If You Leave Me Now

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"If You Leave Me Now" is the title of a popular hit ballad by the group Chicago, from their album Chicago X. It was written by Peter Cetera and released as a single in July, 1976. The main theme of the song is about a quarrelling couple.

The single topped the U.S. charts on October 23, 1976 and stayed there for two weeks, making it the very first number-one hit for the group. It was popular in multiple radio formats; at one point during its peak listeners heard it being played simultaneously on four different New York City radio stations.

"If You Leave Me Now" was Chicago's biggest hit worldwide after topping the charts in other countries such as Britain and Australia. It also bears the distinction of being the only Chicago single to feature guitar strings as its accompaniment and the only one to win a Grammy Award, winning two one for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s), and one for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus.

In a 2006 poll for a Channel 5 program Britain's Favourite Break-up Songs, "If You Leave Me Now" was voted eighth.

[edit] Other versions

Cetera re-recorded the song as a solo artist for his 1997 album You're the Inspiration: A Collection.
Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire sang the song during their joint concert with Chicago in 2004. This version was included in the Love Songs album by Chicago.
In the animated film, Happy Feet, the hero penguin, Mumble, feels obliged to drive away his love for her to have a normal life. The adèle amigos observing this sing a cappella version of the song to try to convince Mumble to call her back.

[edit] Trivia

South Park character Butters Stotch has sung portions of this song in several episodes of the series.

Incidentally, when "If You Leave Me Now" became Chicago's first number one hit in 1976, the same year former mayor of Chicago, Richard J. Daley, who objected to the group's using the name "Chicago Transit Authority" died.

Preceded by: "Disco Duck (Part 1)" by Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots	Billboard Hot 100 number one single October 23, 1976	Succeeded by: "Rock'n Me" by Steve Miller Band
Preceded by: "Mississippi" by Pussycat	UK number one single November 13, 1976	Succeeded by: "Under the Moon of Love" by Showaddywaddy

Chicago
Robert Lamm \| James Pankow \| Lee Loughnane \| Walter Parazaider \| Bill Champlin Jason Scheff \| Tris Imboden \| Keith Howland Terry Kath \| Peter Cetera \| Danny Seraphine \| Laudir DeOliveira \| Donnie Dacus \| Chris Pinnick \| Dawayne Bailey
Discography
Studio albums: The Chicago Transit Authority \| Chicago \| Chicago III \| Chicago V \| Chicago VI \|Chicago VII \| Chicago VIII \| Chicago X \| Chicago XI \| Hot Streets Chicago 13 \| Chicago XIV \| Chicago 16 \| Chicago 17 \| Chicago 18 \| Chicago 19 \| Twenty 1 \| Night & Day Big Band \| Chicago XXX
Live albums: Chicago at Carnegie Hall \| Chicago XXVI: Live in Concert
Compilations: Chicago IX - Chicago's Greatest Hits \| Greatest Hits, Volume II \| Greatest Hits 1982-1989 The Heart of Chicago 1967-1997 \| The Heart of Chicago 1967-1998 Volume II \| The Very Best of: Only the Beginning \| Love Songs
Christmas albums: Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album \| What's It Gonna Be, Santa?
Unreleased album: Stone of Sisyphus
Box sets: The Box