Children play in the park, they don't know
I'm alone in the dark, even though
Time and time again I see your face smiling inside
I'm so happy
That you love me
Life is lovely
When you're near me
Tell me you will stay
Make me smile
Go to YouTube or Spotify and play it. You will thank me.
This came out in 1970. The 1970's come in for a lot of well-deserved ragging due to, just about everything. But the music from that decade was phenomenal! Established bands like The Rolling Stones, The Who and Led Zeppelin came out with much of their best work--in the latter case, the vast majority of their total output was in that decade. Variety too: Steely Dan got started and put out at least 90% of their best work and punk got its start, which spawned new wave and alternative.
People often remember Chicago as the epitome of soft rock, which they arguably became--sometime in the 1980's. Anyway, if you listened to the song, like I suggested, you will hear heart and edge and trumpet. They are a trumpet playing band and they are rock and roll in 1970!
Which naturally made me think of Dire Straits:
And a crowd of young boys, they're fooling around in the corner,
Drunk and dressed in their best brown baggies and their platform soles.
They don't give a damn about any trumpet playing band.
It ain't what they call rock and roll.
And the Sultans,
Yes the Sultans play Creole.
Creole baby
Mark Knopfler was not thinking of Chicago when he wrote the song, but I can't help but think of them.
Added: There is an interesting dialectic going on in the Sultans of Swing On one hand, they are making fun of a dowdy jazz band with that name. But in the song, Knopfler sings in first person:
"We are the Sultans,
"We are the Sultans of Swing."
So, they are not rock and roll, but they are--because we hear Dire Straits playing. And yet they are a trumpet playing band but no trumpets are being played in the song.
Makes my head spin.
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