Peter Cetera
Studio album by
Peter Cetera
ReleasedSeptember 1981
Recorded1981
GenreRock
Length36:22
LabelFull Moon/Warner Bros.
ProducerPeter Cetera, Jim Boyer
Peter Cetera chronology
Peter Cetera
(1981) 		Solitude/Solitaire
(1986)
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Peter Cetera, released in September 1981,[1] is the self-titled first solo release by American musician Peter Cetera, released while he was the bassist and lead vocalist of the band Chicago.

A much more rock-oriented album than the disco-influenced music Chicago had been producing at the time, Cetera released the album in September 1981 while still a member of the band. Released on Full Moon Records, a subsidiary of Warner Brothers[2] (reissued in 2004 on Wounded Bird Records), the album was not commercially successful, peaking at number 143 on the Billboard 200 chart in March 1982,[3] after making its first appearance on the Billboard 200 chart on January 23, 1982 at number 192.[4] However, it is notable because Cetera is the sole writer of all songs on the album save one—"I Can Feel It," which Cetera co-wrote with Ricky Fataar and Carl Wilson.[5] Wilson, a member of the Beach Boys and a friend of Cetera's,[6] also played guitar on the song. The single "Livin' in the Limelight," the only hit from the album, was released on November 18, 1981,[2] and peaked at number six in the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.[7][8]

One year after Peter Cetera was released, Cetera and Chicago launched a major comeback with the number one single, "Hard to Say I'm Sorry", and album, Chicago 16. After 1984's Chicago 17 was also a massive hit, Cetera left the band to concentrate fully on his solo career. The song, "On the Line", which appears on this album, was on the B-side of the 45 RPM single of Cetera's first number one song as a solo performer in 1986, "Glory of Love".[9][10]

Production

The album was produced by Cetera and Jim Boyer[2] and was recorded digitally.[citation needed]

Artwork and packaging

The painting of Cetera playing the bass guitar, used for the album cover, was by John Nieto.[5] Contemporary artist Nieto is known for his use of vibrant, electric hues and bold strokes in his paintings.[11] The photograph of Cetera on the dust cover inside was by Diane Nini.[5]

Release, promotion, marketing

When Columbia Records dropped Chicago in 1981, Cetera was in the middle of recording his first solo album for the same label. He had to personally buy the rights to the album before it could be released.[12] According to Cetera, Chicago's new record company, Warner Bros., released the Peter Cetera album while it was waiting for Chicago 16 to be released.[13] Cetera has asserted that one reason for the album's poor commercial success, however, was lack of support from the record company: the record company didn't want it to be successful and didn't promote it for fear that he would leave the group.[14][13] In his 2011 autobiography, former Chicago bandmate, Danny Seraphine, backs up Cetera on this point, writing, "... [the album] sank like a stone due to lack of record company support. Warner Brothers didn't want it to interfere with their plans for Chicago."[15]: 200  A full-page advertisement announcing the album appeared on page 100 of the November 21, 1981 issue of Billboard magazine.[2]

Songs and personnel

All songs written by Peter Cetera, except where noted.[5]

Side One

1. "Livin' in the Limelight" – 4:20

2. "I Can Feel It" (Cetera, Ricky Fataar, Carl Wilson) – 3:07

3. "How Many Times" – 4:21

4. "Holy Moly" – 4:25

5. "Mona Mona" – 3:18

Side Two

6. "On the Line" – 4:00

7. "Not Afraid to Cry" – 3:27

8. "Evil Eye" – 2:37

9. "Practical Man" – 3:49[Note 2]

10. "Ivy Covered Walls" – 3:56

Song listing and personnel from vinyl LP liner notes.[5]

Notes

  1. ^ a b A typographical error in the liner notes for the 2004 re-release in compact disc format on Wounded Bird Records lists Craig Hull as Craig "Huff" on this track.[16]
  2. ^ Incorrectly listed on LP label as 4:49.

References

  1. ^ Bishop, Pete (September 2, 1981). "Books & Music: Peter Cetera". The Pittsburgh Press. p. F-6. Retrieved September 22, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  2. ^ a b c d "Peter Cetera". Billboard. Vol. 93, no. 46. November 21, 1981. p. 100 (Full page advertisement for album). Retrieved February 21, 2017 – via Google books.
  3. ^ "Top 200 Albums Week of March 20, 1982". Billboard. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  4. ^ "Top 200 Albums: Week of January 23, 1992". Billboard. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d e Peter Cetera (vinyl LP liner notes). Peter Cetera. U.S.A.: Warner Bros. Records Inc. 1981. FMH 3624.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Ruhlmann, William James (1991). Chicago Group Portrait (Box Set) (CD booklet archived online) (Media notes). New York City, NY: Columbia Records. p. 7. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  7. ^ "Rock Music: Top Mainstream Rock Songs Chart Week of February 27, 1982". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
  8. ^ "Billboard Rock Albums & Top Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 94, no. 8. February 27, 1982. p. 24. Retrieved April 12, 2021 – via Google books.
  9. ^ Neely, Tim; Popoff, Martin (2009). Goldmine Price Guide to 45 RPM Records, 7th Ed. Krause Publications. p. 122.
  10. ^ Peter Cetera - Glory Of Love, 45cat, retrieved 2017-03-06
  11. ^ Stool, Nathan. "Contemporary Art Giclee Prints Native American Indian Art John Nieto". www.nietofineart.com. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  12. ^ Grein, Paul (January 26, 1985). "Record of the Year: Chicago Sustaining Comeback Momentum". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 4. New York, NY: Billboard Publications, Inc. pp. 6, 79. Retrieved July 23, 2017. . . . they were dropped by Columbia when Cetera was in the middle of recording his first solo album. 'I had to buy out my album,' Cetera remembers, 'so here I was, walking around with an album that was half done, looking for a record company.'
  13. ^ a b Cetera, Peter (October 1, 1992). "Old Interview: Peter Cetera, October 1, 1992". Listening Is Everything (Interview). Interviewed by Jeff Giles. Jeff Giles. Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  14. ^ O'Reilly, Brendan J. (August 16, 2016). "Peter Cetera To Perform Hits From Chicago And His Solo Career At WHBPAC - Westhampton Beach". 27east.com. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  15. ^ Seraphine, Danny (2011). Street Player: My Chicago Story. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 978-0-470-41683-9.
  16. ^ Peter Cetera (compact disc). Peter Cetera. Guilderland, New York, U.S.A.: Wounded Bird Records. 2004. WOU 3624.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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