Several years ago, a bunch of Chicago musicians got together with Jim Peterik and The Ides Of March to cut a song called “Spirit Of Chicago.” It was presented to The City Of Chicago as a showing of pride. (The list of artists involved reads like a Who's Who of Chicago Singers ... including Dennis DeYoung, Cathy Richardson, the late Gary Loizzo of The American Breed, Jim Ellison, Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, Frankie Sullivan (Jim's former partner in Survivor), our Forgotten Hits buddy Dick Eastman and many, many more.
Now, with Chicago being one of the leading cities facing the Covid 19 pandemic (NOT a statistic we can be especially proud of!), we're giving the song a new, fresh listen ... and it really couldn’t come at a more appropriate time.
Much as Survivor's "Eye Of The Tiger" has become a theme song for all of those rising up to life's challenges ... and Jim Peterik's "Empty Arena" has recently tackled the state of the world we're currently forced to live in ... "Spirit Of Chicago" is another uplifting song designed to help inspire us to battle through these difficult and uncertain times.
Much as Survivor's "Eye Of The Tiger" has become a theme song for all of those rising up to life's challenges ... and Jim Peterik's "Empty Arena" has recently tackled the state of the world we're currently forced to live in ... "Spirit Of Chicago" is another uplifting song designed to help inspire us to battle through these difficult and uncertain times.
You can check out the brand new lyric video (put together by Paul Braun) here ...
With
everything going on in the world right now, and especially close to
home here in Chicago, the Ides felt it was time to bring out their 1992
gem "Spirit Of Chicago" with a brand-new lyric video and imagery to fit
the times and provide some hope and moral support for our great city. (Yeah, I live in Valpo, but I was born on the South Side.)
It will be up on the Ides Facebook page shortly … and it's live on the Ides YouTube channel right now ... and today it makes its premier in Forgotten Hits.
Please enjoy and share the heck out of this!
It will be up on the Ides Facebook page shortly … and it's live on the Ides YouTube channel right now ... and today it makes its premier in Forgotten Hits.
Please enjoy and share the heck out of this!
(All
I can say is that I've probably heard this song 60 times in the past
week or so as I was building the video, and I'm still not sick of it, so
that really says something about the song itself!)
Creativity happens when you have great source material for inspiration.
Paul BraunThe Ides of March felt the time was right for re-releasing our 1992 City of Chicago anthem "Spirit Of Chicago" with a brand-new lyric video done by Paul Braun.
Besides yours truly and all of the Ides, our special guests include Dennis DeYoung, Cathy Richardson, the late Gary Loizzo and Jim Ellison of Material Issue, Frankie Sullivan, Rick Nielsen, John Melnick and Dave Carl. What a cast of Chicago classics including my co-writer Dick Eastman.
This song and video can be seen here, on theidesofmarch.com and on Jimpeterik.com … as well as the Ides' Official Facebook Page.
Special thanks to everyone who took part in this and the photographer
Barry Butler and others who donated their brilliant images to the celebration of The Spirit of Chicago.
Thanks to you, Kent, and Forgotten Hits for reminding your followers of the spirit of this great city!
Jimbo and all the Ides.
April, 2020 ...
In an effort to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Chicago is on LOCKDOWN. Strange, difficult times for all of us. But we are Chicago. If we work together, we will come through this stronger than ever.
Written by Jim Peterik / Dick Eastman
April, 2020 ...
In an effort to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Chicago is on LOCKDOWN. Strange, difficult times for all of us. But we are Chicago. If we work together, we will come through this stronger than ever.
Written by Jim Peterik / Dick Eastman
©1992 Dick Eastman Music (ASCAP) / ©1992 Jim Peterik Music, Administered by Concord Music (ASCAP)
Special Guests:
Guitars: Rick Nielsen, Frankie Sullivan
Guest Vocals: Dennis DeYoung, Cathy Richardson, Gary Loizzo, Jim Ellison, John Melnick, David Carl
Keyboard, Vocals: Jim Peterik
Guitar, Vocals: Larry Millas
Drums, Vocals: Mike Borch
Bass, Vocals: Bob Bergland
Hammond B-3, Vocals: Scott May
Horns: The Ides of March Brass
Produced By Jim Peterik
Executive Producers: The Ides of March
Engineered by Larry Millas at World Stage Studio, Burr Ridge
In memory of Gary Loizzo and Jim Ellison
The Ides would also like to thank Steve Harkins
Other images from www.Freepik.com and various sources
Lyrics:
Riders on the new horizon
At just the break of day
The prairie sun is rising high to light their way
America unfolds before their eyes
The pioneers, the new frontiers of Paradise
And it’s the nature of the Brave to rise above,
It’s the Spirit of Chicago
And now the child has come of age
We’ll stand as one, the best will come tomorrow … Chicago!
