Chicago "Chicago 18"

Chicago 18 is the fifteenth studio album by the American band Chicago, released on September 29, 1986. As the successor to 1984's multiplatinum hit Chicago 17, this album is the first without cofounding member Peter Cetera.

With Cetera having quit the band in 1985 in favor of a solo career, Chicago eventually hired Jason Scheff to fill Cetera's position as vocalist and bassist. The most used voices in Chicago now belonged to its two newest recruits, Scheff and Bill Champlin, who had joined the band in 1981.

Chicago again hired producer David Foster to create a soft rock followup to Chicago 17.

The band recorded an updated high-tech remake of their hit classic "25 or 6 to 4" (#48). Scheff recalled how when he asked Foster how he should sing the song, Foster responded "just like (Peter) Cetera." Then, "Will You Still Love Me?" (#3) and "If She Would Have Been Faithful..." (#17) became hits. Scheff is lead vocalist on all three releases. The album features a brief, a cappella horn riff, Pankow's "Free Flight." 

Despite the success of its predecessor, Chicago 18 ultimately only went gold, peaking at #35 on the Billboard Top 200 charts.

Track listing

Side One

1. "Niagara Falls" Steve Kipner/Bobby Caldwell Vocals:Scheff with Bill Champlin 3:43
2. "Forever" Robert Lamm/Bill Gable Lamm 5:17
3. "If She Would Have Been Faithful..." Kipner/Randy Goodrum Vocals:Scheff with Champlin 3:51
4. "25 or 6 to 4" Robert Lamm Vocals:Scheff 4:20
5. "Will You Still Love Me?" David Foster/Tom Keane/Richard Baskin Vocals:Scheff with Champlin 5:44

Side Two

1. "Over and Over" Lamm/James Newton Howard/Steve Lukather Vocals:Lamm 4:20
2. "It's Alright" Bill Champlin/Foster Vocals:Champlin 4:29
3. "Free Flight" Pankow instrumental 0:25
4. "Nothin's Gonna Stop Us Now" Scheff/Buzz Feiten Vocals:Scheff 4:25
5. "I Believe" Champlin Vocals:Champlin, with Scheff 4:20
6. "One More Day" Pankow/Carmen Grillo Lamm, Champlin, Vocals:Scheff 4:13

A re-recorded version of "When Will the World Be Like Lovers?" (Robert Lamm/Tom Keane/David Foster) appears on Robert Lamm's 1995 solo album Life Is Good In My Neighborhood. The original recorded version from the Chicago 18 sessions also appears online.

Produced by David Foster

Engineered and Mixed by Humberto Gatica

Recorded at Chartmaker Studios (Malibu, CA) and Lion Share Recording Studio (Los Angeles, CA), assisted by Claudio Ordenes and Ray Pyle.

Horn Sessions recorded at Skyline Recording Company (Malibu, CA), assisted by Britt Bacon and David Garfield.

Mixed at Lion Share Recording Studio, assisted by Laura Livingston.

Originally mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound (New York, NY).

CDD Pre-mastering by WCI Record Group

Art Direction – Jeffrey Kent Ayeroff

Design – Hugh Brown and Jeri McManus

Album Cover (Mosaic) – Maria Sarno

Photography – Hugh Brown

Stylist/Wardrobe – Kali Korn

Group Photography – Guy Webster