Walking on the Chinese Wall

"Walking on the Chinese Wall" is a song written by Roxanne Seeman, Billie Hughes and Marcy Levy. It was recorded by Philip Bailey and became the title track of his album Chinese Wall. Phil Collins produced, played drums and sang, as part of the backgrounds, on the song, however the song was not credited as a Bailey and Collins duet. The Phenix Horns and additional overdub recording took place in Los Angeles, with George Massenburg engineering and mixing. Josie James also sang background vocals on the song.

"Walking on the Chinese Wall" was the third single, released in 1985.

In 1998, Sony Germany released a Philip Bailey compilation album entitled "Walking on the Chinese Wall."

Background

Seeman and Hughes met and began writing songs together just after she returned from a three-week journey through China. Soon after, Hughes went to Osaka to perform, staying in Japan for four months. Upon his return, they began a partnership and bought recording equipment. Feeling inspired by the East, for the first song Hughes composed on the new Oberheim OB8 synthesizer and DMX drum machine, Hughes asked Seeman to "write me something Chinese". Having walked on The Great Wall, on the Northern Gate outside of Beijing, Seeman came up with the lyrics "walking on the chinese wall" for the chorus. The next line "watching for the coins to fall" refers to the I Ching coins. Seeman draws from her studies of Chinese arts and literature, making references to the I Ching ("Book of Changes") and Dream of the Red Chamber (one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature), such as in the bridge lyrics "Red chamber dream, from the sky above, ancient tales of hidden Chinese love."

Seeman sent the song to Philip Bailey, then Seeman and Hughes flew to New York. From New York, Seeman called Philip Bailey, who asked Seeman and Hughes to meet him with a chord chart at JFK airport, where he was changing planes, on his way to London to record with Phil Collins at The Townhouse.

Video

The video for this song was directed by Duncan Gibbins. It was filmed in the Santa Monica mountains.

Chart performance

Country	Peak position
Netherlands	25 ^[1]
New Zealand	18 ^[2]
UK Singles Chart	34
US Billboard Hot 100	46
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	56

Personnel

Philip Bailey - vocals
Phil Collins - background vocals, drums, LinnDrum, keyboards
Daryl Stuermer - guitars
Nathan East - bass
Lesette Wilson - keyboards
Josie James - background vocals
The Phenix Horns - Horns
Don Myrick - Saxophone
Louis Satterfield - Trombone
Rahmlee Michael Davis - Trumpet

Production

George Massenburg - Engineer, Mix
Phil Collins - Producer

Recorded at the Townhouse Studios, London, England Horns recorded in Los Angeles Mixed at The Complex, Los Angeles, California

Televised performances

Live performances

American Bandstand (1985)
Black Gold Awards (1986)
Solid Gold (1985)
The Today Show (1985)

A clip from Bailey's live performance in American Bandstand appeared in Dick Clark's American Bandstand's 33-1/3 Celebration.

Other performances

Dick Clark's "Summer Rock 'n Roll"
ESPN Beach Special
Fantastico Brazil

Cover versions

The "Young Talent Team" from the Australian television variety program, "Young Talent Time" recorded a cover version on their "Young Talent Team Now and Then 15th Anniversary Album."
The Italian dance artist Indiana released a Spanish version produced by Christiano Malgioglio in the summer of 1992.
The Eurodance group Double You included a dance version of "Walking On The Chinese Wall" on their hit 1990's album.

In September 2004, Alicia Keys headlined the first pop concert in history staged on the Great Wall of China. Performers included Boyz II Men, Cyndi Lauper, Nellie McKay, Sylvia Tosun and Doyle Bramhall II. Billie Hughes and Roxanne Seeman's song "Walking On The Chinese Wall" by Philip Bailey produced by Phil Collins was the finale of the event.

Versions (14)

Title (Format) Label Cat# Country Year Walking On The Chinese Wall (12", Maxi) CBS, CBS CBSA 12.6079, A 12-6079 Europe 1985 Walking On The Chinese Wall (7") CBS BA 3273 Australia 1984 Walking On The Chinese Wall (7") CBS BA 223273 New Zealand 1984 Walking On The Chinese Wall (7", Single) CBS, CBS CBSA 6079, A 6079 Euro pe 1984 Walking On The Chinese Wall (12") CBS CBS 12-6079 US 1985 Walking On The Chinese Wall (12", Maxi) CBS CBS A 12.6079 Spain 1985 Walking On The Chinese Wall (12", Maxi) CBS, CBS CBSA 12.6079, A 12-6079 Spain 1985 Walking On The Chinese Wall (12", Single) CBS TA 6202 UK 1985 Walking On The Chinese Wall (7") Columbia 38-04826 Canada 1985 Walking On The Chinese Wall (7") CBS A 6202 UK 1985 Walking On The Chinese Wall (7") Columbia 38-04826 US 1985 Walking On The Chinese Wall (7", Promo, Single) Columbia 38-04826 US 1985 Walking On The Chinese Wall (7", Single) CBS CBSA 6079 Italy 1985 Walking On The Chinese Wall (12") CBS TA6202 UK Unknown

References

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