Three words: buy the DVD-A! If you have the capability to play DVD-Audio, run out and get this disc even if you remotely like this album. “Chicago II” is actually the common name for the double-album entitled “Chicago”; Chicago’s first album was called “Chicago Transit Authority”, but was changed due to an issue with Chicago’s government. “Chicago II” contains such familiar songs as “Make Me Smile” and “Colour My World”. I never cared for the album much until this album was released on DVD-A, and I had read that the mastering was improved. How much improved?

Let’s just say that the disc actually sounds musical now. I did a sample of the original LP version (an early pressing I inherited) and this DVD-A’s two-channel program. The DVD-A runs circles around it. I loaded the sample up in Wavelab and compared the spectrum analysis of both tracks. The LP is severely rolled off above 5,000Hz; in essence, it sounds about as good as an AM radio broadcast. Because the DVD-A contains a multichannel program, it was remixed from the original multitrack tapes; the DVD-A spec also allows for a 2-channel version, and this was created from the same multitracks. Well, the recording still isn’t going to blow anyone’s socks off, but the sound quality is greatly improved. In Wavelab, there is plenty of musical information up to 10,000Hz, with the occasional bits above 15,000Hz. In other words, it sounds on par with other recordings of its age, and actually sounds quite good. Note that even the recent remastered CDs don’t improve on the original’s sound: the 2-track mixdown tape is the culprit here, and whoever mastered the original LP version propagated this problem on down the line until this DVD-A release.

The surround mix is good–I’d probably rate it 7 or 8 out of 10. Nothing wild or adventurous, but a nice spread of instruments around the soundstage. The 2-channel version sounds similarly good, but the mix is very slightly different from the original. Nothing that I would notice (as I’m not a huge Chicago fan), but those who’ve analyzed this album and/or grown up listening to it may notice some very minor differences. The DVD-A actually makes it enjoyable to listen to–this album might actually grow on me!