Great documentary about the group Chicago on Amazon Prime

Just so weird how they went from this hardcore horns and technical band to a GOAT power ballad '80's operation. I can't think of anything like it other than maybe the way Genesis went from an alt band to pop rock.

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Just so weird how they went from this hardcore horns and technical band to a GOAT power ballad '80's operation

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There's a documentary that talks about that, "David Foster Off the Record", it's pretty good. It's not only about Chicago but other groups/artists as well.

It was a strategy business wise, since Chicago's XIV & XV flopped back to back in the late 70's/early 80's, their record label dumped them.

The band got signed by Warner Bros. and David Foster became their new producer. He decided from a marketing point of view that in order for them to make a comeback, they needed a change of sound. When Chicago 16 & 17 were released, the horn section was minimized and became more of a pop music act. Since those 2 records were successful and several singles charted well, they became a standard during the 1980's. It was all a business decision and the change was almost forced in order for the group to stay relevant for an additional decade and a half.

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horn section was minimized

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James Pankow has stated that he, Lee Loughnane, and Walt Parazaider would often show up at the studio and have nothing to do. Foster had cancelled the horns or worse, brought in other players to do their parts.
Foster might be a successful producer (as he will tell you himself), but he is a huge asshoe and comes across as a massive douche.

They had about 6 or 7 good songs in the early to mid 70s. After about '75, it was a crap show.

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James Pankow has stated that he, Lee Loughnane, and Walt Parazaider would often show up at the studio and have nothing to do.

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Well look at the 'You're The Inspiration' video. You have R Lamm playing the piano and Pankow & Walter playing the keyboards, and the other dude reading a newspaper. How many dudes on keyboard do you really need? lol Like somebody else said, they had no option but to go in the Pop music direction, to make tons of money and keep their careers alive.

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Foster might be a successful producer (as he will tell you himself), but he is a huge asshoe and comes across as a massive douche

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Foster is a successful producer and musician no matter if you love him or hate him. Mostly CEO's, bosses, or those high in the corporate ladder are aholes and douchbags. They control people by being that way. The fact that people hate him for his persona or x reasons, you cannot take the fact away that he is a brilliant producer.

Thanks to him Celine Dion, Groban & Buble have great careers and Bocelli is known to the American audience thanks to him. Google it.