung by several different members, all with their own unique personality. How could that possibly hang together?! But it does, and brilliantly so.”

The album, which was certified platinum by the RIAA soon after its release, also highlighted some of the band’s most ambitious work, such as the 13-minute song cycle “Ballet For a Girl In Buchannon,” composed by James Pankow, as well as “Memories Of Love,” a Terry Kath song, arranged for orchestra by Peter Matz.

Chicago II Track Listing
“Movin’ In”
“The Road”
“Poem For The People”
“In The Country”
“Wake Up Sunshine”
Ballet For A Girl In Buchannon
“Make Me Smile”
“So Much To Say, So Much To Give”
“Anxiety’s Moment”
“West Virginia Fantasies”
“Colour My World”
“To Be Free”
“Now More Than Ever”
“Fancy Colours”
“25 Or 6 To 4”
Memories of Love
“Prelude”
“A.M. Mourning”
“P.M. Mourning”
“Memories Of Love”
It Better End Soon
“1st Movement”
“2nd Movement”
“3rd Movement”
“4th Movement”
“Where Do We Go From Here”