Chicago Transit Authority
by Chicago Transit Authority

Chicago Transit Authority by Chicago Transit Authority
Year: 1969
Release date: 1969-04-00
Overall rank: 1,013th   Overall chart history
Average Rating: 
80/100 (from 269 votes)
  Ratings distribution   Average rating history
Accolades:
Award Top albums of 1969 (31st)
Award Top albums of the 1960s (111th)
Award Best albums of all time (1,013th)

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Chicago Chicago Transit Authority (CD) Album
Condition: Brand New


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Original CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY DOUBLE LP'S
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Chicago Chicago Transit Authority (CD) Album (UK IMPORT)
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Chicago Transit Authority bestography

The best album by Chicago is Chicago Transit Authority which is ranked number 1013 in the list of all-time albums with a total rank score of 1,716.

Chicago Transit Authority album bestography « Higher ranked
-
This album (1,013th)
Chicago Transit Authority
Lower ranked (2,261st) »
Chicago

(N.B. Bestographies include all albums by an artist (and their variations), but do not include albums ranked outside the top 100,000).

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Chicago Transit Authority track list

  Track ratings The tracks on this album have an average rating of 79 out of 100 (all tracks have been rated).

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Track pick (1000 - 100 votes) Top-rated track as rated by BestEverAlbums.com members.

Chicago Transit Authority rankings

Rankings summary
Overall rank: 1,013th | 1960s rank: 111th | 1969 rank: 31st

Chicago Transit Authority collection

Chicago Transit Authority ratings

Average Rating: 
80/100 (from 269 votes)
  Ratings distribution Help Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AV
where:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
m = minimum number of ratings required for an item to appear in a 'top-rated' chart (currently 10).
AV = the site mean average rating.

Showing latest 5 ratings for this album. | Show all 269 ratings for this album.

Sort Sort by
RatingDate updatedMemberAlbum ratingsAvg. album rating
 
60/100
 
02/06/2026 21:30 BorderFreeAndrew  Ratings distribution  14,89274/100
 
90/100
 
02/05/2026 12:02 Leginlists  Ratings distribution  2,49284/100
 
70/100
 
12/15/2025 22:39 Exist-en-ciel  Ratings distribution  7,70270/100
 
80/100
 
10/28/2025 19:12 thepardunk  Ratings distribution  2,57269/100
 
90/100
 
09/22/2025 22:48 AAL2014  Ratings distribution  3,63375/100

Rating metrics: Help Outliers can be removed when calculating a mean average to dampen the effects of ratings outside the normal distribution. This figure is provided as the trimmed mean. A high standard deviation can be legitimate, but can sometimes indicate 'gaming' is occurring. Consider a simplified example* of an item receiving ratings of 100, 50, & 0. The mean average rating would be 50. However, ratings of 55, 50 & 45 could also result in the same average. The second average might be more trusted because there is more consensus around a particular rating (a lower deviation).
(*In practice, some albums can have several thousand ratings)

This album is rated in the top 1% of all albums on BestEverAlbums.com. This album has a Bayesian average rating of 79.9/100, a mean average of 79.2/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 80.2/100. The standard deviation for this album is 14.9.

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Chicago Transit Authority favourites

Showing latest 20 members who have added this album as a favourite | Show all 41 members

Chicago Transit Authority comments

Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 16 comments |
Most Helpful First | Newest First | Positive Sentiment First | Longest Comments First
(Only showing comments with -2 votes or higher. You can alter this threshold from your profile page. Manage Profile)

Rating:  
90/100
From 01/13/2026 17:53 | #312600
As many others have said, the album is too long. Yes, there is filler but it is very good filler. This is basically a singles album combined with a live (in-studio) album. It would be better if it were released as two albums. 9/10!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 02/03/2022 12:59 | #280530
Great band: probably i prefer Chicago II, but once i want to sponsorize USA talents i think about Chicago, Steely Dan, Blood Sweat & Tears.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
70/100
From 04/13/2021 02:22 | #268489
This could have been Chicago's definitive LP if concentrated onto one record. The musicianship is top notch, the hits are mostly all there, and the CTA's signature sonic complexities are unrivaled.

Alas, they overextend...Time and again, Chicago overindulge, hindering the long-play experience for all but the most hearty listeners.

If you're a bear for punishment and like cherry-picking tracks across two records; or, you revel in the madness that accompanies the magic, this might be your jam!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
60/100
From 03/18/2021 15:48 | #267458
a lot of good. a lot of bad
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (2 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 06/13/2020 12:38 | #253427
I like this album the other i like is the Chicago Album with Walking in the Park. Nice to here the disortion of one of the last songs. Good rock album for me it is good average
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 03/17/2020 18:01 | #248820
Too long
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (1 helpful | 2 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 09/08/2019 08:38 | #242340
Amazing musicianship coupled with truly great vocals. Jazz meets rock meets big band and it works. I particularly like the way brass instruments take the lead solos in parts, in the case of the trumpet on the second track and the track 'Beginnings'. And then, side 3 (vinyl) opens with a guitar workout which sounds like freefrom Hendrix mixed with Eddie Van Halen and Joe Satrianni! Totally unexpected. I have only just bought this and can hear this cheering up many dark cold winter Sunday mornings.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
80/100
From 03/12/2019 20:04 | #233427
jdenny2018 have you ever given Chicago II a listen? I think it's very similar musically to this one, and imo more consistent.

This record though, is pretty great. Does Anybody Really Know What Time it is? is their greatest song behind 25 or 6 to 4, and it's very ahead of its time. People claim Hot Rats was the first Jazz-Rock record, but this one predates it.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 05/17/2018 21:59 | #215058
Only great chicago album. Everything afterwards was too pop
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
75/100
From 01/07/2018 06:29 | #204776
Started off on a fast track to Masterpieceville, but took some significant detours. But there's an excellent single album within this double.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +4 votes (4 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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Best Albums of 1969
1. Abbey Road by The Beatles
2. In The Court Of The Crimson King (An Observation By King Crimson) by King Crimson
3. Led Zeppelin II by Led Zeppelin
4. Let It Bleed by The Rolling Stones
5. Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin
6. The Velvet Underground by The Velvet Underground
7. Five Leaves Left by Nick Drake
8. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere by Neil Young & Crazy Horse
9. In A Silent Way by Miles Davis
10. Hot Rats by Frank Zappa
11. Tommy by The Who
12. The Band by The Band
13. Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
14. Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire by The Kinks
15. The Stooges by The Stooges
16. Crosby, Stills & Nash by Crosby, Stills & Nash
17. Green River by Creedence Clearwater Revival
18. Stand! by Sly & The Family Stone
19. Willy And The Poor Boys by Creedence Clearwater Revival
20. Karma by Pharoah Sanders
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