Baby, What a Big Surprise explained

Baby, What a Big Surprise
Cover:Baby, What a Big Surprise cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Chicago
Album:Chicago XI
B-Side:Takin’ It On Uptown
Released:September 1977
Recorded:AprilJune 1977
Genre:Soft rock[1]
Length:3:04
Label:Columbia
Producer:James William Guercio
Prev Title:You Are on My Mind
Prev Year:1977
Next Title:Little One
Next Year:1978

"Baby, What a Big Surprise" is a ballad written by Chicago's then bassist/singer Peter Cetera, which appeared on their album Chicago XI (1977), with Cetera singing lead vocals. The first single released from the album reached number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.[2]

Background

Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys and Cetera's brother, Tim Cetera, provided additional backing vocals on the recording while saxophonist Walt Parazaider plays flute on the distinctive introduction and trumpeter Lee Loughnane plays a piccolo trumpet.

Although Chicago XI yielded two more minor singles, "Baby, What a Big Surprise" was Chicago's last top ten single before the accidental death of guitarist Terry Kath, and was also their last Top Ten single produced by James William Guercio.

Reception

Cash Box said that "frequent repetition drives the memorable chorus home, while classically influenced strings, brass and vocals lend a stately touch."[3] Record World said that "the interesting structure and chorus hook" explain why the song was a popular song on pop music radio stations even before it was released as a single.[4]

Personnel

Chicago

Additional personnel

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1977–78)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 14
Austria 9
Canada RPM Top Singles[6] 3
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[7] 7
4
France (IFOP)[8] 38
New Zealand[9] 19
Sweden 12
Switzerland 19
UK[10] 41
US Billboard Hot 1004
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[11] 8
US Cash Box Top 100[12] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (1977)Rank
Australia [13] 119
Canada[14] 58
US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)[15] 59

Cover versions

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tom . Breihan . The Number Ones: Chicago’s "Hard To Say I’m Sorry. . Jun 12, 2020 . ...Columbia, the band’s label, wanted more of Cetera’s gooey soft-rock ballads. “Baby, What A Big Surprise”, another Cetera ballad, was a #4 hit for the group in 1977.. July 22, 2023.
  2. Web site: Chicago Awards. AllMusic. 2012-08-17.
  3. News: CashBox Singles Reviews. October 1, 1977. 18. Cash Box. 2021-12-26.
  4. Record World. October 1, 1977. 2023-02-16. Hits of the Week. 1.
  5. Book: Kent, David . David Kent (historian) . . Australian Chart Book . St Ives, N.S.W. . 1993 . 0-646-11917-6.
  6. Web site: Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada . Collectionscanada.gc.ca . 1977-12-17 . 2019-09-15.
  7. Web site: Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada . Collectionscanada.gc.ca . 1977-11-19 . 2018-03-10.
  8. Web site: Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70 . InfoDisc . 1977-09-30 . 11 March 2019 . fr .
  9. Web site: NZ Top 40 Singles Chart | The Official New Zealand Music Chart . Nztop40.co.nz . 1978-01-29 . 2016-10-12.
  10. Web site: CHICAGO | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company . Officialcharts.com . 2016-10-12.
  11. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn

    . Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Joel Whitburn . 2002 . Record Research . 55.

  12. http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19771210.html Cash Box Top 100 Singles, December 10, 1977
  13. Book: Kent, David . David Kent (historian) . . Australian Chart Book . St Ives, N.S.W. . 1993 . 0-646-11917-6.
  14. Web site: Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada . Bac-lac.gc.ca . 2016-10-12.
  15. Book: Whitburn, Joel . 1999 . Pop Annual . Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin . Record Research Inc. . 0-89820-142-X.

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