Baby, What a Big Surprise

"Baby, What a Big Surprise" is a ballad written by Chicago's then bassist/singer Peter Cetera, which appeared on their album Chicago XI (1977), with Cetera singing lead vocals. The first single released from the album reached number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.^[2]

"Baby, What a Big Surprise"
Single by Chicago
from the album Chicago XI
B-side	"Takin’ It On Uptown"
Released	September 1977
Recorded	April – June 1977
Genre	Soft rock[1]
Length	3:04
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Peter Cetera
Producer(s)	James William Guercio
Chicago singles chronology
"You Are on My Mind" (1977) "Baby, What a Big Surprise" (1977) "Little One" (1978)

Background

Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys and Cetera's brother, Tim Cetera, provided additional backing vocals on the recording while saxophonist Walt Parazaider plays flute on the distinctive introduction and trumpeter Lee Loughnane plays a piccolo trumpet.

Although Chicago XI yielded two more minor singles, "Baby, What a Big Surprise" was Chicago's last top ten single before the accidental death of guitarist Terry Kath, and was also their last Top Ten single produced by James William Guercio.

Reception

Cash Box said that "frequent repetition drives the memorable chorus home, while classically influenced strings, brass and vocals lend a stately touch."^[3] Record World said that "the interesting structure and chorus hook" explain why the song was a popular song on pop music radio stations even before it was released as a single.^[4]

Personnel

Chicago

• Peter Cetera – lead vocals
• Terry Kath – electric guitar, percussion
• Robert Lamm – acoustic piano, backing vocals
• Lee Loughnane – piccolo trumpet
• James Pankow – trombone, keyboards, percussion, backing vocals, brass arrangements
• Walt Parazaider – saxophone, flute, clarinet
• Danny Seraphine – drums, percussion

Additional personnel

• Jimmy Guercio – acoustic guitars and bass
• Carl Wilson – additional backing vocals
• Tim Cetera – additional backing vocals
• Dominic Frontiere – orchestral conception and orchestration

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1977–78) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 14 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[6] 9 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] 24 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[8] 32 Canada RPM Top Singles[9] 3 Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[10] 7 France (IFOP)[11] 38 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] 4 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] 19 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[14] 12 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[15] 19 UK[16] 41 US Billboard Hot 100[17] 4 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[18] 8 US Cash Box Top 100[19] 4 West Germany (GfK)[20] 49

Year-end charts Chart (1977) Rank Australia [21] 119 Canada[22] 58 US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)[23] 59

Cover versions

• Cetera re-recorded the song as a solo artist for his 1997 album You're the Inspiration: A Collection.