People from many different places
Search to find their dreams
The city’s heart embraces everyone it sees
We feel the fire that burned so long ago
Together we will carry on with heart and soul
‘Cause it’s the nature of the Brave to rise above
It’s the Spirit of Chicago
And now we turn another page
We shine a light for all the world to follow Chicago!
[Bridge]
In a world that keeps changin’
We can light up the land if we keep on believin’ that we can
So take a stand
And it’s the nature of the Brave to rise above,
It’s the Spirit of Chicago
And now the child has come of age
We shine a light for all the world to follow
And it’s the nature of the brave to rise above,
It’s the spirit of Chicago
And now we turn another page
We shine a light for all the world to follow …
Chicago! Chicago!
To rise above, it’s the Spirit of Chicago! Chicago! Chicago!
We shine a light for all the world to follow
And here's another Chicagoland classic brought back from the dead ...
Last week we told you that Jeff James was reviving his “Windy City At Six” program, spotlighting many of our local artists.
Here are the latest details … from Jeff himself!
Riders on the new horizon
At just the break of day
The prairie sun is rising high to light their way
America unfolds before their eyes
The pioneers, the new frontiers of Paradise
And it’s the nature of the Brave to rise above,
It’s the Spirit of Chicago
And now the child has come of age
We’ll stand as one, the best will come tomorrow … Chicago!
People from many different places
Search to find their dreams
The city’s heart embraces everyone it sees
We feel the fire that burned so long ago
Together we will carry on with heart and soul
‘Cause it’s the nature of the Brave to rise above
It’s the Spirit of Chicago
And now we turn another page
We shine a light for all the world to follow Chicago!
[Bridge]
In a world that keeps changin’
We can light up the land if we keep on believin’ that we can
So take a stand
And it’s the nature of the Brave to rise above,
It’s the Spirit of Chicago
And now the child has come of age
We shine a light for all the world to follow
And it’s the nature of the brave to rise above,
It’s the spirit of Chicago
And now we turn another page
We shine a light for all the world to follow …
Chicago! Chicago!
To rise above, it’s the Spirit of Chicago! Chicago! Chicago!
We shine a light for all the world to follow
And here's another Chicagoland classic brought back from the dead ...
Last week we told you that Jeff James was reviving his “Windy City At Six” program, spotlighting many of our local artists.
Here are the latest details … from Jeff himself!
Here is the update on the new show WINDY CITY WEDNESDAY ...
Thanks for the promo, Kent, on your site!
Jeff James
Tell me more, tell me more ...
You may remember back on the old Y103.9 in Chicagoland a one hour show called THE WINDY CITY @ SIX. It was on the air for over a year, Monday through Friday, for the 6vpm hour. It was a one hour show that featured artists and groups that had some ties to Chicago … from the Jazz, Soul and Garage Rock sounds that came from the Windy City from such acts as Mel Torme to Jerry Butler to the New Colony Six.
Well, I am bringing this show back to the radio under the new name WINDY CITY WEDNESDAY.
The first show can be heard THIS Wednesday (April 15th) on 101.5 FM HUNTLEY COMMUNITY RADIO from 4 to 6:30 pm.
I will be doing this new show on this station on all Wednesdays through the Spring … and possibly longer.
https://huntleyradio.com/hcr/
Please join me with another show brought back to the air ... SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE @ THE 70'S … at 101.5 FM every Saturday from 6 pm till Midnight.
https://huntleyradio.com/saturday-night-live-the-70s/
JJ
Sounds great, Jeff … happy to spread the word. (kk)
[Remember folks, it all kicks off tonight ... right here in Huntley, Illinois ... but available via streaming from anywhere on the globe!]
Tell me more, tell me more ...
You may remember back on the old Y103.9 in Chicagoland a one hour show called THE WINDY CITY @ SIX. It was on the air for over a year, Monday through Friday, for the 6vpm hour. It was a one hour show that featured artists and groups that had some ties to Chicago … from the Jazz, Soul and Garage Rock sounds that came from the Windy City from such acts as Mel Torme to Jerry Butler to the New Colony Six.
Well, I am bringing this show back to the radio under the new name WINDY CITY WEDNESDAY.
The first show can be heard THIS Wednesday (April 15th) on 101.5 FM HUNTLEY COMMUNITY RADIO from 4 to 6:30 pm.
I will be doing this new show on this station on all Wednesdays through the Spring … and possibly longer.
https://huntleyradio.com/hcr/
Please join me with another show brought back to the air ... SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE @ THE 70'S … at 101.5 FM every Saturday from 6 pm till Midnight.
https://huntleyradio.com/saturday-night-live-the-70s/
JJ
Sounds great, Jeff … happy to spread the word. (kk)
[Remember folks, it all kicks off tonight ... right here in Huntley, Illinois ... but available via streaming from anywhere on the globe!]
