"South California Purples" (originally titled "Southern California Purples") is a song written and sung by Robert Lamm for the rock band Chicago and recorded for their debut album Chicago Transit Authority (1969).[1][2][3]
| "South California Purples" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Chicago | |
| from the album Chicago Transit Authority | |
| Released | April 28, 1969 |
| Recorded | January 1969 |
| Genre | Blues rock, hard rock |
| Length | 6:11 |
| Label | Columbia Records |
| Songwriter(s) | Robert Lamm |
| Producer(s) | James William Guercio |
The song quotes the opening line from The Beatles' "I Am the Walrus:"
- "I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together."
A live version appears on 1971's Chicago at Carnegie Hall, lasting over fifteen minutes and on Live VI Decades Live (This Is What We Do), recorded at The Isle Of Wight Festival.
Personnel
edit- Robert Lamm – lead vocals, keyboards
- Terry Kath – guitar, backing vocals
- Peter Cetera – bass, backing vocals
- Danny Seraphine – drums, percussion
- Jimmy Pankow – trombone
- Lee Loughnane – trumpet
- Walt Parazaider – tenor saxophone
References
edit- ^ Strong, Martin Charles (2004). The Great Rock Discography. Canongate U.S. p. 285. ISBN 9781841956152. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ Planer, Lindsay. South California Purples at AllMusic. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- ^ Desrosiers, Mark (6 November 2002). "Can You Dig It? Yes I Can!". PopMatters. Retrieved 23 March 2014.