Colour My World (Chicago song)

"Colour My World" is a song written by American musician James Pankow, one of the founding members of the rock/jazz fusion band Chicago. Part of Pankow's "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon" song cycle/suite, it was recorded for their second album Chicago, also called Chicago II (1970). Terry Kath sings the lead vocal, and Walter Parazaider performs the memorable flute solo.[1]

Not to be confused with Colour My World (Petula Clark song) or Westlife song.
"Colour My World"
Single by Chicago
from the album Chicago
A-side
ReleasedMarch 1970
June 1971
GenreSoft rock
Length2:59
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)James Pankow
Producer(s)James William Guercio
Chicago singles chronology
"Beginnings"
(1969)		 "Colour My World"
(1970)		 "25 or 6 to 4"
(1970)
Lowdown
(1971)
Beginnings/Colour My World
(1971)
Questions 67 and 68/I'm a Man
(1971)

The song was initially released as the B-side to "Make Me Smile" in March 1970.[2] It was re-released in June 1971 as the B-side to the re-release of "Beginnings";[2] this second single reached No. 7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.[2][3]

"Colour My World" is the first significant hit by Chicago to largely abstain from their heavy woodwind and brass oriented sound. It became a popular "slow dance" song at high school proms, university dances and weddings during the 1970s.[4][5][6]

Chicago continues to perform the song, either on its own, or as part of the Ballet. Since Kath's death in 1978 and being brought back into their set list in 1982, lead vocals were performed by Bill Champlin until 1991,[7] when Robert Lamm took the lead.[8] It has been sung by trumpeter Lee Loughnane since 2009.[9][10]

Frank Sinatra wanted to record a version of the song on the condition that Pankow write an additional verse. Pankow declined the offer.[11] The song is notable for only containing one verse and the flute solo.

Personnel

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[12] Gold 75,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Sources
  1. Chicago Group Portrait (Box Set). aln3.albumlinernotes (Media notes). 1991. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  2. Ruhlmann, William James (1991). Chicago Group Portrait (Box Set) (CD booklet archived online) (Media notes). New York City, NY: Columbia Records. p. 4. Archived from the original on November 12, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  3. "Chicago Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  4. Huoppi, Peter; Koster, Rick (June 23, 2017). "Slow dance songs for middle school, proms and weddings". The Day. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  5. Shaughnessey, Dennis (January 15, 2010). "You name it, he'll play it". www.lowellsun.com. Lowell, Massachusetts: MediaNews Group. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  6. Staff Report (April 14, 2009). "Memories of prom night". The State Journal-Register. Springfield, Illinois: GateHouse Media. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  7. Weiser, Nick (March 20, 1989). "Dayton cheers Chicago". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, Ohio, USA: Dayton Newspapers. p. 3-C. Retrieved March 29, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  8. Streeter, Leslie Gray (June 2, 2003). "Chicago's brass still shimmers in show highlighting 36 years". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida, USA: Palm Beach Newspapers. p. 5B. Retrieved March 29, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.icon of an open green padlock
  9. Nowlin, Rick (May 26, 2011). "Chicago returns with some surprises". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  10. Ruggiero, Bob (June 19, 2017). "Double Punch of Chicago/Doobie Brothers a Classic-Rock Triumph". Houston Press. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  11. "James Pankow once refused Frank Sinatra's request to cover Chicago". Something Else!. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  12. "Canadian single certifications – Chicago – Colour My World". Music Canada. Retrieved June 21, 2023.


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