THE CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY

Apart from the questionable "Free Form Guitar" and "Prologue, August 29, 1968" and an average cover "I'm a man", this is a first-rate jazz-rock album that together with "Blood, Sweat and Tears", created the prototype for this kind of music.

The band has not problem to rock hard and convincingly, extend to jazz territory with capable and memorable brass section but remains accessible also thanks to the great down to earth rhythm section and use of keyboard. You can even hear traces of fusion or progressive rock. Improvisation is in line with 1969's spirit of freedom.

All instrumental players are very competent as we will also hear on the next albums. What is striking is the compositonal maturity of the songs - no uncertainly or foolish mistakes. Also, since it is their debut album, it's the only album with no apparent desire to create commercially friendly material as would happen in the future. The highlight of jazz-rock, pushing boundaries of pop/rock/jazz.