Look Away

Last updated
"Look Away"
Look Away (Chicago single - cover art).jpg
Single by Chicago
from the album Chicago 19
B-side "Come in from the Night"
ReleasedSeptember 9, 1988 [1]
Genre Rock
Length4:02
Label Full Moon, Reprise
Songwriter(s) Diane Warren
Producer(s) Ron Nevison
Chicago singles chronology
"I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love"
(1988)		"Look Away"
(1988)		"You're Not Alone"
(1989)

"Look Away" is a 1988 power ballad by American rock band Chicago. Written by Diane Warren, produced by Ron Nevison, and with Bill Champlin on lead vocals, it is the second single from the band's album Chicago 19 . "Look Away" topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in December 1988, becoming the group's third and final number one hit, following "If You Leave Me Now" (1976) and "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" (1982). "Look Away" is Chicago's seventh song to have peaked at No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and it was also the No. 1 song on the 1989 year-end Billboard Hot 100 chart, even though it never held the No. 1 spot at all in 1989. This is because Billboard's year-end chart covers the charts as far back as late November of the previous year.

Contents

The song is the band's only No. 1 single following the departure of Peter Cetera in 1985.

Production

According to drummer Danny Seraphine, Chicago's manager Howard Kaufman suggested that the band bring in outside songwriting help. Kaufman recommended Diane Warren, who also composed the band's single "I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love," and producer Ron Nevison, who had worked with Heart on the number one hits "These Dreams" and "Alone." [2]

Warren wrote "Look Away" from the man's perspective and submitted a demo to Chicago's management company. "Diane's demos always sound really good," Nevison said. "Her demos are always very simple, but they always have great vocal performances." [3] Bassist Jason Scheff remarked, "The songs that last for me are the ones I don't get at first," and added, "I remember hearing 'Look Away' and thinking it's okay, but not great. Thank God I'm not an A&R man." [3]

Before being submitted to Chicago, the song was one of two ballads offered by Epic Records to Cheap Trick, who chose "The Flame" instead. [4] The track was also offered to Europe, but was turned down due to frontman Joey Tempest's refusal to record material written by outside writers. [5]

The song featured Bill Champlin on lead vocals and furthered Chicago's shift towards de-emphasizing the band's brass section compared to their earlier years. [6] Scheff noted that with Peter Cetera having left the group and "making his own records, it was good for us to release some songs with a different sound (like) Bill's voice. Then we wouldn't be saturating radio with Chicago-sounding songs." [3]

Reception

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
Chicago "Look Away" (1988)
25-second sample of Chicago's "Look Away".
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Look Away" entered the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in September 1988 and reached No. 1, where it spent two weeks, in December. [3] [6] Champlin said he was unaware of the feat at the time. "Everybody said, 'I hear your song every day,'" he recalled. "I go, 'What song?' I was kind of oblivious to the whole thing, busy working on new stuff. That's what happens. As everybody else gets aware of what you're doing, you're usually about five or six tunes past it." [7] The single was certified gold in January and ranked No. 1 on the 1989 Billboard Year-End singles chart. [1] [8] It also reached No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. [9]

Outside the U.S., "Look Away" peaked at No. 1 in Canada, No. 10 in the Netherlands, No. 15 in Sweden, and No. 20 in Belgium. [10] [11]

In 2018 a British man claimed he is the author of the song and launched legal proceedings. [12]

Track listing

7" Vinyl; Cassette
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Look Away" Diane Warren 3:59
2."Come in from the Night" Bill Champlin, Bruce Gaitsch 4:39

Charts and certifications

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Chicago 16</i> 1982 studio album by Chicago

Chicago 16 is the thirteenth studio album by the American rock band Chicago, released on June 7, 1982. It is considered their "comeback" album because it was their first album to go platinum since 1978's Hot Streets. It made it into the Billboard 200 top ten, and produced their second number one single in the United States, "Hard to Say I'm Sorry". The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in August, 1982, two months after its release, and platinum in December, 1982. "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

<i>Chicago 19</i> 1988 studio album by Chicago

Chicago 19 is the sixteenth studio album by American rock band Chicago, released on June 20, 1988. After recording Chicago 18 with David Foster, the band worked primarily with producers Ron Nevison and Chas Sandford for this album. Their Full Moon Records imprint moved to Reprise Records. This is the final album to feature the band's original drummer Danny Seraphine, who was dismissed from the group in 1990.

