Walk On By | |
Type: | single |
Artist: | Dionne Warwick |
Album: | Make Way for Dionne Warwick |
B-Side: | Any Old Time of Day |
Released: | April 26, 1964 |
Recorded: | November/December 1963[1] |
Studio: | Bell Sound, New York City |
Genre: | |
Label: | Scepter |
Composer: | Burt Bacharach |
Lyricist: | Hal David |
Producer: |
|
Prev Title: | Anyone Who Had a Heart |
Prev Year: | 1963 |
Next Title: | You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart) |
Next Year: | 1964 |
"Walk On By" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for singer Dionne Warwick in 1963.[4] Warwick's recording of the song peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Cash Box Rhythm and Blues Chart In June 1964 and was nominated for a 1965 Grammy Award for the Best Rhythm and Blues Recording.
Isaac Hayes recorded the song five years later, in 1969, and his version reached number 30 on the Hot 100 chart and number 13 in the R&B charts.[5] "Walk On By" has since charted numerous times in various countries, with wildly different arrangements, as noted below.
In 1998, the 1964 release by Dionne Warwick on Scepter Records was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[6]
The original version of "Walk On By" by Dionne Warwick was recorded at Bell Sound Studios in New York City,[7] the same late November/early 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 Cashboxs R&B chart.[8] (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 run on Billboard's easy listening survey. The song was ranked number 51 on the Rolling Stone list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[9] "Walk On By" became Warwick's second international million seller, following "Anyone Who Had A Heart" in January 1964. Warwick also recorded a German version of the song, titled "Geh vorbei".[10]
played on this recording as did session bassist Russ Savakus.[11] Other musicians included Artie Butler on organ, Paul Griffin on piano, Irwin Markowitz and Ernie Royal on trumpet, Bill Suyker and Allen Hanlon on guitar, Max Pollikoff, Charles McCracken, Eugene Orloff, Julius Held, and George Ockner on violin, Harold Coletta on viola, Lucien Schmit on cello, Paul Winter on saxophone, and George Devens on percussion.
In 2023, Warwick's recording was sampled by Doja Cat for her single "Paint the Town Red". It reached number one on the Hot 100 on the issue dated September 16, 2023, marking the first time Warwick's voice appeared at number one since 1986's Year-end chart performance of "That's What Friends Are For".[12]
Chart (1964) | Peak position | |
---|---|---|
Australia | 28 | |
Canada | 14 | |
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[13] | 4 | |
UK Singles (OCC) | 9 | |
US Billboard Hot 100 | 6 | |
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 7 | |
US Cashbox R&B | 1 |
The Toronto folk-rock group Bobby Kris and 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 the band's only hit.
Walk On By | |
Type: | single |
Artist: | Isaac Hayes |
Album: | Hot Buttered Soul |
B-Side: | By the Time I Get to Phoenix |
Recorded: | 1969 |
Length: | 4:34 (single) |
Label: | Enterprise |
Producer: | Al Bell, Marvell Thomas, Allen Jones |
Prev Title: | Precious, Precious |
Prev Year: | 1967 |
Next Title: | The Mistletoe and Me |
Next Year: | 1969 |
Isaac Hayes released a cover version of "Walk on By" in 1969 on the album Hot Buttered Soul, transforming the song into a twelve-minute funk vamp. A single edit reached number 30 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Hayes' version was ranked No. 312 in the 2021 edition of Rolling Stones "Top 500 Songs of All Time".[15]
Hayes' version was sampled in 1992 by Compton's Most Wanted in "Hood Took Me Under"; in 1994, by The Notorious B.I.G. in "Warning"; in 1995, by Faith Evans in "No Other Love", from the album Faith; 2Pac in "Me Against The World", in 1998 by McGruff in "Harlem Kidz Get Biz"; in 1999, by MF DOOM in "Dead Bent"; in 2000, by Wu-Tang Clan in "I Can't Go to Sleep"; in 1996, by Hooverphonic in "2 Wicky"; in 2005, by Hip Hop Pantsula in "Let Me Be", from his album YBA 2 NW; and in 2016. in Beyoncé's "6 Inch".
Walk On By | |
Type: | single |
Artist: | Gloria Gaynor |
Album: | Experience Gloria Gaynor |
B-Side: | Real Good People |
Released: | October 1975 |
Recorded: | 1975 |
Label: | MGM |
Producer: | Meco Monardo |
Gloria Gaynor released her disco version on her 1975 album, Experience Gloria Gaynor. It became a hit in South Africa during the fall of the year, reaching #12, and #17 in Germany.
