''Peter Cetera'', released in September 1981, is the self-titled first solo release by American musician Peter Cetera, released while he was the bassist and lead vocalist of the band

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

. A much more rock-oriented album than the disco-influenced music Chicago had been producing at the time, Cetera released the album in September 1981 while still a member of the band. Released on Full Moon Records, a subsidiary of Warner Brothers (reissued in 2004 on

Wounded Bird Records Wounded Bird Records is an American compact disc only re-issue record label that was founded in 1998 in Guilderland, New York. They re-release lesser known albums from popular and lesser known artists, including Paul Butterfield, Cactus, Herbie ...

), the album was not commercially successful, peaking at number 143 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart in March 1982, after making its first appearance on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart on January 23, 1982 at number 192. However, it is notable because Cetera is the sole writer of all songs on the album save one—"I Can Feel It," which Cetera co-wrote with Ricky Fataar and

Carl Wilson Carl Dean Wilson (December 21, 1946 – February 6, 1998) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys. He was their lead guitarist, the youngest sibling of bandmates Brian and Dennis, and the group's ''de ...

. Wilson, a member of

the Beach Boys The Beach Boys are an American Rock music, rock band that formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian Wilson, Brian, Dennis Wilson, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and frie ...

and a friend of Cetera's, also played guitar on the song. The single "Livin' in the Limelight," the only hit from the album, was released on November 18, 1981, and charted at number six in the

Billboard Mainstream Rock Mainstream Rock is a music chart in ''Billboard'' magazine that ranks the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations in the United States, a category that combines the formats of active rock and heritage rock. The chart was launched in Ma ...

. One year after ''Peter Cetera'' was released, Cetera and Chicago launched a major comeback with the number one single, "

Hard to Say I'm Sorry "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" is a power ballad written by bassist Peter Cetera, who also sang lead on the track, and producer David Foster, for the group Chicago. It was released on May 17, 1982, as the lead single from the album ''Chicago 16''. On S ...

", and album, ''

Chicago 16 ''Chicago 16'' is the thirteenth studio album by the American band Chicago, released on June 7, 1982. It is considered their "comeback" album because it was their first album to go platinum since 1978's ''Hot Streets.'' It made it into the ''Bi ...

''. After 1984's ''

Chicago 17 ''Chicago 17'' is the fourteenth studio album by American band Chicago, released on May 14, 1984. It was the group's second release for Full Moon/Warner Bros. Records, their second album to be produced by David Foster and their last with founding ...

'' was also a massive hit, Cetera left the band to concentrate fully on his solo career. The song, "On the Line", which appears on this album, was on the

B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...

of the

45 RPM single In music, a single is a type of release, typically a song recording of fewer tracks than an LP record or an album. One can be released for sale to the public in a variety of formats. In most cases, a single is a song that is released separat ...

of Cetera's first number one song as a solo performer in 1986, "

Glory of Love "Glory of Love" is a 1986 song performed by Peter Cetera, which he wrote and composed with his then-wife Diane Nini and David Foster. The song was recorded by Cetera shortly after he left the band Chicago to pursue a solo career. Featured in the ...

Production

The album was produced by Cetera and Jim Boyer and was recorded digitally.

Artwork and packaging

The painting of Cetera playing the bass guitar, used for the album cover, was by John Nieto. Contemporary artist Nieto is known for his use of vibrant, electric hues and bold strokes in his paintings. The photograph of Cetera on the dust cover inside was by Diane Nini.

