If You Leave Me Now - Chicago (1976) 4/17/21

While researching today's "Great Song of 1976," I was pleasantly surprised to discover that "If You Leave Me Now" was Chicago's most successful song!

There are many reasons why this is true, but let's start with the charts.

the song was a TOP FIVE hit in 15 countries, including #1 in Australia, The Netherlands, Ireland, South Africa, The UK, Canada...and the US, where it topped the Hot 100 and the Easy Listening charts!

Between the US, Canada and the UK alone, it sold more than 2 million copies!

It won two Grammy Awards: "Best Arrangement" and "Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus." It was also nominated for "Record of the Year!"

"If You Leave Me Now" has been used in several films, including "Shaun of the Dead," TV shows including "Sex in the City" and "South Park," and video games like "Grand Theft Auto V."

For many years, the song has been used to help raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness by the American Cancer Society.

Whew!

For the record, the song was written and sung by Peter Cetera, and in an odd bit of trivia, Terry Kath is not on the recording. Producer/guitarist James Guercio laid down a track for Terry to re-record later, but the rest of the band liked his work and left it in.

Point of interest for musicians: According to experts in music theory, the song can be looked at two ways: As a song without a chorus...or as a song that is ONLY a chorus. It depends on how you interpret song structure.

"If You Leave Me Now:" EASILY Chicago's most successful song, and a "Great Song of 1976."