25 or 6 to 4

Chicago, 1970. Solo by Terry Kath.

Jimi Hendrix admired Kath; this wah solo shows why.

Terry Kath's extended solo is the showpiece of the album version and one of the great wah-wah performances of its era. He rides the pedal through a long, aggressive improvisation over the song's descending minor riff, moving from vocal-like wah sweeps into fast, distorted runs. The single edit cut most of the solo, so the album version is essential. It shows why so many musicians admired Kath's playing. Listen for the wah sweeps at the start of the solo; they sound like a voice saying 'wah' before Kath breaks into faster, heavier runs.

25 or 6 to 4 by Chicago is ranked #82 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Terry Kath and the song was released in 1970. It appears on 6 lists, placing as high as #4 (Intermediate Guitar).

The story of 25 or 6 to 4

Keyboardist and singer Robert Lamm wrote 25 or 6 to 4 about the very act of trying to finish a song in the small hours. Stuck on the chorus, he glanced at a clock and saw it was either 25 or 26 minutes to four in the morning, and that became the title. He has said he wrote it on a 12-string guitar that had only ten strings on it and finished the lyrics in a day. The odd wording led to years of rumours about drug doses and hidden codes, which Lamm has always denied.

Chicago, then only recently shortened from Chicago Transit Authority, road-tested the song at the Whisky a Go Go before recording it for their second album with producer James William Guercio. Bassist Peter Cetera sang lead even though his jaw had been wired shut after he was attacked at Dodger Stadium in May 1969; Guercio refused to wait, and Cetera delivered the vocal through clenched teeth. The track paired the band's punchy horn section with Terry Kath's heavy riff.

Columbia released the album, known as Chicago II, in January 1970, and issued an edited single in June that dropped the second verse and most of the guitar solo. It reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, the band's first US top-five hit, and No. 7 in the UK. Singapore banned it in 1970 over supposed drug references, a ban lifted only in 1993. Chicago re-recorded the song for Chicago 18 in 1986 with Jason Scheff singing.

The solo

Terry Kath's extended solo is the showpiece of the album version and one of the great wah-wah performances of the era; Guitar World placed it at No. 22 on its list of the greatest wah solos in 2015. Kath rides the pedal through a long, aggressive improvisation over the song's descending minor riff, moving from vocal-like wah sweeps into fast, distorted runs. Producer James William Guercio described Kath's sound on the track as coming from a modified Fender amp boosted with extra gear, including what Guercio recalled as a vintage hi-fi preamp; the exact guitar used on the session is not documented in the sources consulted, though Kath was known for Stratocasters and SGs early on before his customised Telecaster. The single edit cut most of the solo, and the quadraphonic mix contains additional Kath guitar absent from the stereo release.

Legacy

25 or 6 to 4 is among Chicago's most enduring songs and the track that best captures Terry Kath, whom Jimi Hendrix reportedly praised as better than himself. Ultimate Classic Rock and Billboard have both named it Chicago's greatest song, and it remains the band's customary concert closer. Its riff and horn chart have made it a favourite of marching and pep bands, with the Omaha World-Herald calling it the top marching band song of all time. Jason Newsted and Paul Gilbert both cite it among the first riffs they learned.

Top 10 facts about 25 or 6 to 4

The title refers to the time, either 3:35 or 3:34 a.m., when Robert Lamm looked at the clock while writing.
Wikipedia
Lamm wrote the song on a 12-string guitar that had only ten strings on it.
Wikipedia
Peter Cetera sang lead with his jaw wired shut after being attacked at Dodger Stadium on May 20, 1969.
Wikipedia
The single edit removed the second verse and most of Terry Kath's guitar solo.
Wikipedia
Guitar World ranked Kath's wah solo No. 22 among the greatest wah solos of all time.
Songfacts
Guercio recalled that Kath's sound came from a modified Fender amp supplemented with a vintage hi-fi preamp.
Songfacts
The quadraphonic mix of Chicago II includes extra guitar from Terry Kath not heard in the stereo version.
Wikipedia: Chicago II
Singapore banned the song in 1970 over alleged drug references and did not lift the ban until 1993.
Wikipedia
Jimi Hendrix reportedly told Walter Parazaider that Chicago's guitarist was better than him.
Wikipedia: Terry Kath
Kath's well-known Telecaster was fitted with a Gibson neck humbucker and covered with 25 Pignose stickers.
Wikipedia: Terry Kath

Live versions

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction (2016) Original drummer Danny Seraphine rejoined the band to play it at the ceremony.
Notre Dame Stadium halftime (2017) Chicago played it with the Notre Dame Marching Band on October 21, 2017.
Chicago concert closer Long the band's final number, with tour partners such as Earth, Wind & Fire joining in.

Notable covers

Earth, Wind & Fire Listed by Wikipedia among recorded versions; also joined Chicago on stage for it.
Paul Gilbert Shred guitarist who first learned the riff on a single string recorded his own version.
Vince Neil Mötley Crüe singer's version is among those Wikipedia lists.
Dave Koz Instrumental collaboration on the album Summer Horns.
Constantine Maroulis (2011) Released his version as a single.

In our lists

See Them Live — #24
Deep Cuts — #41
One and Only — #9
The 25 Greatest Classic Rock Guitar Solos — #24
Wah & Talk Box Solos — #5

Sources

Where does 25 or 6 to 4 rank among the greatest guitar solos?

#82 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 6 of them.

What does 25 or 6 to 4 mean?

It is a time: 25 or 26 minutes before four in the morning, when Robert Lamm was writing the song.

Who wrote 25 or 6 to 4?

Chicago keyboardist and singer Robert Lamm wrote it.

Who plays the guitar solo on 25 or 6 to 4?

Chicago guitarist Terry Kath, whose wah-drenched solo is mostly cut from the single edit.

Who sings 25 or 6 to 4?

Peter Cetera sang lead on the 1970 original; Jason Scheff sang the 1986 re-recording.

Is 25 or 6 to 4 about drugs?

No. Lamm has consistently said it describes writing a song late at night, despite rumours that led to a ban in Singapore.