Outside Chance (song)

"Outside Chance" is a song written by lyricist Glenn Crocker and composer Warren Zevon, initially recorded by American pop band the Turtles in 1966. Zevon and the Turtles were label-mates on White Whale Records, being introduced to one another by label founders Ted Feigin and Lee Lasseff after a meeting where Zevon's music was played for the Turtles. "Outside Chance" was inspired by the Beatles "Paperback Writer" and features a prominent twelve-string jangle guitar riff influenced by the Beatles' "Taxman". The Turtles recorded the song at Western Recorders in June 1966 together with producer Bones Howe and session musician Larry Knechtel.

White Whale released "Outside Chance" as the Turtles' fifth single release in July 1966 with "We'll Meet Again" as the B-side. As the song was issued in a period where the band were commercially unsuccessful, "Outside Chance" failed to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100. White Whale withdrew the single and placed the song on the B-side of "Making My Mind Up" in September 1966, a release which also failed to chart. "Outside Chance" received primarily positive, noting the upbeat rock sound. Retrospectively, the single gave Zevon credibility in the music industry and was critically acclaimed, being considered one of the Turtles' best recordings.