Why Bill Champlin Sang Lead Vocals On Chicago's Look Away & Other Diane Warren Songs

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lp.constantcon... Why did Bill Champlin get to sing lead on the Diane Warren tunes? We asked the former member of Chicago. He also talks about Chicago's last #1 tune “Look Away.” Long before he joined that band Champlin recorded an album that's become a favorite among fans of west coast music 1981's “Runaway.” The album featured an all-star cast including David Foster (who produced most of the album) guitarists Jay Graydon, Steve Lukather drummers Jeff Porcaro and John “JR” Robinson and bassists Leland Skylar and Abraham Loboriel. One of the tunes from that album has become a west coast classic - “Sara.” It was co-written by Alan Thicke. - by John Beaudin
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John Beaudin has been in major market radio (Edmonton, Vancouver & Calgary) for 35 years and a music journalist since 1989. He graduated from Broadcasting school as a news man so he would have the skills to write about the artists that inspired him since he bought his first album, “Madman Across The Water” by Elton John as a teen. In the 80's Beaudin was the host of the syndicated radio show “The Cross Canada Report” which had two version (Rock and A/C). Beaudin was also asked to be a judge at the Juno Awards (Canada's answer to the Grammys) Twice. He has anchored every position in radio including morning and afternoon drive and was a Program and Music Director for The Breeze and California 103 in Calgary. He currently hosts the popular Lovesongs at QM-FM in Vancouver and on iHeartRadio.
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[@MoviesTubeYou0675]

Bill Champlin has been my favorite vocal while with Chicago. I also remember him as the guy with the beard when I first saw the video of "Hard Habit to Break".

[@aprilgosa5779]

Look Awat was and is my fav Chicago song led by Bill Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love is next Hard Habit to Break is great too with him and Peter

[@ivanmay7890]

Considering all the videos that John Beaudin has done on Chicago, I’m surprised he hasn’t interviewed Chicagos original manager James William Guercio. James was a very good manager, and a hell of a storyteller.

[@scotttitmus9008]

John, I love all of your videos. Especially the ones will Bill Champlin, Peter Cetera, Chicago, etc. Your videos are always very informative and interesting. And I always learn something new, each time I watch one of them. Keep up the good work!

[@田中丸だよね]

one of chicago's greatest hits!

[@stevenmiller5366]

Look away is a great tune!!!!

[@lamarravery4094]

Bill Champlin and Peter Cetera, those were the days!

[@kbraun474]

John, how do you manage to get all these great interviews? Bill Champlin, Peter Cetera, etc.? Very interesting, Thank You.

[@kc0lif]

love that song had a cool music video too.

[@peevee605]

The band Europe was offered the song Look Away by Diane Warren but Joey Tempest had an ego and refused the track. The band and Ron Nevison tried to talk some sense into him but Joey said hell no. Nevison went to do Chicago and brought the song with him. Bill nailed it and the rest is history.

[@kissfanmac]

Cheap Trick also was offered the song!

[@shahiransahari5575]

Has Bill ever revived his two best ballads from his first solo album "Single"? The ballads were "Elaine" and "We both tried"' Gorgeous songs!

[@GG-ks4ul]

If you're wondering which hit did Champlain write w/ Thicke, it was "Sara".

[@cathychrosniak3742]

I like Bill champlin

[@GarrettWorcester]

Maybe I misheard Mr. Beaudin, but I presume he's talking about "Sara" from the solo album and not the title track, regarding Alan Thicke's involvement. Maybe John could ask Bill if it's just my imagination, or is the volume/mix on Chicago 16 a little lower than normal and why hasn't it been fixed through a Rhino re-release? Burning questions for this Saturday afternoon!!

[@kissfanmac]

And 3 years later we find out no one cares!

[@thecomicdrill]

Chicago had a lot of great hits after Cetera left. May not have all gone to Number 1 but still lots of hits.

[@lamarravery4094]

But most of those hits were written by outside composers. They couldn't write hit songs anymore.

[@TheDavidbooth]

Thank Danny Seraphine!

[@3rdRockRider]

Written by Diane Warren and Brendan Greaves (uncredited)!

[@kissfanmac]

Who told you that?

[@fdrums60]

"Runaway" Didn't Toto's Steve Lukerther have a hand in this song?

[@artvandelay8090]

That song made it to #1? That's a surprise, I thought it stunk!

[@lamarravery4094]

I never liked it either. Actually it sucked, I hated it, but I loved the album it came from, just not that song or Victorious.

[@lauralynthacum920]

Should have told the band something

[@rubicon-oh9km]

How a song like this hits number 1 speaks volumes about the people that buy pop music. An absolute vapid power ballad with trite, empty lyrics. You love the song Bill because it made you piles of cash.

[@LoyalOpposition]

lol, exactly

[@jaredstewart8322]

M

[@toddwalker4301]

This song was weak for a Chicago hit. It just didn't sound like the Chicago I grew up with at all.

[@lamarravery4094]

I never liked it as well, but a lot of people apparently did, it went to number one.

[@gabewilsonsings4820]

What a horrible song. It was like the last gasp of all that 80’s overdone love song stuff.