Walk On By (song)
"Walk On By" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Dionne Warwick | ||||
from the album Make Way for Dionne Warwick | ||||
B-side | Any Old Time of Day (Bacharach & David) | |||
Released | April 26, 1964 | |||
Format | 7" single | |||
Recorded | July 9, 1964 at Bell Sound Studios, November 22, 1963 | |||
Genre | Soul, pop | |||
Length | 2:55 | |||
Label | Scepter 1274 | |||
Writer(s) |
Burt Bacharach Hal David | |||
Producer(s) |
Burt Bacharach Hal David | |||
Dionne Warwick singles chronology | ||||
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"Walk On By" is a song composed by Burt Bacharach, with lyrics by Hal David. The song was originally recorded in 1964 by Dionne Warwick on her album, Make Way for Dionne Warwick. Warwick's version peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Isaac Hayes covered the song in 1969 and reached number 30 on the Hot 100 chart and number 13 in the R&B charts[1] with his version. "Walk On By" has since charted numerous times in various countries, with wildly different arrangements. The following entries discuss the chart versions of the song, in the order in which they appeared.
Dionne Warwick's original version
Background
The original version of "Walk On By" by Dionne Warwick was recorded at the same December 1963 session that yielded her hit "Anyone Who Had a Heart". "Walk On By" was the follow-up to that single, released in April 1964 and reaching number 6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Cashbox's R&B chart.[2] (Billboard did not print rhythm and blues charts during 1964, the year of the song's peak performance.) The song also reached the top 10 in a brief run on Billboard's easy listening survey. The song was ranked number 70 on the Rolling Stone list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, the second highest song by a solo female on the list after "Respect" by Aretha Franklin.[3]
Session drummer Gary Chester played on this recording.[4] Other musicians included Artie Butler and Paul Griffin on piano, George Duvivier on bass, Irwin Markowitz and Ernie Royal on trumpet, Bill Suyker and Allen Hanlon on guitar, Max Pollikoff, Charles McCracken, Eugene Orloff and Julius Held and George Ockner on violin, Harold Coletta on viola, Lucien Schmit on cello, Paul Winter on saxophone, and George Devens on percussion.
Warwick also recorded a German version of the song, entitled "Geh Vorbei".[5]
Chart performance
Chart (1964) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard Hot 100 | 6 |
US Billboard Hot R&B | 1 |
US Billboard Adult Contemporary | 7 |
UK Singles Chart | 9 |
Cover versions
Bobby Kris & The Imperials version
The Toronto folk-rock group Bobby Kris & The Imperials released a fairly straight-ahead cover version in late 1965. The single became a major hit in Canada, reaching number 8 in early 1966, but "Walk On By" was to be the band's only hit.
Chart performance
Chart (1966) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Singles (RPM 100) | 8 |
Isaac Hayes version
"Walk On By" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Isaac Hayes | ||||
from the album Hot Buttered Soul | ||||
B-side | "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" | |||
Released | 1969 | |||
Genre | Funk, soul, psychedelic soul | |||
Length | 12:30 | |||
Writer(s) |
Burt Bacharach Hal David | |||
Isaac Hayes singles chronology | ||||
|
Funk/soul musician Isaac Hayes released a cover version of "Walk on By" in 1969 for his studio album Hot Buttered Soul and transformed the song into a twelve-and-a-half minute funk vamp. Edited for single release down to under 5 minutes, this single reached number 30 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. This version was also featured in the film Dead Presidents and is sampled in R&B singer Beyoncé's 2016 song "6 Inch".
Chart performance
Chart (1969) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard Hot 100 | 30 |
US Billboard Hot R&B Songs | 13 |
The Stranglers version
In 1978, The Stranglers recorded a punk rock sounding version of "Walk on By" (with an extended organ solo) that hit No. 21 on the UK Singles Chart.[6] The video for the Stranglers' version was based on the 1966 movie "Blowup" and was filmed in the same location as the movie, Maryon Park in London.[7]
Chart performance
Chart (1978) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles Chart[6] | 21 |
Average White Band version
The Average White Band cut a lightly disco-tinged version of "Walk On By" (featuring reggae and funk underpinnings) that charted in 1979. Though AWB is sometimes remembered as an instrumental band, their version of "Walk On By" was a vocal track—as were many of their other songs.
Chart performance
Chart (1979) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles Chart | 46 |
US Billboard Hot 100 | 92 |
D-Train version
In 1982, "Walk on By" was covered by the funk duo D-Train who had a UK and U.S. R&B/dance hit with the song in a boogie/funk version.
Chart performance
Chart (1982) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles Chart | 44 |
US Billboard Hot R&B Songs | 42 |
US Billboad Hot Dance Club Play | 45 |
Jo Jo Zep version
In 1983, Australian act Jo Jo Zep covered "Walk on By" in a slow, moody version that featured electronics and synthesizers. The track was a minor hit in Australia, peaking at number 55, but was a major hit in New Zealand, hitting number 6.
Chart performance
Chart (1983) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia Singles Chart | 55 |
New Zealand Singles Chart | 6 |
Melissa Manchester version
In 1989, "Walk On By" was covered by singer Melissa Manchester. Her version of the song hit number 6 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
Chart performance
Chart (1989) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard Adult Contemporary | 6 |
Sybil version
In 1990, singer Sybil, who had scored her biggest hit a year prior with a cover of Warwick's "Don't Make Me Over," also scored a U.S. and UK hit with "Walk On By."
