"Steal Away"
Single by Robbie Dupree
from the album Robbie Dupree
B-side"I'm No Stranger"
ReleasedApril 1980
Recorded1979
GenreSoft rock, pop rock, yacht rock, Contemporary R&B
Length3:34 (album version)
3:21 (single version)
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)Robbie Dupree, Rick Chudacoff
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.[1] In Canada, the song reached No. 14 on the Pop chart and spent three weeks at No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart.[2]

In 2009, VH1 ranked "Steal Away" placed at No. 64 on their retrospective list 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 80s.[3] This is despite Dupree having had a second top 40 hit with his No. 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 the driving force on his debut album.[4] In 1991, 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, although McDonald himself did not accuse Dupree of stealing his song.[6]

In 2017, the song was used in the American television crime drama series, Better Call Saul, in season 3, episode 10, titled "Lantern."

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1980) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] 24
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[8] 2
Canada RPM Top Singles[9] 14
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 6
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[10] 85
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[10] 5

Year-end charts

Year-end chart (1980)Rank
Canada[11] 92
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 26

References

  1. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 83.
  2. ↑ Library and Archives of Canada (July 17, 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". bac-lac.gc.ca.
  3. ↑ Greenblatt, Leah (December 20, 2019). "VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the '80s: Do You Agree? | EW.com". EW.com. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  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 (1980-09-28). "Singing All the Way to Court". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  7. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 97. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  8. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1980-08-30. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
  9. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1980-07-14. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
  10. 1 2 3 "Robbie Dupree Steal Away Chart History". Billboard.
  11. ↑ "Top 100 Singles (1980)". RPM. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  12. ↑ "1980 Talent in Action – Year End Charts : Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 51. December 20, 1980.
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