Chicago.
Sometimes it gets overlooked as a great city as we tend to focus our energies on considering the coasts and leave the interior as a great blur in our minds. But a great city it is, indeed, and its location in the Midwest enhances its riches. It’s real. Unpretentious. Sitting as it does right in the center of the country, it is in some respects, the most American of cities.
It ties east to west and carries our industrial tradition in its very architecture. After the great fire of 1871, Chicago didn’t just rebuild, it gave us the first skyscraper. You get the sense that everyone in Chicago is working. Hard. Sprawling under its L tracks are a kaleidoscope of images and recollections: terrific parks, Lollapalooza, Al Capone, baseball, politics, President Obama, a rich fabric of diverse and disparate neighborhoods, ethnic foods, the Art Institute with “American Gothic” and Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks” inside, Second City, theater, Lake Michigan, jazz clubs, speakeasies, so many great restaurants, hot dog vendors, Michigan Avenue, Navy Pier, Ira Glass doing This American Life over at WBEZ’s studios, the University of Chicago and its storied press, and on and on. After being raised from the age of three on the South Side, the great scribbler Nelson Algren would go on to write about the city, “Once you’ve become a part of this particular patch, you’ll never love another. Like loving a woman with a broken nose, you may well find lovelier lovelies, but never a lovely so real.”
These tracks tell some of Chicago’s many tales, evoke some of its many stories, each song as real as the city itself.
-1-
“Sweet Home Chicago”
Robert Johnson
Robert Johnson: The Complete Recordings
17 responses
Sitting as it does right on the Continental Divide…
Eh?
Fine mix, though.
Thanks for the catch Bart! Also for the kudos on the mix. We’ve updated accordingly.
hey bart — thanks for your kind words on the mix and the great note. completely my error. it should have said “a continental divide”, not “the Continental Divide”. thanks for the sharp eye and for reading/listening.
Wow. How do you make these selections? Am loving Open Rhythms. Thanks, Anna.
Great list, but might I also “Lake Shore Drive” by Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah? Also could be on a list of songs that did a good job of mentioning LSD without getting into trouble.
Meant to say “might I also SUGGEST.”
I have been wanting to make a Chicago mixtape! Would add “Dear Chicago” by Ryan Adams. One of his great songs. Thanks for this.
Bam, kitty, love this and love you, Anna!
Well done, Anna! A smidge of Smashing Pumpkins – the quintessential Chicago band – is the only thing missing. Ah, so homesick. . .
Wilco and Robert Johnson and Tom Waits all in the same mix–and I was born in Chicago–hello, and thank you, for making a dismal rainy Wednesday less hideous.
Anna, Anna, Anna! Your feature is such a wonderful add to the Rumpus and your music selections are so complimentary to your narrative. I love this.
I just moved here a few months ago, so I’m really enjoying this. I’d add “Chicago,” by Sufjan Stevens. His whole album about Illinois is excellent, of course.
Being a Chicago girl, I have to say this is RIGHT ON and damn, I love your for starting it all off with Robert Johnson!!! You know how to work it, Anna!!! Outstanding column!!!! I’m jamming again!!! Thank you!
playing it now! thanks anna!
thanks so much for all the kind words and for your suggestions….some of those very tunes/acts were on early versions of this mix….but as we pare and whittle and shuffle not everything makes the final cut….but we love your interest and involvement and appreciate you telling us what else you would have included. hope to see you all next wednesday for mix #3…
Great idea. I just returned from a trip to Chicago & what you say really rings true. Nice call to begin your song list with Robert Johnson. Would love to see “Big Bad Leroy Brown” here, too. You have enough songs to do 2 collections!
In a moment of clarity one night in Chicago, it occurred to me that Chicago is America. If you are from some other place and need to discover America – Chicago is the place. Now, many other places in the nation will balk, and I’ve heard much disagreement with this statement, but I stand by it. Now, I’m happy to see my sentiment echoed here.
I still don’t miss the winter, but I’ll always miss my sweet home.
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