<i>Twenty 1</i> 1991 studio album by Chicago

Twenty 1 is the seventeenth studio album by the American band Chicago. Released on January 29, 1991, it was their first album of the 1990s. Twenty 1 spent eleven weeks on the American Billboard 200, peaking at position No. 66, and did not chart in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Champlin</span> American musician (born 1947)

William Bradford Champlin is an American singer, keyboardist, guitarist and songwriter. He formed the band Sons of Champlin in 1965, which still performs today, and was a member of the rock band Chicago from 1981 to 2009. He performed lead vocals on three of Chicago's biggest hits of the 1980s, 1984's "Hard Habit to Break" and 1988's "Look Away" and "I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love". During live shows, he sang the lower, baritone, vocal parts originally performed by founding guitarist Terry Kath, who had died in 1978. He has won multiple Grammy Awards for songwriting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hard to Say I'm Sorry</span> 1982 single by Chicago

"Hard to Say I'm Sorry" is a 1982 power ballad by the group Chicago. It was written by bassist Peter Cetera, who also sang the lead vocals on the track, and producer David Foster. It was released on May 17, 1982, as the lead single from the album Chicago 16. On September 11 it reached No. 1 for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the group's second No. 1 single. It was their first top 50 hit since "No Tell Lover" in 1978 and it spent twelve weeks in the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100. The single was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in September of the same year. Songwriter Cetera, a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), won an ASCAP Pop Music Award for the song in the category, Most Performed Songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Got It</span> 1989 single by Roy Orbison

"You Got It" is a song from American singer Roy Orbison's 22nd studio album, Mystery Girl (1989). The song was released posthumously on January 3, 1989, after Orbison's death from a heart attack on December 6, 1988. The song was issued with "The Only One" as the B-side and was later released with "Crying". The single reached number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Adult Contemporary chart, returning Orbison to the top 10 for the first time in 25 years. "You Got It" also reached number three on the UK Singles Chart and entered the top five in 10 other countries. Although it is an Orbison solo single, Orbison's fellow Traveling Wilburys bandmates Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne co-wrote the song and played instruments on the record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The End of the Innocence (song)</span> 1989 single by Don Henley

"The End of the Innocence" is the lead single and title track from Don Henley's third solo studio album of the same name, released in 1989. Henley co-wrote and co-produced the song with Bruce Hornsby, who also performed piano. Both artists regularly include the song in their live performances. The single peaked at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming his fifth solo top-10 hit on the chart. "The End of the Innocence" also became his fourth number-one single on the Album Rock Tracks chart. In Canada, it reached number three on the RPM Top Singles and Adult Contemporary charts. The song received Grammy nominations for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If You Don't Know Me by Now</span> 1972 single by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes

"If You Don't Know Me by Now" is a song written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and recorded by the Philadelphia soul musical group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. It became their first hit after being released as a single in September 1972, topping the US R&B chart and peaking at number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Could've Been (Tiffany song)</span> 1987 single by Tiffany

"Could've Been" is a song by American teen-pop singer Tiffany, released as the third single from her debut album, Tiffany (1987). Commercially, the song proved to be a successful follow-up to her debut single "I Think We're Alone Now", peaking atop the US Billboard Hot 100, the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart, and the Irish Singles Chart in early 1988. It also reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and number five in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beginnings (Chicago song)</span> 1969 single by Chicago Transit Authority

"Beginnings" is a song written by Robert Lamm for the rock band Chicago Transit Authority and recorded for its debut album Chicago Transit Authority, released in 1969. The song is the band's second single, but failed to chart on its initial release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hard Habit to Break</span> 1984 single by Chicago

"Hard Habit to Break" is a song written by Steve Kipner and John Lewis Parker, produced and arranged by David Foster and recorded by the group Chicago for their 1984 album Chicago 17, with Bill Champlin and Peter Cetera sharing lead vocals. Released as the second single from the album, it reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was prevented from charting higher by "Caribbean Queen" by Billy Ocean and "I Just Called to Say I Love You" by Stevie Wonder. "Hard Habit to Break" also peaked at No. 3 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The lyrics of the song appear to describe a man having a hard time getting over a significant other getting away after he took her for granted and she left him for someone else. Overseas it peaked at No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're the Inspiration</span> Single by Chicago

"You're the Inspiration" is a song written by Peter Cetera and David Foster for the group Chicago and recorded for their fourteenth studio album Chicago 17 (1984), with Cetera singing lead vocals. The third single released from that album, it reached No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1985 and also climbed to the top position on the Adult Contemporary chart at the same time. The song won honors for Cetera from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), in 1986 in the most-performed songs category.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will You Still Love Me? (song)</span> 1986 single by Chicago

