Look Away

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"Look Away" is a song by American rock band Chicago. Written by Diane Warren and produced by Ron Nevison, the ballad is the second single from the band's 1988 album Chicago 19. "Look Away" topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in December 1988, becoming the group's third and final No. 1 hit and ending 1989 at No. 1 on the Hot 100 year-end chart. Worldwide, it peaked at No. 1 in Canada and entered the top 20 in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

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 No. 1 hits "These Dreams" and "Alone."[1]

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."[2] 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."[2]

Before being submitted to Chicago, the song was one of two ballads offered by Epic Records to Cheap Trick, who chose "The Flame" instead.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5] 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."[2]

Reception

Script error: No such module "Listen". "Look Away" entered the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in September 1988 and reached No. 1, where it spent two weeks in December.[2][5] 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."[6] The single was certified gold in January 1989 and was 1989's most successful song on the Hot 100.[7][8] It also reached No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.[9] Outside the US, "Look Away" peaked at No. 1 in Canada, No. 9 in the Netherlands, No. 15 in Sweden, and No. 20 in Belgium.[10][11][12]

In 2018, a British man claimed he is the author of the song and launched legal proceedings.[13]

Track listing

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Charts

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Certifications

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Release history

Release dates and formats for "Look Away"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States September 9, 1988 Template:Hlist Template:Hlist [7]
Japan October 10, 1988 Mini-CD [21]
United Kingdom December 12, 1988 Template:Hlist [22]

See also

References

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