Peter Cetera, released in 1981, is the self-titled first solo release by then-Chicago

Chicago (band)

Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The self-described "rock and roll band with horns" began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, becoming famous for producing a number of hit ballads. They had...

 member and lead vocalist Peter Cetera

Peter Cetera

Peter Paul Cetera is an American singer, songwriter, bassist and producer best known for being an original member of the rock band Chicago, before launching a successful solo career...

.

A much more rock-oriented album than Chicago had been producing at the time, Cetera released the album in December 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

Wounded Bird Records is a CD only, re-issue record label, that was founded in 1998 in Guilderland, New York. They re-release lesser known albums from both popular and lesser known artists, including Deborah Harry, Chic, David Blue, Marilyn Martin, Gordon Haskell, Jon Anderson, Adrian Belew, Ellen...

), the album was not commercially successful. However, it was notable because all but one song ("I Can Feel It," which was co-written by Cetera) on the album was penned by Cetera himself. The single "Livin' In The Limelight", the only hit from the album, charted in the Billboard Mainstream Rock Top 10.

One year after Peter Cetera was released, Cetera and Chicago launched a major comeback with the #1 single "Hard to Say I'm Sorry

Hard to Say I'm Sorry

"Hard to Say I'm Sorry" is a 1982 Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit ballad performed by American rock group Chicago, written by band member Peter Cetera and producer David Foster from the album Chicago 16, released in 1982. The song hit number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 11...

" and album Chicago 16

Chicago 16

Chicago 16 is the 16th album by American rock band Chicago and was released in 1982. The album marks the beginning of a new era for Chicago. It is the first album in a decade-long association with new label Warner Bros...

. After 1984's Chicago 17

Chicago 17

Chicago 17 is the 17th album by American rock band Chicago and was released in 1984. As the follow-up to 1982's comeback Chicago 16, Chicago 17 capitalized on its predecessor's popularity by delivering their most popular album - currently seven times platinum in the US alone and a Grammy winner -...

was also a massive hit, Cetera left the band to concentrate fully on his solo career.

Carl Wilson

Carl Wilson

Carl Dean Wilson was an American rock and roll singer and guitarist, best known as a founding member, lead guitarist and sometime lead vocalist of The Beach Boys...

 of the Beach Boys

The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...

, a friend of Cetera's, played guitar on some of the album.

Trivia

Cetera originally recorded this while Chicago was still signed with Columbia Records

Columbia Records

Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...

. After Columbia dropped the group, Cetera bought the rights to this album from Columbia, who refused to release it.

Songs

All songs written by Peter Cetera

Peter Cetera

Peter Paul Cetera is an American singer, songwriter, bassist and producer best known for being an original member of the rock band Chicago, before launching a successful solo career...

, except where noted.

1. "Livin' In The Limelight" – 4:22
2. "I Can Feel It" (Cetera, Fataar
   Ricky Fataar
   Ricky Fataar is a South African multi-instrumentalist of Malay descent, who has performed as both a drummer, and a guitarist. He gained fame as an actor in the comedic television movie, The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash, a spoof on the actual history of The Beatles, and for his performance as a...
   
   , Wilson
   Carl Wilson
   Carl Dean Wilson was an American rock and roll singer and guitarist, best known as a founding member, lead guitarist and sometime lead vocalist of The Beach Boys...
   
   ) – 3:11
3. "How Many Times" – 4:23
4. "Holy Moly" – 4:27
5. "Mona Mona" – 3:21
6. "On The Line" – 4:03
7. "Not Afraid To Cry" – 3:29
8. "Evil Eye" – 2:36
9. "Practical Man" – 3:53
10. "Ivy Covered Walls" – 3:57

Peter Cetera reached a peak of #143 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart.

Personnel

• Steve Lukather
  Steve Lukather
  Steve "Luke" Lukather is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer best known for his work with the rock band Toto. Lukather has played with many artists, released several solo albums, and worked as a composer, arranger, and session guitarist on more than 1,500 albums...
  
  : guitars (on Track 1)
• Carl Wilson
  Carl Wilson
  Carl Dean Wilson was an American rock and roll singer and guitarist, best known as a founding member, lead guitarist and sometime lead vocalist of The Beach Boys...
  
  : guitar
• Michael Boddicker: synthesizer
• Michael Botts: drums
• Peter Cetera: bass, guitar, percussion, vocals, producer
• Craig Doerge: keyboards
• Rich Eames: keyboards
• Kenny Edwards: guitar
• Ricky Fataar: drums
• Steve Forman: percussion
• Bob Glaub: bass
• Mark Goldenberg: guitar
• Gary Herbig: saxophone
• Craig Hull: guitar
• Josh Leo: guitar
• Tommy Morgan: harmonica
• Carlos Munoz: piano
• Chris Pinnick
  Chris Pinnick
  Chris Pinnick is an American guitarist and songwriter, probably best known for his work with the band Chicago from 1980-1985.Pinnick was born in Van Nuys, California and took up the guitar at the age of seven...
  
  : guitar
• David Wolinski "Hawk": synthesizer
• William D. "Smitty" Smith: keyboards
• Mark Williams: percussion