What Makes This Song Great? Ep.108 CHICAGO “Make Me Smile”

Chicago is one of those bands that make you grateful that you grew up in the age we did.

Seraphine was such a talented drummer, he often gets overlooked from all the talent in this legendary band. Every musician was a master with their instruments in this band, spectacular they were.

Terry Kath was undoubtedly the heart and soul of Chicago. THIS PROVES IT!!!

This episode helped me understand that Chicago is the definition of a quintessential "band" not just a few guys who got together to play some music but a real technical sophisticated display of artistry working together to produce their music.

I'm so happy that Rick pointed out Danny Seraphine's incredible drumming in this song. Danny doesn't get the recognition he deserves. He's also a great guy.

Terry Kath is so underrated and a singer, hell, as an artist. He was gone way too soon. Make me smile is a definite hidden gem from that rock band with the horns 🤘

Rick, you never disappoint, but hearing Terry's isolated vocal was a spiritual experience.

Terry Kath is underrated MASSIVELY in every sense: Guitar Vocal Composer One of the most talented guys ever.

Ich liebe Chicago schon seit meiner Jugend . . . great Big Band sound with lovely voices one of the best worldwide . . .warm greetings from Frankfurt, Germany in April 2022

Hearing Terry’s voice always get a little teary 😢he was gone too soon. What a talent he had!

Simply the best, better than all the rest! When I 'm fed up of humans I listen to Chicago. Again and again and again. This is real music with real musicians, creativity in melody and lyrics. Perfect!

Terry's isolated vocals give me the chills. So soulful.

I know Rick says that most people would recognize Chicago from Peter Cetera's lead vocals in the 1980s, but their catalog from the 1970s is far superior.

Yes! Chicago had so much going on in their music that captured your Attention and just held it 💕❤️💕

What a timeless song! The lead vocal is insane when you isolated it. Does it get more soulful than that vocal? Brilliant songwriting. Thank you Rick for breaking down that masterpiece.

Shows you how spoiled were we back then to have Chicago, feel so nostalgic hearing this, there will never be another band like this with so many melodic tunes!

Danny Seraphin was the secret to Chicago’s sound. One of the most underrated drummers of all time.

Thankful for Rick Beato, such a joy to listen and watch his explanation and interpretation

The amazing thing about Chicago is how there was no weak member of the band - everyone was phenomenal. Three lead singers with very different sounds who could also blend for harmonies, a incredibly tight horn section, one of the greatest guitarists ever, one of the most underrated bassist (Cetera), a drummer with chops galore, and like 6 songwriters (composers really) who could write and arrange for each player’s instruments better than anyone. I can’t imagine a more talented band. 🤯

Former sax/flute/clarinet player here. Chicago's use of dynamics was unparalleled. They played music; not the noise that gets called music now.

Rewatched this because it's one of my all time favorite Rick Beato videos. I always loved Chicago and this song especially, but Rick helped me understand WHY I like it, all the subtle musical things going on that work so perfectly together. Rick is just fabulous at explaining the musical intricacies without losing the emotional content of a song. Love you, Rick. There's really nobody like you.

i always liked Chicago's music because the songs were so in sync. with the horns, guitars, drums, everything was just wow!

Their original drummer was a BEAST. He was as good as any rock drummer at that time. And Chicago played such a wide variety of music for their first 3 albums that it wasn't such an easy thing to be a drummer for.

There are just some guys that had more musical talent than us mere mortals. Terry Kath was one of them. He was a god…a god on the guitar, and his voice, so soulful…. Oh, God. Listening to Make Me Smile simultaneously brings joy to my heart in the moment, and then leaves me tremendously saddened thinking of how much more great music we were cheated of. RIP, Terry. Your fans are legion. Than you for sharing your gift with the world. And thank you, as always, Rick, for showcasing this incredible composition and performance as only you can. Every time…every time I watch your videos, something just resonates. Hearing Terry’s isolated vocal sent chills down my spine. By the way, that’s a gorgeous Strat.

When the band held auditions to replace Terry, I took the leap. Bittersweet in many ways, to be sure. But they were the nicest guys, Peter in particular. I was set up next to him and he was very encouraging. What an experience.

Chicago is one of the best bands ever. Their compositions are just amazing, especially in their earlier years.

Chicago took music in an entirety new direction in the 70s. Even Jimi Hendrix wanted to go in that direction after seeing them. Truly a great band.

Tank you Rick to teach us the science behind this master piece of music

Terry Kath's voice was unmatched in 70s rock music. A heartbreaking loss.

Terry was a force of nature. Also a massively underrated guitar player. His loss was tragic. Leaves me to wonder what might have been. What music we dont have because he isnt there to sing or play it.

