I'm Looking out the Window#Cliff Richard version

"I'm Looking out the Window" is a ballad written by Don Raye and John Jacob Niles.{{cite web|url=http://songwritershalloffame.org/index.php/songs/detailed/C99/P80/|title=Songwriter's Hall of Fame - Don Raye|publisher=The Songwriters Hall of Fame|access-date=2014-06-26|archive-date=2015-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121040828/http://songwritershalloffame.org/index.php/songs/detailed/C99/P80|url-status=dead}} Peggy Lee first recorded the song as a B-side for her 1959 single "Hallelujah, I Love Him So".{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Peggy-Lee-Hallelujah-I-Love-Him-So-Im-Looking-Out-The-Window/release/1606399|title=Peggy Lee - I'm Looking Out The Window|publisher=discogs.com|access-date=2014-06-26}} The song is best known as a hit record for Cliff Richard in 1962 in numerous countries, although not in the United States.

The authorship of the song has not always been clear. Peggy Lee's original release on Capitol Records was credited to Don Raye. Cliff Richard's release on Columbia was credited to John Jacob Niles.{{cite web |url=http://www.45cat.com/record/db4828|title=Cliff Richard - I'm Looking Out The Window|publisher=45cat.com|access-date=2014-06-26}} The Songwriter's Hall of Fame now credits it to both.

Cliff Richard version

{{Infobox song

| name = I'm Lookin' out the Window

| cover = File:Cliff Richard I'm Lookin' out the Window.jpg

| alt =

| caption =

| type = single

| artist = Cliff Richard with the Norrie Paramor Orchestra

| album =

| B-side = Do You Want to Dance

| released = 4 May 1962{{cite web|url=http://www.cliffrichardsongs.com/crworks6.php |title=Cliff Richard Song Database - 1960s Songs |website=Cliffrichardsongs.com |access-date=2016-09-26}}

| recorded = 11 December 1961

| studio = EMI Recording Studios

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 2:46

| label = Columbia

| writer = John Jacob Niles

| producer = Norrie Paramor

| prev_title = The Young Ones

| prev_year = 1962

| next_title = Lessons in Love

| next_year = 1962

}}

Cliff Richard with the Norrie Paramor Orchestra recorded it for release as a single in 1962 as I'm Lookin' out the Window.{{Cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/db4828|title=Cliff Richard - I'm Lookin' Out The Window|access-date=5 May 2021|website=45cat.com}} It reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and was successful in numerous other countries. It was only Richard's second song released as a single without the backing of his band the Shadows (known as the Drifters on his first five singles).

The song was somewhat overshadowed by its upbeat B-side, "Do You Want to Dance", which gained its own UK chart position of number 10 in the New Musical Express singles chart as it allowed separate listing of B-sides. Notably, it also became the sole or primary listed song of the single in some countries' charts (refer to the Chart performance section below). As was more usual on singles in the early part of Richard's career, "Do You Want to Dance" also featured the Shadows backing Richard.

=Chart performance=

Chart entries as "I'm Lookin' out the Window" / "Do You Want to Dance":

class="wikitable"
scope="col"|Chart (1962)

!scope="col"|Peak
position

{{single chart |UKsinglesbyname|2|artist=Cliff Richard|song=I'm Lookin' out the Window|refname=UKsinglesbyname}}
Denmark (Tracklisten){{cite book|title=Billboard|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_QBcEAAAAMBAJ|date=18 August 1962|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_QBcEAAAAMBAJ/page/n23 22]|issn=0006-2510}}

| style="text-align:center;"|6

Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite book |last=Lassila |first=Juha |title=Mitä Suomi soittaa?: Hittilistat 1954-87 |year=1990 |publisher=Jyväskylän yliopisto |language=fi |isbn=95-168-0321-0}}

|align=center|18

India{{cite book|title=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KBcEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34|date=11 August 1962|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|page=34|issn=0006-2510}}

|align=center|1

{{single chart |Ireland|2|artist=Cliff Richard|song=I'm Looking out the Window|week=20|year=1962}}
New Zealand{{cite web |url=http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=Lever%20hit%20parades&qyear=1962&qmonth=Sep&qweek=06-Sep-1962#n_view_location|title=New Zealand Lever Hit Parade - September 6, 1962|publisher=Steve Kohler, Lintas NZ Ltd|access-date=2014-06-09}}Billboard did not publish the NZ chart every week. This NZ chart (source unknown) has the song at number 3. {{cite book|title=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j0UEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT19|date=29 September 1962|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=19–|issn=0006-2510}}

|align=center|2

{{single chart |Norway|2|artist=Cliff Richard|song=I'm Lookin' out the Window}}
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan){{cite book|title=Rock Around the Clock - Saturday Night Fever 1955-1978|last=Johansson|first=Carl-Owe|location=Vara, Sweden|publisher=Dominique muzic-club|year=1980}}

|align=center|3

Chart entries as "Do You Want to Dance" or "Do You Want to Dance" / "I'm Lookin' out the Window":

class="wikitable"
scope="col"|Chart (1962)

!scope="col"|Peak
position

UK (New Musical Express Chart){{cite book|title=The Complete Chronicle Cliff Richard|last1=Read|first1=Mike|author-link1=Mike Read|last2=Goodall|first2=Nigel|last3=Lewry|first3=Peter|publisher=Hamlyn, London |year=1993|isbn=0-600-57897-6}}

|align=center|10

Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite book|title=Australian Chart Book 1940–1969|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. |year=2005|isbn=0-646-44439-5|title-link=Kent Music Report}}

|align=center|3

{{single chart |Flanders|4|artist=Cliff Richard|song=Do You Wanna Dance}}
{{single chart |Dutch100|1|artist=Cliff Richard|song=Do You Wanna Dance}}
South Africa{{cite book|title=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dhcEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA40|date=8 September 1962|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=40–|issn=0006-2510}}

|align=center|2

Spain (Promusicae){{cite book |last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st |date=September 1979|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}

|align=center|15

Sweden (Tio i Topp){{Cite book |last=Hallberg |first=Eric |title=Eric Hallberg, Ulf Henningsson presenterar Tio i topp med de utslagna på försök: 1961 - 74 |last2=Henningsson |first2=Ulf |publisher=Premium Publishing |year=1998 |isbn=919727125X |location= |pages=313}}

| style="text-align:center;"|1

Other versions

  • French singer Francois Feguelt recorded a French version titled "Deja le jour se leve" (1963).International News Reports, Belgium, second paragraph {{cite book|title=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eAsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA24|date=9 March 1963|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|page=24|issn=0006-2510}}
  • Nancy Holloway also recorded a version of "Deja le jour se leve" as the B-side of her single "Prends garde a toi".{{cite web|url=http://www.groovecollector.com/mp/holloway-nancy-prends-garde-a-toi-deja-le-jour-se-leve/r/1102118522/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140626184908/http://www.groovecollector.com/mp/holloway-nancy-prends-garde-a-toi-deja-le-jour-se-leve/r/1102118522/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 26, 2014|title=Nancy Holloway - Deja le jour se leve|publisher=groovecollector.com|access-date=2014-06-26}}

References

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