Harry Truman (song)
"Harry Truman" is a song written by Robert Lamm for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago VIII (1975), with lead vocals by Lamm. The first single released from that album, it reached number 13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.[1] It also reached number 23 on the Adult Contemporary chart. In Canada, the song peaked at number 16.
| "Harry Truman" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Chicago | ||||
| from the album Chicago VIII | ||||
| B-side | "Till We Meet Again" | |||
| Released | February 1975 | |||
| Genre | Pop rock | |||
| Length | 3:01 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Robert Lamm | |||
| Producer(s) | James William Guercio | |||
| Chicago singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Written after the resignation of U.S. President Richard Nixon, the lyrics are a tribute to a former President that Lamm felt the American people could trust — straight-talking Harry S. Truman. "America needs you, Harry Truman".[2]
Cash Box said that it "starts out sounding like a Randy Newman song and evolves into a Beatlesque romp."[3] Record World called it a "nostalgic search for the elements of true heroics."[4]
Despite its popularity at the time, the Beatlesque "Harry Truman" only appears on three of Chicago's compilation albums: Group Portrait (now out of print) and The Box, plus the Canada-only "Overtime" released in 1995. It is rarely performed in the band's live shows.
This song was "performed" by Chicago in late 1974 as part of the 1975 Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve special, in which Chicago guitarist Terry Kath can be seen mocking the band's lip-synching by holding cue cards depicting the song's lyrics.
Personnel
- Robert Lamm – lead vocals, piano
- Terry Kath – guitar, backing vocals
- Peter Cetera – bass, backing vocals
- Danny Seraphine – drums
- Laudir de Oliveira – percussion
- Jimmy Pankow – trombone
- Lee Loughnane – trumpet
- Walter Parazaider – tenor saxophone, clarinet
- Caribou Kitchenettes – backing vocals
The "Caribou Kitchenettes" were Loughnane, de Oliveira, Pankow, Parazaider, Joanne Roccone, Brandy Maitland, Katherine Ogden, Kristy Ferguson, Linda Greene, Donna Conroy, Bob Eberhardt, John Carsello, Steve Fagin, and Richard Torres.
References
- "Chicago Awards". Allmusic. Archived from the original on 2016-07-25. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
- "Chicago official website". Archived from the original on 2007-06-09. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
- "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. February 15, 1975. p. 22. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-02-09. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
- "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. February 15, 1975. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-11.