Beginnings (song)

"Beginnings"
Single by Chicago
from the album The Chicago Transit Authority
B-side	"Poem 58" (original 1969 release) "Colour My World" (1971 re-release)
Released	October 1969 June 1971
Format	7"
Recorded	January 27/30, 1969
Genre	Jazz fusion
Length	7:54 (album version) 2:47 (single version) 6:06 (compilation edit)
Label	Columbia
Writer(s)	Robert Lamm
Producer	James William Guercio
Chicago singles chronology
"Questions 67 and 68" (1969) "Beginnings" (1969) "Make Me Smile" (1970)
"Lowdown" (1971) "Beginnings" / "Colour My World" (1971) "Questions 67 and 68" / I'm a Man (1971)

"Beginnings" is a song written by Robert Lamm for the rock band Chicago and recorded for their debut album The Chicago Transit Authority, released in 1969. Lamm also provided lead vocals. The song was the band's second single but failed to chart on its initial release.

After the band's success with subsequent singles, "Beginnings" was re-released in June 1971, backed with "Colour My World". Both sides became U.S. radio hits, and the combined single climbed to number seven on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. "Beginnings" reached number one on the U.S. Easy Listening chart.

The distinctive rhythm guitar was originally played by Chicago's guitarist Terry Kath. In concert, Lamm has played guitar for the song, though he is the group's keyboard player.

The uncut album version clocked in at 7:54. The original single version was cut to just under three minutes, leaving only a fraction of the climactic second half. A later edit of just over six minutes for subsequent compilation albums restores much of the second half.

In 1974, "Beginnings" was covered by pianist Gene Harris on his Blue Note album Astral Signal. This is one of the very few times Harris can be heard as lead vocalist.

WJMK in Chicago played this song first when they reverted to a Classic Hits format.

See also

• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1971 (U.S.)