Release, promotion, marketing

When

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...

dropped Chicago in 1981, Cetera was in the middle of recording his first solo album for the same label. He had to personally buy the rights to the album before it could be released. According to Cetera, Chicago's new record company, Warner Bros., released the ''Peter Cetera'' album while it was waiting for ''

'' to be released. Cetera has asserted that one reason for the album's poor commercial success, however, was lack of support from the record company: the record company didn't want it to be successful and didn't promote it for fear that he would leave the group. In his 2011 autobiography, former Chicago bandmate, Danny Seraphine, backs up Cetera on this point, writing, "...

he album He or HE may refer to: Language * He (pronoun), an English pronoun * He (kana), the romanization of the Japanese kana へ * He (letter), the fifth letter of many Semitic alphabets * He (Cyrillic), a letter of the Cyrillic script called ''He'' in ...

sank like a stone due to lack of record company support. Warner Brothers didn't want it to interfere with their plans for Chicago." A full-page advertisement announcing the album appeared on page 100 of the November 21, 1981 issue of ''Billboard'' magazine.

Songs and personnel

All songs written by Peter Cetera, except where noted. Side One 1. "Livin' in the Limelight" – 4:20 *

Steve Lukather Steven Lee Lukather (born October 21, 1957) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer, best known as the sole continuous founding member of the rock band Toto. His reputation as a skilled guitarist led to a stea ...

– lead guitar and solo * Craig Hull – 2nd guitar * Mike Botts – drums * Michael Boddicker – synthesizer * Peter Cetera – bass, percussion 2. "I Can Feel It" (Cetera, Ricky Fataar, Carl Wilson) – 3:07 * Chris Pinnick – lead guitar and solo *

– 2nd guitar * Ricky Fataar – drums * Mark Williams – percussion * Peter Cetera – bass 3. "How Many Times" – 4:21 * Chris Pinnick – 1st guitar * Rich Eames – electric piano * David "Hawk" Wolinski – synthesizer and solo * Ricky Fataar – drums * Steve Foreman – percussion * Peter Cetera – bass, acoustic guitar 4. "Holy Moly" – 4:25 * Chris Pinnick – electric guitar * Steve Lukather – electric guitar * Ricky Fataar – drums, percussion *

Tommy Morgan Thomas Morgan Edwards (December 4, 1932 – June 23, 2022) was an American harmonicist and session musician, who had been active since the 1950s. He was considered one of the most heard harmonica players in the world, playing in over 500 fea ...

– harmonica and solo * Peter Cetera – bass, acoustic guitar 5. "Mona Mona" – 3:18 * Chris Pinnick – 1st guitar * Ricky Fataar – drums * Gary Herbig – saxophone * David "Hawk" Wolinski – synthesizer * Peter Cetera – bass, 2nd guitar Side Two 6. "On the Line" – 4:00 * Josh Leo – electric guitar and solo * Craig Hull – electric guitar * Kenny Edwards – acoustic guitar * Bob Glaub – bass * Craig Doerge – piano * Michael Botts – drums * Michael Boddicker – synthesizers * Peter Cetera – percussion 7. "Not Afraid to Cry" – 3:27 * Chris Pinnick – electric 6-string guitar * Mark Goldenberg – acoustic 12-string guitar and solo * Ricky Fataar – drums * Peter Cetera – bass, percussion 8. "Evil Eye" – 2:37 * Chris Pinnick – guitar, 12-string guitar * Mark Goldenberg – 12-string guitar * Ricky Fataar – drums * Peter Cetera – bass, synthesizer 9. "Practical Man" – 4:49 * Chris Pinnick – guitar * Craig Hull – guitar * William "Smitty" Smith – organ * David "Hawk" Wolinski – synthesizers * Ricky Fataar – drums * Peter Cetera – bass, percussion, vocorder, synthesizer * Horns – written by Peter Cetera; arranged by Roland Vazquez 10. "Ivy Covered Walls" – 3:56 * Chris Pinnick – guitar and solo * Carli Munoz – piano * Ricky Fataar – drums * Peter Cetera – bass, percussion Song listing and personnel from vinyl LP liner notes. Song times from vinyl LP label.

Notes

References

{{Authority control 1981 debut albums Peter Cetera albums Albums produced by Jim Boyer (audio engineer) Full Moon Records albums Warner Records albums