Beginnings (Chicago song)

"Beginnings" is a song written by Robert Lamm for the rock band Chicago Transit Authority and recorded for its debut album Chicago Transit Authority, released in 1969. The song is the band's second single (after "Questions 67 and 68"), had peaked at position #8 by means of the WNHC hit parade, but did not reach either the Billboard or the Cash Box hit parade on its initial release.^[3]

B-side

• "Poem 58"
• (Original 1969 release)
• "Colour My World"
• (1971 re-release)

ReleasedOctober 28, 1969 (1969-10-28)^[1] June 11, 1971 (1971-06-11)^[1]

RecordedJanuary 27/30, 1969

Genre

• Pop soul^[2]
• jazz rock

Quick facts Single by Chicago Transit Authority, from the album Chicago Transit Authority ...

"Beginnings"
Original 1969 single
Single by Chicago Transit Authority
from the album Chicago Transit Authority
B-side	"Poem 58" (Original 1969 release) "Colour My World" (1971 re-release)
Released	October 28, 1969 (1969-10-28)[1] June 11, 1971 (1971-06-11)[1]
Recorded	January 27/30, 1969
Genre	Pop soul[2] jazz rock
Length	7:54 (Album version) 2:47 (Single version) 6:26 (Only the Beginning edit)
Label	Columbia
Songwriter	Robert Lamm
Producer	James William Guercio
Chicago Transit Authority singles chronology
"Questions 67 and 68" (1969) "Beginnings" (1969) "I’m a Man" (1970)
Lowdown (1971) Beginnings/Colour My World (1971) Questions 67 and 68/I'm a Man (1971)
Alternative cover
1971 re-release

Close

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.^[4] "Beginnings" reached number one on the U.S. Easy Listening chart.^[5][6] Writing for Ultimate Classic Rock, Dave Swanson rates "Beginnings" as number two in his list of top ten Chicago songs.^[3] In February 2026, J.S. Gornael, writing for Collider, listed it as the number one "Greatest Romantic Classic Rock Song".^[7] It has been covered by many bands.^[8]