Terry Kath was so underrated as both a singer and guitarist he was special

Thank you, Rick. It's fantastic to hear isolated parts of songs. Nobody does it like you. Hearing those isolated vocals made me really appreciate just how incredible they are!

So much going on in this song: This era was the height of Chicago: The rest of the guys could never reach that amazing creativity without Terry's presence.

I remember when this first came out, some guy (I didn't even know) was carrying the album, walking down the street and he grabbed me and said, "You gotta hear this!" Well the next thing I knew we were headed to the closest library and checking out headphones. We went into one of the sound rooms and put the album on a turntable. We listen to both albums, front to back and for the next over an hour, I had THE greatest musical experience, I can ever remember. Later I hooked a tape player to my bicycle and went to the park. I choreographed a bicycle ride to "I'm a Man", which drew some attention. I will say Chicago (CTA) gave me an energy standard which I held all rock 'n' roll bands to, after that day in 1969. I never did find out who that guy was, but I want to thank him!

I've written transcriptions of the horn and some of the rhythm parts of the entire "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon" and as I wrote down what I heard, I was amazed at what Pankow did with some of the harmonies in that thing. It's amazing that guys that young could come up with such an amazing piece of art at such a young age. And today, we get people making a gazillion dollars putting vulgar and offensive words of hate to rhythm and calling it "art."

Terry Kath was a force of nature. Great voice, great rhythm and lead guitar.

So sad that Terry left us too soon. He was the heart and soul of Chicago. The original lineup was some of the greatest musical talent ever assembled.

I love when Rick is overflowing with enthusiasm and passion. 🙌

The boys of Chicago always exuded joy in their music making. They make ME smile!

Adore the punchy horn section....Lee, Walter, and Jimmy.....Danny just killin' it on the kit......And then there's Terry...what can you say.....and the vocal layers of Bobby, Peter and Terry.....

I’m a huge Chicago fan and this is definitely one of my favorite tunes!!

I love how you broke down this song. LOVE the song beyond measure, but now truly appreciate it even more. You breathed new life into it for me, Rick. And, confirmed for me that Chicago is one of the great bands in R&R and very under-appreciated. Thank you for this, it was a treat.

Danny Seraphine is a criminally underrated drummer. On those 70s albums he is amazing. I love his style you'd swear they were using two drummers.

This song break down has tears rolling down my face. What a great composition and performance.

When I want to sit, laugh, smile and remember how wonderful life is, I come back to this video Rick! We will never have music that can move us quite like the music of our adolescent years in the 70's. God really delivered back then.

This song blew me away the first time I heard it as a kid, and it still blows me away now as a middle-aged man. It doesn't come any better than this.

Danny Serafino and Terry Kath made Chicago special. Great jazz style drumming, and Terry was known as the White Ray Charles. Great soul in his voice. His guitar playing is undisputed.

What makes me smile? Watching Rick showcase this amazing band and song. Terry Kath played like Hendrix and sang like Ray Charles. Chicago was the first concert in the mid-70s and have loved them forever.

Rick, it’s great to see you getting into some Chicago - one of the most skilled and musically advanced bands of all time. There’s about 15 other Chicago tunes that would also qualify as a What Makes This Song Great episode. Danny Seraphine was really killing on this recording, as was Kath’a vocal, and Pankow’s amazing horn arrangement. More Chicago breakdowns, please.

Bravo!!! This song was an anthem when I was 16. Cranked to the max while cruising around in my buddy's car ... this song made me smile more than I care to admit. Watching the video performance of this song live, Terry Kath's contributions give me goosebumps, and bring home the tragedy of his senseless passing.

This is my second time watching this video. I must say Danny Seraphine is one badass drummer. He is very underrated but anyone that listens to Stronger Everyday knows he is talented and can hold his own with anybody.

the Terry Kath years of Chicago were outstanding, they were always one of my favorites growing up. everyone was listening to Kiss and I was rocking to 25 or 6 to 4

I absolutely freak out whenever I hear this song! Everything Rick describes about this song has been apparent to me since I first heard it as a grade school kid. When a song makes a 10 year old stand up and go "What is this song?" "Who is this?!!!!" And I became a fan of 70's Chicago! This song is a timed commitment with 100% conviction..........the confidence of everyone playing............outstanding!!!!

I am not a musician but I remember how badass this song seemed when I was a kid in 1976 maybe. It really is a masterpiece. I enjoyed hearing you break it down from a musicians perspective and appreciate it even more now. Keep up the good work and thank you for your expertise.

