Song · Chicago
“Beginnings” by Chicago
From the album Chicago Transit Authority (1969)
“Beginnings” by Chicago appears on 14 radio countdowns from 7 stations between 1991 and 2026. It was first released in 1969 on the album Chicago Transit Authority. Its best result is #87 on the KSHE 95 U-Man 500 (2026). In the combined RockLists rankings it is #6,431 alternative song of all time.
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"Beginnings" turned up on Chicago Transit Authority, the 1969 debut from the band that still went by that name, and Robert Lamm wrote it and sang the lead. James William Guercio produced it for Columbia, and it's a jazz-kissed love song that takes its sweet time, happy to stretch out and luxuriate in the feeling.
It was slow to catch on. Put out as the band's second single, after "Questions 67 and 68", it missed both the Billboard and Cash Box charts. Then, with the band riding later hits, it was reissued in June 1971 with "Colour My World" on the other side; radio played both, the pairing reached number seven on the Hot 100, and "Beginnings" went all the way to the top of the Easy Listening chart. Collider later named it the greatest romantic classic rock song.
Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.
RockLists rankings
Alternative & Modern Rock
Indie & Adult Alternative
Classic Rock
All Rock Formats
All-time and decade countdowns
| Year | # | Station | Countdown | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 785 | CFNY 102.1 The Edge | CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (1991 Edition) | 1002 |
| 2001 | 1554 | WFPK | WFPK 2001 Greatest Songs of All Time | 2000 |
| 2002 | 629 | 92.3 KGON | KGON Top 923 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2002) | 923 |
| 2010 | 848 | WXPN | WXPN 885 Ultimate Road Trip Songs (2010) | 885 |
| 2012 | 649 | WXPN | WXPN 885 Greatest Rock Songs (2012) | 885 |
| 2014 | 237 | WXPN | WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Songs (2014) | 885 |
| 2014 | 621 | Big 100 | BIG 1000 New Year's Countdown (2014) | 1000 |
| 2020 | 345 | WXPN | WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time | 2020 |
| 2022 | 277 | WMGK | WMGK Philly 500 (2022) | 500 |
| 2023 | 200 | WMGK | WMGK Philly 500 (2023) | 500 |
| 2024 | 407 | WMGK | WMGK Philly 500 (2024) | 500 |
| 2025 | 145 | WMGK | WMGK Philly 500 (2025) | 500 |
| 2026 | 166 | WMGK | WMGK Philly 500 (2026) | 500 |
| 2026 | 87 | KSHE 95 | KSHE 95 U-Man 500 (2026) | 499 |
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