"Will You Still Love Me?" is a song recorded by the American rock band Chicago for their studio album Chicago 18 (1986). The song was written by David Foster, Tom Keane and Richard Baskin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sara (Starship song)</span> 1985 single by Starship

"Sara" is a song recorded by the American rock band Starship which reached number-one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart on March 15, 1986. It was sung by Mickey Thomas, of the newly renamed band Starship, from their first album Knee Deep in the Hoopla, and Grace Slick provided the backing vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What Kind of Man Would I Be?</span> 1989 single by Chicago

"What Kind of Man Would I Be?" is a song written by Jason Scheff, Chas Sandford and Bobby Caldwell and recorded by the band Chicago for their 1988 album Chicago 19 and 1989 album Greatest Hits 1982–1989. Scheff sang the lead vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car</span> 1988 single by Billy Ocean

"Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" is a song by Trinidadian-British singer Billy Ocean, based on a line in the Sherman Brothers' song "You're Sixteen". It was released as the first single from Ocean's album Tear Down These Walls (1988). Part of its popularity lay in its cutting-edge music video, which features animation mixed with live-action sequences. The saxophone solo is performed by Vernon Jeffrey Smith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everywhere (Fleetwood Mac song)</span> 1987 single by Fleetwood Mac

"Everywhere" is a song by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac from their 14th studio album, Tango in the Night (1987). The song was written by Christine McVie, who also performed lead vocals, and produced by Lindsey Buckingham and Richard Dashut. In the United States, "Everywhere" was released in November 1987 as the album's fourth single, while in the United Kingdom, it was issued on 21 March 1988 as the album's fifth single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Can I Fall?</span> 1988 single by Breathe

"How Can I Fall?" is a song by British band Breathe, written by the group members David Glasper and Marcus Lillington. It was released in June 1988 as the second single from their debut studio album, All That Jazz (1988). In the United Kingdom, "How Can I Fall?" was the third single from the album, following "Hands to Heaven" and the UK-only release "Jonah".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Valley Road</span> 1988 single by Bruce Hornsby and the Range

"The Valley Road" is a song recorded by Bruce Hornsby and the Range. Hornsby co-wrote the song with his brother John Hornsby and co-produced it with Neil Dorfsman. The song is included on Bruce Hornsby and the Range's 1988 album, Scenes from the Southside. It is written in the key of A major.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chasin' the Wind</span> 1991 single by Chicago

"Chasin' the Wind" is a rock ballad song written by Diane Warren and recorded by the band Chicago, for their 1991 studio album Twenty 1, featuring Bill Champlin on vocals. The song was produced and engineered by Ron Nevison and mixed by Humberto Gatica. "Chasin' the Wind" was released as the first single from Twenty 1 in January 1991. Its B-side is the song "Only Time Can Heal the Wounded".

References

  1. 1 2 "RIAA searchable database: Chicago". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  2. ↑ Seraphine, Danny (2010). Street Player: My Chicago Story. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley. pp. 242–3. ISBN   978-0470416839.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (5th ed.). New York: Billboard Books. p. 716. ISBN   978-0823076772.
  4. ↑ Galipault, Garry (11 May 1998). "Cheap Trick Wants You to Want Them Again | Pause & Play CD and Music Site". Pause and Play. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  5. ↑ "Kee Marcello recalls Europe turning down recording song "Look Away" which became #1 single for Chicago". Sleaze Roxx. April 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Hogan, Ed. "'Look Away' - Song Review". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  7. ↑ Pickle, Betsy (21 February 1989). "Chicago keeps churning out hits". The Telegraph . Scripps. p. 23.
  8. 1 2 "1989: The Year in Music". Billboard . Vol. 111, no. 52. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 25 December 1989. p. YE-42. ISSN   0006-2510.
  9. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 54.
  10. 1 2 "RPM 100". RPM . RPM Music Publications Ltd. 49 (10). 24 December 1988. ISSN   0315-5994.
  11. ↑ "Ultratop - 'Look Away'". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 15 September 2012.[ dead link ]
  12. ↑ Burgess, Sanya (6 June 2018). "Yorkshire man sues for $20m over 30-year-old US rock song". Sky News. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  13. ↑ "Chicago – Look Away" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  14. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 10, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  15. ↑ "Chicago – Look Away" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  16. ↑ "Chicago – Look Away". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  17. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  18. ↑ "Chicago Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  19. ↑ "Chicago Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  20. ↑ "Top 100 Singles of '88" (PDF). RPM . Vol. 49, no. 10. 24 December 1988. p. 9. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  21. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1990". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  22. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  23. ↑ "American single certifications – Chicago – Look Away (Come in from the Night)". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved June 21, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.