Their previous three double LPs continued extended runs on the pop album chart and likewise spawned a number of hit singles. So by the time the group hit the Big Apple for these shows, they were among the hottest things happening. Chicago's set list is wholly representative of the material from Chicago Transit Authority (1969), Chicago II (1970), and Chicago III (1971) and includes several extended multi-song medleys from each. The band winds its way through muscular versions of the epic "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon," "Travel Suite," as well as lengthy renderings of deeper cuts such as "South California Purples," "Fancy Colours," and the ten-minute-plus opening "In the Country." One of the set's most notable highlights is the politically charged "For Richard and His Friends." The lengthy and well-jammed-out cut is both groovy and propulsive. However, the acoustics at Carnegie Hall are quite frankly not (and really never have been) properly suited for heavily amplified music. While the percussion and electric guitars are clearly audible, the woodwind and brass section come off sounding extremely thin and devoid of any real timbre. This is unfortunate, as a primary component of the band is the contrasting textures between the two. Enthusiasts seeking a much more sonically accurate portrait should by whatever means necessary locate the Live in Japan 1972 two-CD set — which also includes tracks from Chicago's fifth effort. [Rhino released a deluxe edition of At Carnegie Hall in 2005. The mini-box set contains a remastered version of the quadruple album spread out over three CDs, plus a disc of unreleased material from the concerts. Reproductions of the three posters included in the original set are included, along with a 36-page booklet that includes new liner notes, the original artwork, plus a list of all the concerts Chicago played between 1967 and 1971.
- Peter Cetera - Bass, Vocals
- Terry Kath - Guitar, Vocals
- Robert Lamm - Keyboards, Vocals
- Lee Loughnane - Guitar, Percussion, Trumpet, Vocals, A&R, Project Supervisor
- James Pankow - Percussion, Trombone
- Walter Parazaider - Percussion, Vocals, Woodwind
- Daniel Seraphine - Drums
Disc1
1 In the Country (Kath) - 10:35
2 Fancy Colours (Lamm) - 5:15
3 Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? (Free Form Intro) (Lamm) - 6:20
4 Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? (Lamm) - 3:26
5 South California Purples (Lamm 15:34
6 Questions 67 and 68 (Lamm) - 5:35
7 Sing a Mean Tune Kid (Lamm 12:53
8 Beginnings (Lamm) - 6:27
Disc2
9 It Better End Soon: 1st Movement (Lamm) - 2:54
10 It Better End Soon: 2nd Movement (Flute Solo) (Lamm, Parazaider) - 5:00
11 It Better End Soon: 3rd Movement (Guitar Solo) (Kath, Lamm) - 2:42
12 It Better End Soon: 4th Movement (Preach) (Kath, Lamm) - 3:09
13 It Better End Soon: 5th Movement (Lamm) - 2:07
14 Introduction (Kath) - 7:09
15 Mother (Lamm) - 8:20
16 Lowdown (Cetera, Seraphine) - 3:58
17 Flight 602 (Lamm) - 3:31
18 Motorboat to Mars (Seraphine) - 2:59
19 Free (Lamm) - 5:15
20 Where Do We Go from Here (Cetera) - 4:08
21 I Don't Want Your Money (Kath, Lamm) - 5:22
Disc3
22 Happy 'Cause I'm Going Home (Lamm) - 7:55
23 Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon: Make Me Smile (Pankow) - 3:31
24 Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon: So Much to Say, So Much to Give (Pankow) - 0:59
25 Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon: Anxiety's Moment (Pankow) - 1:08
26 Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon: West Virginia Fantasies (Pankow) - 1:30
27 Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon: Colour My World (Pankow) - 3:26
28 Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon: To Be Free (Pankow) - 1:21
29 Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon: Now More Than Ever (Pankow) - 3:25
30 A Song for Richard and His Friends (Lamm) - 6:58
31 25 or 6 to 4 (Lamm) - 6:34
32 I'm a Man (Miller, Winwood) - 8:51
Disc4
33 Listen [#/U] (Lamm) - 4:15
34 Introduction [#/U] (Kath) - 6:36
35 South California Purples [#/U] (Lamm) - 12:41
36 Loneliness Is Just a Word [#/U] (Lamm) - 2:44
37 Free Form Intro (Naseltones) [ U] (Lamm) - 5:58
38 Sing a Mean Tune Kid [#/u] (Lamm 10:50
39 An Hour in the Shower: A Hard Risin' Morning Without Breakfast/Off to Work [#/U] (Kath) - 5:59
40 25 or 6 to 4 [#/U] (Lamm) - 6:20
[#] Live, [U] Unreleased
