Question for Smitty.....

[SAT-I need more room!!]

I could ask this in PM's, but it would be info for everyone so I thought I'd ask on the open boards.

Smitty, I think I asked you once, either on here or over at YL open the TV Chicago did probably around 73-74. There was scenes of them in a western setting and then of them in the studio. The western scenes weren't in black and white, but rather in like an "antique" film.

I only caught the last few minutes of it, and I know they showed them doing Feelin' Stronger Every Day in the studio.

So for one I'd like to know (again) what this was and for two, is there any talk on their website of putting something like this out on DVD??

[smittykins--70s pop RULES!]

It was called "Meanwhile Back At The Ranch," a TV special they did in 1974 for ABC-TV/Dick Clark Productions. I actually have a VHS copy of the show(complete with original commercials by Dr. Pepper, Kodak, and Levi's)that I got from a lady in Germany who co-produced a now-defunct fanzine about the band(she couldn't use it because European and American broadcasting systems are incompatible). It blends musical footage with this corny storyline(in the western scenes you mentioned, which were produced like a silent movie)that Anne Murray(!), a rival ranchowner, has stolen the money the band needs to pay off the mortgage to Caribou Ranch, so they enlist the aid of Charlie Rich(!!)to help them get it back, and he saves the day!

And unfortunately, I haven't heard anything about releasing it on DVD. I'm sure it's out of their hands anyway; it'd be up to Dick Clark Productions. For all its cornyness, the musical numbers are still good(Chicago even backs up Anne on "You Won't See Me")and it is the original band.

[SAT-I need more room!!]

smittykins said:

It was called "Meanwhile Back At The Ranch," a TV special they did in 1974 for ABC-TV/Dick Clark Productions. I actually have a VHS copy of the show(complete with original commercials by Dr. Pepper, Kodak, and Levi's)that I got from a lady in Germany who co-produced a now-defunct fanzine about the band(she couldn't use it because European and American broadcasting systems are incompatible). It blends musical footage with this corny storyline(in the western scenes you mentioned, which were produced like a silent movie)that Anne Murray(!), a rival ranchowner, has stolen the money the band needs to pay off the mortgage to Caribou Ranch, so they enlist the aid of Charlie Rich(!!)to help them get it back, and he saves the day!

And unfortunately, I haven't heard anything about releasing it on DVD. I'm sure it's out of their hands anyway; it'd be up to Dick Clark Productions. For all its cornyness, the musical numbers are still good(Chicago even backs up Anne on "You Won't See Me")and it is the original band.

Thanks fo the info Smitty!

I really wish this is something they'd put out on DVD. All the Chicago stuff on DVD is from the past few years.

You're lucky to score that! If you ever want to make a trade........

[Ken]

I'd love to see that.