Chicago - Flag & Ice Cream Cone

By 1970, the “furious moment” that was the late 1960s was passing and with it began the recovery from the rock poster psychedelic aesthetic with bright clashing colors and illegible writing. David Singer brought a more controlled approach that included writing that promoter Bill Graham – much to his delight – could actually read.

Chicago had formed as a “rock band with horns” in 1967. Initially called Chicago Transit Authority, in 1969 they had shortened the name to Chicago. They were touring here at the tail end of the release of their first album, Chicago Transit Authority. An usual debut as a double album, it yielded some of the band’s most enduring hits including, “Does Anydody Really Know What Time it is?, “Beginnings,” “Questions 67 and 68,” and “I’m a Man.”

The Guess Who had released two albums and released their third, American Woman, this month. They already had big hits in the United States with “These Eyes,” “Laughing,”, “Undun,” and No Time.”  And here they were playing American Woman and “No Sugar Tonight.”  Wow – truly four nights of hits when the two headlining bands were at the peak of their powers!