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1972 single by Chicago

"Dialogue" is a song written by Robert Lamm for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago V (1972). On the album the song is over 7 minutes long and is divided in two parts.[1] An edited version was released as a single in October 1972, eventually reaching #24 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.[2] A live recording of the full song can be heard in Chicago XXXIV: Live in `75. Part II was included in Greatest Hits, Volume II (1982).

Content

In Part I, the song`s lyrics are a dialogue between two young people with different views.[1] The first person (whose lines are sung by Terry Kath) is very concerned about events of the early 1970s, such as the Vietnam war, starvation, and "repression... closing in around." The second person (whose lines are sung by Peter Cetera) maintains that "everything is fine." The dialogue between the two people is also reflected musically, with Kath`s guitar and Cetera`s bass feeding off each other. As Part I comes to a close, Kath`s character thanks the other character for the talk, saying "you know you really eased my mind/I was troubled by the shapes of things to come." Cetera`s character response is of gratitude for the eye-opener: "Well, if you had my outlook, your feelings would be numb – you`d always think that everything was fine".

With the two characters acknowledging the other`s position, the song moves to Part II, where more propositive lyrics such as "we can make it better", "we can change the world now" and "we can save the children" are sung by multiple band members. In the finale, the music fades away with the band singing a cappella the optimistic appeal "we can make it happen".[1]

Critical reception

Record World called it a "controversial tune which is actually a dialogue between the two lead vocals concerning America`s problems" and claimed that the song contained an "important message."[3] Cash Box said that the single edit "still leaves all of the dynamics intact, and programmers in both pop and FM markets will love it."[4]

Personnel

• Terry Kath – guitar, lead vocals (1st person, part 1)
• Peter Cetera – bass, lead vocals (2nd person, part 1)
• Robert Lamm – keyboards, backing vocals (part 2)
• Danny Seraphine – drums
• Jimmy Pankow – trombone
• Lee Loughnane – trumpet, backing vocals (part 2)
• Walt Parazaider – tenor saxophone

Chart history