Way back in Jr. High, (1975) our concert band was rehearsing for our spring concert and one of the songs we played was a Chicago medley. I was in 7th grade and the drummer who was playing set was an 8th grader. They were rehearsing the chorus section of "Make Me Smile" and the drummer just wasn't getting the feel right. He wasn't able to make it swing and he missed many of the punches. The director was getting frustrated and the whole band was starting to stir because they had to keep replaying this chorus over and over so the drummer could get it right. The director looked at me....I looked at him. Repeat....and like a baseball manager who knows his starting pitcher was done....looked at me again and he did it. He effectively walked out to the mound to change pitchers. He said, "Peter... (me) you know this don't you?" to which I shook my head in the positive. "Why don't you go play it please." Deep silence and a death stare from the older drummer as I grabbed my sticks and kicked the living crap out of it! Note for note just like the original recording. The band erupts in cheers while the "looks that kill" from the other drummer turned into..a silent acknowledgement that I had in fact crushed it. So....the thing was the director KNEW I could play it because he allowed me to use his office every day during my lunch period so I could use his record player and listen to music. Well I spent nearly half of that year listening to nothing but Chicago. Especially Chicago IV "Live at Carnegie Hall" and he knew I had spent hours and hours playing along to Chicago records!! The other drummer was asked to play because he was graduating and he wanted to respect that. But he just didn't have the experience with that music so I played it for the Spring Concert. I told Danny Seraphine many, many years later that I learned more playing along to the first eight Chicago albums than I did listening and play to any other drummer. Including my heroes Ian Paice, Ginger Baker, Mitch Mitchell, Buddy Rich, Joe Morello and others. I learned to swing, groove, play in odd tempos, set up horn punches, support a singer, play with a soloist, fills and extended solos. Simply one of the most important bands of my entire musical journey.

I absolutely love the way you broke this song down. It doesn't have a single weak spot and the vocals (which for most people are the most important part) are stellar!

What an incredible production on every level. And it’s NEVER been played on any radio station I’ve ever heard.

I never get tired of Rick’s enthusiasm and air drumming. Great song!

This song holds such a place in my memory and heart. Hearing the isolated parts just brings out more to love about this song and Chicago. Musicianship as tight as new Fruit-of-the-Looms!

Leonid and Friends brought a whole new life and level of this excellent music to life again!!!❤️🎹😎

I have listened to this song hundreds of times since my youth, and still Rick manages to open a new window into it. This is sheer magic. It is a great gift, to give you a renewed light into something you already love. Thank you for that!

I played the hell out of this and other Chicago albums as a teenager in the 1970s. Thank you Rick for showing me one of my favorite songs in a new light!

I so loved this whole side of the album this track came from. Kath was a truly exceptionally gifted talent!!

I only got into old Chicago maybe 10 years ago. Outstanding band. Totally different band from the 80s output. If you haven't dug into them do the homework, it's worth it!

Beginnings is a drumming tour de force by Danny Seraphine, as the song approaches its mid point he plays the most amazing passage. Its almost like he decides basically, "you guys go on, I'm going to play a solo!" I never get tired of listening to the song.

I have always admired this performance. Nobody puts more of themselves into a performance as Terry Kath!

Favorite Chicago song. Balls out from beginning to end. Sustained energy without screaming, auto-tune, drum triggers, or computer-enhanced effects, played and sung by real musicians. You can't hide from isolation and they killed it in every way.

I love Rick's sentimental anecdotes of the first time he ever heard a song, this one included. Nothing like a musician appreciating other musicians with such fervent enthusiasm!

Awesome job on breaking that down Rick, thank you as always.

New to Rick's channel. I dig the way he breaks down the chord progressions, harmonies, resolves, all of it. I don't understand most of his theory, but to have that kind of grasp on what makes great songs is enviable. Chicago always put so much thought and energy into what they were doing. Their first album blew me away so massively when I was seventeen, nothing after that could measure up quite as well. Simply the best, but I loved all their work.

This song brings back so many memories. I remember the single, then heard the longer version on the radio. So I had to get the album. To my surprise, the song was actually 17 minutes long, and Colour My World was in the middle of that?! Man, what a song!

Brilliant band.Growing up with this great music...maybe we took for granted just how GREAT IT was( is)!!

Chicago played at my high school in 1969. They were known as 'Chicago Transit Authority' as their second album 'Chicago' was not quite yet released. Their first album is still a favorite of mine over 50 years later. I'll never forget that concert as long as I live.

Literally Top 5 all time song in MAKE ME SMILE from my second favorite all time Band. Terry Kath is a LEGEND, will forever be a LEGEND. The man played like Jimi Hendrix, sang like Ray Charles. GOAT!

The band always called him Ray Charles. He also could play lead and sing at the same time. He really was amazing.

