"While You See a Chance"
UK 7-inch vinyl single
Single by Steve Winwood
from the album Arc of a Diver
B-side"Vacant Chair"
Released1 February 1981[1]
Recorded1980
Genre
Length5:15 (album)
3:55 (single)
LabelIsland
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Steve Winwood
Steve Winwood singles chronology
"Time Is Running Out"
(1977) 		"While You See a Chance"
(1981) 		"Arc of a Diver"
(1981)

"While You See a Chance" is a song performed by Steve Winwood in 1980,[4] written by Winwood and Will Jennings.[5] It was released on his album Arc of a Diver[5] and peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1981[4] and number 68 on the Billboard Top 100 for 1981.[6]

The song was a bigger hit in Canada, where it peaked at number 3.[7] It reached number 45 in the UK.

The song's well-known introduction primarily features the organ – apparently, the other instrumentation was accidentally erased.[8] Winwood plays all the instruments.[9]

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1981) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) 16
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 8
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[7] 3
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[11] 10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] 21
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] 28
UK Singles (OCC)[14] 45
US Billboard Hot 100[15] 7
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[16] 17
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[17] 2
US Cash Box Top 100 [18] 10

Year-end charts

Chart (1981) Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[19] 23
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 96
US Billboard Hot 100[21] 68
US Cash Box [22] 72

References

  1. ^ Lyrics to "While You See a Chance" on genius.com
  2. ^ Evans, Paul (2004). "Steve Winwood". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 882–883. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  3. ^ https://singersroom.com/best-steve-winwood-songs-of-all-time/
  4. ^ a b "Steve Winwood". Billboard. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014.
  5. ^ a b Palmer, Robert (21 January 1981). "Arc of a Diver, Steve Winwood". New York Times. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  6. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1981/Top 100 Songs of 1981". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 16 May 1981. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Steve Winwood – things you didn't know". Ultimate Classic Rock.
  9. ^ https://www.classicrockreview.com/2020/12/1980-steve-winwood-arc-of-diver/
  10. ^ "Steve Winwood – While You See a Chance" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  11. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 9, 1981" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  12. ^ "Steve Winwood – While You See a Chance" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  13. ^ "Steve Winwood – While You See a Chance". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Steve Winwood: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  15. ^ "Steve Winwood Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  16. ^ "Steve Winwood Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  17. ^ "Steve Winwood Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  18. ^ "Top 100 1981-04-25". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  19. ^ "Top 100 Singles of 1981". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  20. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1981". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  21. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1981/Top 100 Songs of 1981". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  22. ^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1981". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
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