Once Upon a Time in the Top Spot: Chicago, CHICAGO IX

41 years ago today, Chicago landed atop the Billboard 200 with their ninth album, which also doubled as their first greatest-hits album.

CHICAGO IX, a.k.a. CHICAGO’S GREATEST HITS, covered the band’s most notable numbers from their 1969 debut album, THE CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY, through 1974’s CHICAGO VII. If you’re wondering why it doesn’t go all the way up to CHICAGO VIII, well, that’s a fair question, but the answer is simply that the decision was made that the songs were still too new to warrant inclusion. Additionally, if you look through the track listing, you’ll also notice that there’s a total absence of songs from CHICAGO III, owing to the fact that apparently none of the album’s singles were successful enough to pass muster.

As evidenced by its chart achievement, CHICAGO IX was a success, but it was a long-lasting commercial win for the band as well, with the compilation hanging around the Billboard 200 for 72 weeks. These days, there’s really no reason for the album to remain in print, given that there are far more comprehensive collections out there now, but we continue to keep it alive and well.

Why? Just call us sentimental: it was their first best-of…and you never forget your first.