Look Away
Chicago
1989
Annual listening-list association, not an original-release-date field. Original release year reconciled with reviewed recording-specific Artist Essentials evidence in v3.6.
Release: 1988
Release: 1988Source checked | Recent carryover
V3.6 reconciles the original release year with the reviewed Artist Essentials entry for this exact retained recording ID. Year precision is used; an album-first release is not silently replaced by a later single, reissue or annual-list year. The original studio recording was released in 1988 and belongs to the original Chicago 19 program. Year precision does not assign an album day to a single or a later reissue.
The large badge identifies this listening list, not a newly issued recording. Later reissues and renewed chart popularity do not replace an original release date. How years are assigned.
Chicago 19 - official original album program
The band archive identifies the original 1988 album and its track program. Only original studio recordings are selected; modern remixes, bonus material, concert versions and subsequent rerecordings are excluded. The album day is not promoted to an earlier single day.
About Chicago
Song-specific inspiration or recording background is not established for this entry. This sourced artist profile provides career context.
Chicago formed in its namesake city in 1967 with the aim of combining a rock rhythm section and a prominent horn section. The musicians brought backgrounds in jazz, R&B and other styles to that approach. Their first album, Chicago Transit Authority, appeared in 1969, featuring several songwriters and singers within the same ensemble. Long arrangements and instrumental passages were part of its early identity, alongside more compact songs that could reach radio audiences.
Artist background sources
A Chicago Story - official band history
1967 formation, rock-with-horns concept, jazz/R&B backgrounds, 1969 debut album and original writing, vocal and arrangement approach; individual member solo careers are not mapped. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
Profile reviewed: 2026-10-17. Artist background does not establish a song's creative origin or release date.
Retained annual-list context
Look Away by Chicago appears at number 1 in the reviewed U.S. year-end table for 1989. No reliable song-specific account of its inspiration was established in this review.
Annual-list context only; songwriting inspiration remains unestablished
Billboard year-end 1989 table (Wikipedia transcription)
Secondary chart transcription reviewed for title, artist and annual association. Not proof of release date, genre or inspiration.
Other appearances and versions
catalog version unspecified
Textual identity reconciliation, not audio-fingerprint or exact-pressing verification. Version labels are catalog safeguards.
An annual chart year and an original release date are different. Similar titles may be covers or different masters; no audio fingerprint has been performed.
Sources and scope
Source-backed annual association (secondary source; not a complete discographic review)
Editorial artist-repertoire classification
Billboard year-end 1989 table (Wikipedia transcription)
Secondary chart transcription reviewed for title, artist and annual association. Not proof of release date, genre or inspiration.
Browse by year
1960-2025. Each year contains 150 selections.