What an eye opener when Rick started to isolate each intruments (that's including the vox and the backups) with how awesome the entire band was. I have heard this song since i was a kid in the 70's and since my parents were also musicians I develop this extra appreciation on the band's musicianship (any bands), but that even took it to another level when Rick started to point out everyone in the band's great deliveries. Thank you Rick!

I often don't finish Rick's videos-- because I get so excited by his enthusiasm that I run off to listen to whatever song or group he's talking about. What an absolute legend of the musical culture Rick is!

Stunning live vocals wow I never heard that since I was born in 69 Chicago was before my time at least the original, no auto tuners back then kids.

I had tears in my eyes when you played Terry's isolated vocal. This has been one of the most emotional episodes you have made, not only because it is my favorite but to hear the tracks and understand the genesis of this song makes it more than great. What an experience! Thank you Rick!

I have just rediscovered Terry Kath's amazing voice and guitar playing. A truly underrated rock artist!

No idea Terry's voice was so powerful.

People who only know Chicago from If You Leave Me Now onward and MTV don't have a clue of how great this band was at the onset. All the pieces in place perfectly.

In addition to the absolutely phenomenal vocals of Kath, the band had Cetera and Lamm along with background vocals all within one band. The talent gathered in early Chicago is almost beyond comprehension. Add Kath‘a guitar, Seraphine’s drums, Cetera bass Lamm keyboards, Pankow, et al and is off the chain

When I saw Chicago in the 70’s, Seraphine did a drum solo that stole the show.

My grandparents owned the local bar in the town I grew up in. They bought a new jukebox in 1975 and they let my father have the old one. It worked perfectly and was a Rowe AMI with the purple/pink/red lighted front and it was 100% electromechanical. You pushed B7 and you could hear the all the gears and levers move to grab the 45 from its slot and place on the platter. This song was D4. When I heard the first drum groove opening I immediately was transported to that jukebox. C1 was CCR Fortunate Son, G7 was Rolling Stones Paint it Black. I still remember all the records and their slots inside for some reason. F5 was broken. We had to skip that slot for some reason. God, what am I rambling about? Lol

I was smiling throughout this video, and not because of the song’s title. Rick’s enthusiasm and knowledge did the trick for me. Plus I love this song -particularly its extended version. This was fun, Rick; and soulful too!

Just amazing! Kath’s composition skills are unrivaled! And those vocals are incredibly soulful.

I’ve always thought that was one of Chicago’s best songs along with Feeling Stronger Everyday and Questions 67 & 68.

I so enjoy this . . . Early 1970's my Navy band got most of the current Chicago charts, including all the horn parts. We played Make Me Smile almost daily, traveling to around a dozen NATO countries from Lisbon to Helsinki. Audiences would sing along in English. Such experiences became a foundation for my future musical life . . .and life is good

I don't know if you can get anymore soulful than that with a vocal part.

This is excellent. Also, a little love for James Pankow, who wrote the entire suite as well as those killer horn charts. 😎

I never get tired of these "What Makes This Song Great" videos. I learn so much! I remember seeing Chicago in the 70s and Yes, they really were that Great!

Thank you Rick, and I love the love this song is getting! Like a lot of you, this song hits my childhood at the sweet spot. This band just meant summer to me. When I finally moved to Chicago for college, I got it at a whole 'nother level. Rick, you loved the 45, but I'm hoping you had the experience of sitting with the double album, vinyl, and the foldout and lyrics on your lap. Make Me Smile is just a part of a whole album side that is just a part of 4 sides of masterpieces. Their first album was double, too. Does anybody have guts like that, anymore? I had the good fortune to play the tenor sax part to this song with a band of good friends. Rodney Zawacki, who played trumpet and sang the lead vocal, has passed on from us, but his voice on that recording still gives me chills.

Chicago's live album at Carnegie Hall was stupendous even though the group hated it. Talk about a group that was into a groove! Plus they had horns!

Saw Chicago at Ravinia in the summer of 1972. They had just finished a world tour and this was their homecoming in Chicago. It is the best concert I have ever attended.

About time someone acknowledges Danny Seraphines' drumming talents. so under--recognized too. The group under-appreciated for the amount of talents they brought together to give us this incredible music.

Terry’s isolated vocals floored me. Now you have to ask yourself, “was he more underrated as a guitarist or a signer?” Astonishing talent!

Chicago's first 9 albums are really good. After Terry was gone they were never the same. Also, Peter was a very under-rated bass player in those early albums.

This is one of my all time favorites! The vocals and music are so beyond anything I’ve heard done in the last 30 years. So complex, yet maintains the musicality and emotion. Perfection.

I feel lucky to have grown up with music like this playing everywhere all the time ♥♥♥