Ask Billboard is updated every Friday. As always, submit your questions about Billboard charts, sales and airplay, as well as general music musings, to askbb@billboard.com. Please include your first and last name, as well as your city, state and country, if outside the U.S.


CHICAGO'S AC SIX-CESS

Hi Gary,

Thank you (and Billboard) for the 50 Years of the Adult Contemporary Chart series of articles online and in the July 23 issue.

I am quite curious about one aspect of the chart's anniversary, however. Why not more mention of the band Chicago?

Billboard ranked Chicago as the No. 6 AC act of the chart's first 50 years. With solo artists at Nos. 1 through 5, that grants Chicago the crown as the top non-solo act in the chart's history.

In fact, the next act of more than two members doesn't show until the 5th Dimension at No. 43. Chicago is also the only band with two of the AC chart's top 50 songs of all-time: "Will You Still Love Me" (No. 33) and "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" (No. 36).

Chicago has truly enjoyed life-long love from AC radio, having sent 40 songs onto the AC chart over a nearly thirty-six year span! (Its first entry, "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?," peaked at No. 5 in 1970; its 40th, "Love Will Come Back," reached No. 21 in 2006).

The band's eight AC No. 1s (including 1988's "Look Away") cover an impressive 26-year span. Look a little closer at the numbers and you'll notice that from 1970 through 1991, Chicago charted at least one song on AC each year except 1981.

As I enjoyed your look at the format's history, I was simply hoping for more coverage of this legendary band.

Where's the interview with Chicago?

Russell James
Golden, Colorado


Hi Russell,

Glad you enjoyed the feature. Having worked in AC radio in Boston, Worcester, Mass. and Providence, R.I. between 1993 and 2006, I was excited to help chronicle the format's evolution. (It was always one of my favorite charts, too, growing up as a Billboard reader in the late '80s and early '90s, as several songs by the likes of Neil Diamond, Barry Manilow and James Taylor wouldn't come close to charting on the Billboard Hot 100 but would find a home on the AC survey).

Since the customer is always right at Billboard, and Chicago certainly is worthy of the attention, I reached out to Chicago's management for the band's take on its AC legacy.

Here is how two of Chicago's members responded.

"We are extremely fortunate to have such success on the Billboard charts," wrote Lee Loughnane, trumpeter, flugelhorn player, vocalist, songwriter and founding member of the band, in an e-mail.

"It's really a testament to the music. We love what we do and have every intention of continuing for as long as we can."

Keyboardist, singer/songwriter and fellow founding Chicago member Robert Lamm likewise marvels at Chicago's vaunted place in AC history.

"While Chicago's focus has always been exploring music, it's a pleasant surprise to note the consistent appeal of our work.

"No. 6 over 50 years? Pretty awesome!"