The Very Best Of – Only the Beginning cover

The Very Best Of – Only the Beginning

Chicago · 2002

157 min · 39 tracks · jazz fusion · pop rock · soft rock

A rich tapestry of horn-laden melodies and heartfelt ballads that define Chicago's soft rock legacy.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • dynamic journey with emotional peaks
  • for nostalgic reflections
  • great for sing-along moments
  • ideal for relaxed gatherings
  • engaging melodies for road trips

Maybe skip if you want

  • prefer fast-paced listening experiences
  • seek experimental and avant-garde sounds

Where this album fits

Career context
Released in 2002, this compilation album summarizes Chicago's extensive career as a prominent rock band since their formation in 1967. It captures their transition from jazz-rock experimentation in the early years to mainstream adult contemporary success by the late '70s and '80s. This retrospective serves both as a celebration of their past hits and a reintroduction for newer audiences.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 Make Me Smile (new edit) 4:27
  • 2 25 or 6 to 4 4:50
  • 3 Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? (new edit) 3:20
  • 4 Beginnings 6:29
  • 5 Questions 67 and 68 4:54
  • 6 I'm a Man (new edit) 5:44
  • 7 Colour My World 3:01
  • 8 Free 2:17
  • 9 Lowdown 3:36
  • 10 Saturday in the Park 3:55
  • 11 Dialogue (Part I & II) (single version) 5:02
  • 12 Just You 'n' Me 3:42
  • 13 Feelin' Stronger Every Day 4:15
  • 14 (I've Been) Searchin' So Long 4:29
  • 15 Wishing You Were Here 4:36
  • 16 Call on Me 4:02
  • 17 Happy Man (GH2 edit) 3:16
  • 18 Another Rainy Day in New York City 3:00
  • 19 If You Leave Me Now 3:56

Disc 2

  • 1 Old Days 3:30
  • 2 Baby What a Big Surprise 3:05
  • 3 Take Me Back to Chicago (single version) 2:58
  • 4 Alive Again 4:05
  • 5 No Tell Lover 4:14
  • 6 Love Me Tomorrow (single version) 3:59
  • 7 Hard to Say I'm Sorry / Get Away 5:06
  • 8 Stay the Night 3:49
  • 9 Hard Habit to Break 4:44
  • 10 You're the Inspiration 3:50
  • 11 Along Comes a Woman (single version) 3:48
  • 12 Will You Still Love Me? (single version) 4:13
  • 13 If She Would Have Been Faithful... 3:52
  • 14 Look Away (single version) 4:01
  • 15 What Kind of Man Would I Be? (single version) 4:14
  • 16 I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love 3:57
  • 17 We Can Last Forever (single version) 3:45
  • 18 You're Not Alone (single version) 4:00
  • 19 Chasin' the Wind 4:18
  • 20 Sing, Sing, Sing 3:20

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata