Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon

"Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon" (sic), also known as "The Ballet" and "Make Me Smile Medley", is a nearly thirteen-minute mini-rock opera/song cycle/suite from Chicago's 1970 album Chicago (also called Chicago II). It was the group's first attempt at a long-format multi-part work.

"Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon"
Song by Chicago
from the album Chicago
ReleasedJanuary 26, 1970
RecordedAugust 1969
GenreJazz rock, soft rock, progressive rock
Length12:55
LabelColumbia Records
Songwriter(s)James Pankow
Producer(s)James William Guercio

It was composed by James Pankow, who got the inspiration to write the "Ballet" from his love of long classical music song cycles. According to a May 2018 interview with the Charleston Gazette-Mail, the songs were written in attempt to win back his ex-fiancee, Terrie Heisler,[1] who was at the time attending West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, West Virginia.[2]

"Ballet" takes up three-quarters of side two of Chicago and consists of seven tracks, three of which are instrumentals:

  1. "Make Me Smile" (Lead vocals by Terry Kath)
  2. "So Much to Say, So Much to Give" (Lead vocals by Robert Lamm)
  3. "Anxiety's Moment" (Instrumental)
  4. "West Virginia Fantasies" (Instrumental)
  5. "Colour My World" (Vocals by Terry Kath)
  6. "To Be Free" (Instrumental)
  7. "Now More Than Ever" (Lead vocals by Terry Kath)

The final track, "Now More Than Ever," is a single-verse reprise of the suite's opening song, "Make Me Smile." The vocal songs within the suite can be viewed as telling the story of a man searching for a far away lost love and attempting to rekindle the love they had shared. Two of these songs reached the top ten on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100: a single edit of "Make Me Smile (/Now More Than Ever)" (#9, 1970) and "Colour My World" (#7, 1971).

The instrumental movement "West Virginia Fantasies" incorporates instrumental counterpoint extensively between the horns, guitar, and keyboards, exemplifying Chicago's skill at composing and arranging complex pieces.

The suite was recorded as a single track, titled "The Ballet," on their album Chicago XXVI: Live in Concert in 1999. The version on the 2005 DVD Chicago & Earth, Wind & Fire — Live at the Greek Theatre is called "Make Me Smile Medley," named after the suite's opening song.

In some live concerts Chicago ended the first set with the "Ballet." The last long chord of "Now More Than Ever" often elicited a standing ovation from the audience.

References
  1. City celebrates 72nd birthday of Chicago’s legendary trombonist, Jimmy Pankow
  2. Lynch, Bill (May 16, 2018). "Chicago horn player talks about touring with Jimi and a special song with a WV connection". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
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