Chart (1975) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 12 |
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) | 14 |
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia) | 29 |
Canada | 90 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 22 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 19 |
South Africa (Springbok)[16] | 12 |
US Billboard Hot 100[17] | 98 |
West Germany (Official German Charts) | 17 |
Walk On By | |
Cover: | Walk On By (the Stranglers single).jpg |
Alt: | Picture of the single sleeve |
Type: | single |
Artist: | The Stranglers |
B-Side: | "Old Codger", "Tank" |
Released: | 1978 (UK) |
Label: | United Artists |
Producer: | Martin Rushent |
Prev Title: | Nice 'n' Sleazy |
Prev Year: | 1978 |
Next Title: | Duchess |
Next Year: | 1979 |
In 1978, the Stranglers recorded a version of "Walk on By" which reached No. 21 on the UK Singles Chart.[18] This six-minute version of the song features extended organ and guitar solos which Gene Becker of AllMusic likened to the Doors' "Light My Fire".[19] A music video was produced for the single, parodying Michelangelo Antonioni's 1966 film Blowup. As with key sequences of the film, the Stranglers video was filmed largely in London's Maryon Park.[20] The single's chart performance may have been impaired by the fact that an EP featuring the song had been given away with the first 75,000 copies of the band's album Black and White.
The Average White Band cut a lightly disco-tinged version (featuring reggae and funk underpinnings) that charted in 1979.
Chart (1979) | Peak position | |
---|---|---|
UK Singles (OCC) | 46 | |
US Billboard Hot 100 | 92 |
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 (1982) | Peak position | |
---|---|---|
UK Singles (OCC) | 44 | |
US Hot R&B Songs (Billboard) | 42 | |
US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard) | 45 |
In 1983, Australian group Jo Jo Zep covered "Walk on By" in a slow, moody version that featured electronics and synthesisers. The song was lifted from the band's seventh studio album, Cha. The track was a minor hit in Australia, peaking at number 55, but was a major hit in New Zealand, hitting number 6.
Chart (1983) | Peak position | |
---|---|---|
Australia | 55 | |
New Zealand | 6 |
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.
Walk On By | |
Cover: | Sybil-Walk On By.jpg |
Type: | single |
Artist: | Sybil |
Album: | Sybil |
Released: | 1990 |
Genre: |
|
Length: | 4:04 |
Label: | PWL Records |
Producer: | Eddie O'Loughlin |
Prev Title: | Don't Make Me Over |
Prev Year: | 1989 |
Next Title: | Make It Easy on Me |
Next Year: | 1990 |
In 1990, American 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".
A1: "Walk On By" (Club Mix) – 7:15
A2: "Walk On By" (Radio) – 4:04
B1: "Here Comes My Love" (Vocal Mix) – 3:48
B2: "Here Comes My Love" (Instrumental) – 3:58
Chart (1990) | Peak position | |
---|---|---|
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[23] | 35 | |
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[24] | 18 | |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[25] | 14 | |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 15 | |
New Zealand (RIANZ) | 2 | |
UK Singles (OCC) | 6 | |
US Billboard Hot 100 | 74 | |
US Hot R&B Songs (Billboard) | 3 | |
US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard) | 3 |
Walk On By | |
Cover: | Gabrielle - Walk CD.jpg |
Type: | single |
Artist: | Gabrielle |
Album: | Gabrielle |
B-Side: | Something to Talk About |
Released: | January 20, 1997 |
Length: | 3:21 |
Producer: | The Boilerhouse Boys |
Prev Title: | If You Ever |
Prev Year: | 1996 |
Next Title: | Sunshine |
Next Year: | 1999 |
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 on the UK Singles Chart.
A reviewer from Music Week rated the track five out of five, adding that the song "is given a fine treatment by Gabrielle, whose voice fits perfectly. A guaranteed radio biggie, too."[27]
Chart (1997) | Peak position |
---|---|
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[28] | 41 |
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[29] | 19 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[30] | 96 |
Scotland (OCC)[31] | 12 |
UK Singles (OCC)[32] | 7 |
UK R&B (OCC)[33] | 2 |
"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.
US Promotional 12"[34]
US Promotional 12" (Remix)[35]
US Promotional CD[36]
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.