Chart performance
Chart (1990) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles Chart | 6 |
US Billboard Hot 100 | 74 |
US Billboard Hot R&B Songs | 3 |
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 3 |
Gabrielle version
In 1997, UK singer Gabrielle released her version of "Walk on By" as the fifth and final single from her studio album, Gabrielle. It reached number 7 in the UK Singles Chart.
Chart performance
Chart (1997) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles Chart | 7 |
Dutch Singles Chart | 96 |
Cyndi Lauper version
"Walk on By" was the first single from Cyndi Lauper's 2003 covers album, At Last. It was also included on Lauper's 2004 DVD Live at Last. It was released as a promo only. Remixes of the song reached number 10 on the U.S. dance chart.
Chart performance
Chart (2004) | Peak position |
---|---|
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 10 |
Seal version
Seal released a version of "Walk On By" as a single in January 2005. Though the song did not chart in his native UK, it made the lower reaches of the charts in several European countries.
Chart performance
Chart (2005) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austria Singles Chart | 57 |
Germany Singles Chart | 49 |
Switzerland Singles Chart | 46 |
Other versions
- Alan Price
- Alicia Keys recorded a hip hop version of the song on 2003 mutli-platinum album, The Diary of Alicia Keys
- Ansis Latvian version Tiesā bija klusums
- Aretha Franklin
- Connie Francis recorded the song for her album, Connie Francis Sings Bacharach & David
- Cliff Richard with Olivia Newton-John for Cliff Live In Japan 72
- The Beach Boys covered the song in a studio outtake for their 1969 album, 20/20.
- Bob Baldwin released a version of the song on his 1997 album, Cool Breeze.[8][9]
- Bobby Caldwell released a paced down version on his 1995 album, Soul Survivor
- Brenda & the Tabulations on their 1967 album, Dry Your Eyes
- Jack McDuff on his 1966 album, Walk On By
- A 1960s garage rock version was recorded by The Outcasts from Manhasset, New York[10]
- The Dells recorded a version on their 1972 album, The Dells Sing Dionne Warwicke's Greatest Hits, released on Cadet Records, produced by Charles Stepney
- Diana Krall recorded a jazzy version of the song on her 2009 album, Quiet Nights
- Florence Ballard after she left the Supremes
- Gábor Szabó recorded a jazz instrumental version on his album, Gypsy '66
- George Benson released a jazz version of the song on his 1968 album, Gilblet Gravy
- Hooverphonic released a remix version of the song on their 1996 album A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular called '2 Wicky'
- Kelly Clarkson performed the song on "Top 5" week of season 1 of American Idol
- Gloria Gaynor released her version on her 1975 album, Experience Gloria Gaynor
- Stan Getz on his 1968 album of Bacharach & David versions "What The World Needs Now"
- Grant Green recorded an instrumental version on his 1971 album, Live at Club Mozambique.
- Helen Shapiro recorded a version in 1964, released on her album Helen Hits Out! on Columbia Records.[11]
- The Jackson Five recorded a live take of the Isaac Hayes version on their live soundtrack album Goin' Back to Indiana
- Kendra Morris recorded a version for her 2013 album Mockingbird
- Kevin Coyne released the song as a single in 1976.
- Kiki Dee recorded a version of the song in 1969 for Motown Records during her work on the Great Expectations album, but the song was not released until 2005 on the retrospective album Kiki Dee - Love Makes The World Go Round: The Motown Collection
- Whitney Houston performed the song several times in 1994 during her Bodyguard Tour, and also performed it on her 1997 HBO special Classic Whitney Live from Washington, D.C..
- Laura Nyro recorded a version of the song that was included on her 2001 Angel in the Dark (posthumous album recorded 1994–1995)
- Maggie Reilly recorded a version of the song for his 1996 album, Elena.
- Michael McDonald recorded a version on his 2008 album Soul Speak
- The Miracles recorded a version on their 1966 album Away We a Go-Go...one of two Dionne Warwick cover tunes on that album.
- Paul Carrack recorded a version on his 2001 album, Groovin'
- Paul Rodgers recorded a version of it on his 2014 album The Royal Sessions.
- Peter Nero
- Peter White released a version of the song on his 1994 album, Reflections[12][13]
- Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers recorded a version on their 1966 album Tough!.
- Robin McKelle & the Flytones - on their 2012 album Soul Flower[14]
- Roland Kirk recorded a version on his 1965 album Slightly Latin
- Ronan Keating recorded the song for his 2011 album, When Ronan Met Burt
- The Stranglers
- The Undisputed Truth on the album Law of the Land
- Vanilla Fudge on the 1984 album Mystery
- We Five released a version as a single in 1969. It was featured on their album, The Return of the We Five.[15]
References
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel, The Billboard Book of TOP 40 R&B and Hip Hop Hits, Billboard Books, New York 2006
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 609.
- ↑ "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
- ↑ "The Official Gary Chester Website - Discography". Angelfire.com. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
- ↑ "Geh Vorbei (Walk On By)". You Tube. Retrieved 2015-08-03.
- 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 535. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ↑ "Vampire Diaries!". Strangled.co.uk. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ↑ "Cool Breeze overview". *Allmusic.com.
- ↑ "CD Review of Bob Baldwin - Cool Breeze". JazzReview.com.
- ↑ The Outcasts from Manhasset, New York discography at Discogs
- ↑ "Tracks on Helen Hits Out! - Helen Shapiro (November 1964) - SecondHandSongs". Secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ↑ "Reflections overview". Allmusic.com.
- ↑ "Reflections CD Sequel Is Next For Peter White". Allmusic.com.
- ↑ JazzTimes
- ↑ We Five, There Stands the Door: The Best of We Five Retrieved March 7, 2012.