  chicago 16 is the thirteenth studio album by the american band chicago, released on june 7, 1982. the album marked the beginning of a new era for chicago. it is the first album in a decade-long association with new label warner bros. records; the band's first project to be produced by david foster; and their first bona fide hit album since 1978's hot streets, giving the group a significant and lengthy "second wind" in commercial fortunes, in some ways eclipsing their considerable 1970s successes. the band had realized in 1981 that its commercial appeal and image were at an all-time low, and so they brought in sons of champlin frontman/founder bill champlin as keyboard player and singer, a man who successfully replaced terry kath vocally in the band's sound. the group also retained chris pinnick from the chicago xiv sessions. but it was through the band's manager, jeff wald, that producer david foster would make contact with the band. once they agreed to foster producing their new album (the band had considered him for 1980's chicago xiv), foster radically redefined chicago's sound for the 1980s, with all of the latest technologies and techniques and introducing the significant use of outside songwriters and studio players. (four members of toto lent their expertise to the sessions.) of all the band's members, peter cetera benefitted most from the stylistic changes, having much in common musically with foster. their adult contemporary leanings permeated much of chicago 16, swaying the band further from their ensemble jazz and rock roots and successfully introducing chicago to a new and younger audience. the foster/cetera partnership helped steer chicago through uncharted waters. the band was moving to a new
1982_albums Albums_certified_gold_by_the_Bundesverband_Musikindustrie Albums_certified_gold_by_the_Canadian_Recording_Industry_Association Albums_certified_platinum_by_the_Recording_Industry_Association_of_America Albums_produced_by_David_Foster Chicago_(band)_albums Warner_Bros._Records_albums