Stay for Awhile

"Stay For Awhile" is a 1986 single by Christian singer Amy Grant, and was the first single from her album The Collection. The background vocals were provided by Richard Page (lead singer for Mr. Mister), with him clearly heard singing "The way it used to be..." outro to the song.

Background

Throughout 1985 and 1986, Amy Grant was busy touring and promoting her successful pop-crossover album Unguarded. Previously she had been solely a CCM artist, but with the release of her single "Find a Way," she established herself as a credible name in secular music.

Despite her success, she was also suffering personal problems. Her husband Gary Chapman had become addicted to cocaine, and she spent most of early 1986 trying to deal with the problem. Even though she hardly had time for new recordings, she did manage to release the #1 pop single "The Next Time I Fall," which was a duet with Peter Cetera, and her record company issued a best-of compilation that covered her first ten years in the music industry.

Chart Success

In June 1986, The Collection was released in two separate LP and cassette versions, and "Stay For Awhile" was issued as its first single. Although there was a lack of promotion for both the album and the single, The Collection managed to top the Inspirational chart and "Stay For Awhile" topped the Christian radio chart and made the Top Twenty of the Adult Contemporary chart. "Stay for Awhile" paved the road to further pop radio success for Grant. Her next single, "The Next Time I Fall" became her first #1 pop song (following a long line of #1 songs on the Christian Music charts).

Charts