Steal Away (Robbie Dupree song)

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"Steal Away"
Single by Robbie Dupree
from the album Robbie Dupree
B-side"I'm No Stranger"
ReleasedApril 1980
Recorded1979
GenreSoft rock, yacht rock[1]
Length3:31 (album version)
3:21 (single version)
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)Robbie Dupree
Producer(s)Peter Bunetta, Rick Chudacoff
Robbie Dupree singles chronology
"Steal Away"
(1980)
"Hot Rod Hearts"
(1980)

"Steal Away" is a song by American singer Robbie Dupree, from his 1980 debut album Robbie Dupree. Released as the first single from the album, it became his biggest hit, peaking at No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 5 on the Adult Contemporary chart.[2] In Canada, the song reached No. 14 on the Pop chart and spent three weeks at No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart.[3]

In 2009, VH1 ranked "Steal Away" placed at No. 64 on their retrospective list 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 80s. This is despite Dupree having had a second top 40 hit with his number 15-peaking single "Hot Rod Hearts".

History and song information

The song was released by Dupree in 1980. It immediately charted in the top 20, becoming a big hit during the summer of 1980 and became the driving force on his debut album.[4] John D'Agostino of the Los Angeles Times described the song as "a blatant, wimpy rip-off of the Michael McDonald/Kenny Loggins' composition "What a Fool Believes".[5] The Washington Post noted similarities in both Dupree's vocal style and backing keyboards to What a Fool Believes mentioning that McDonald's publishers sought legal action though McDonald himself did not accuse Dupree of stealing his song.[6]

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1980) Peak
position
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[7] 2
Canada RPM Top Singles[8] 14
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 6
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[9] 85
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[9] 5

Year-end charts

Year-end chart (1980) Rank
Canada [10] 92
US Billboard Hot 100[11] 26

References

  1. ^ AllMusic Loves Yacht Rock (June 25, 2014)
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 83.
  3. ^ Library and Archives of Canada (July 17, 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". bac-lac.gc.ca.
  4. ^ Chicago Top 40 Charts 1980. RP Smith. 2002
  5. ^ D'Agostino, John (June 13, 1991). "Michael McDonald brings his new band to Humphrey's tonight". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ^ Harrington, Richard (September 28, 1980). "Singing All the Way to Court". Washington Post.
  7. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1980-08-30. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
  8. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1980-07-14. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
  9. ^ a b c "Robbie Dupree Steal Away Chart History". Billboard.
  10. ^ "Top 100 Singles (1980)". RPM (magazine). Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  11. ^ "1980 Talent in Action – Year End Charts : Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 51. December 20, 1980.

External links