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| "Walk On By" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Dionne Warwick | ||||
| from the 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 | ||||
| Length | 2:55 | |||
| Label | Scepter | |||
| Composer(s) | Burt Bacharach | |||
| Lyricist(s) | Hal David | |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Dionne Warwick singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Official audio | ||||
| "Walk on By" on YouTube | ||||
"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 reached number 30 on the Hot 100 chart and number 13 in the R&B charts[5] with his version. "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]
Dionne Warwick original version (1964)
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 Cashbox's 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]
Session drummer Gary Chester[citation needed] 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]
Charts
Weekly charts
| 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 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1964) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[14] | 37 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[15] Sales since November 14, 2004 |
Silver | 200,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Bobby Kris and the Imperials version (1965)
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.
Charts
| Chart (1966) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Singles (RPM 100) | 8 |
Isaac Hayes version (1969)
| "Walk On By" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Isaac Hayes | ||||
| from the album Hot Buttered Soul | ||||
| B-side | "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" | |||
| Released | July 1969 | |||
| Recorded | 1969 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 12:00 4:34 (single) | |||
| Label | Enterprise | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Burt Bacharach Hal David | |||
| Producer(s) | Al Bell, Marvell Thomas, Allen Jones | |||
| Isaac Hayes singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
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 Stone's "Top 500 Songs of All Time".[18]
Samples
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".
Charts
Gloria Gaynor version (1975)
| "Walk On By" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by Gloria Gaynor | |
| from the album Experience Gloria Gaynor | |
| B-side | "Real Good People" |
| Released | October 1975 |
| Recorded | 1975 |
| Length | 3:00 |
| Label | MGM |
| Songwriter(s) | Burt Bacharach Hal David |
| Producer(s) | 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.
Charts
| 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)[19] | 12 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[20] | 98 |
| West Germany (Official German Charts) | 17 |
The Stranglers version (1978)
| "Walk On By" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Stranglers | ||||
| B-side | "Old Codger", "Tank" | |||
| Released | 1978 (UK) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 6:22 | |||
| Label | United Artists | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Burt Bacharach Hal David | |||
| Producer(s) | Martin Rushent | |||
| The Stranglers singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Official audio | ||||
| "Walk on By" on YouTube | ||||
In 1978, the Stranglers recorded a version of "Walk on By" which reached No. 21 on the UK Singles Chart.[21] 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".[22] 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.[23] 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.
Charts
| Chart (1978) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[21] | 21 |
Average White Band version (1979)
The Average White Band cut a lightly disco-tinged version (featuring reggae and funk underpinnings) that charted in 1979.[24]
Charts
| Chart (1979) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC) | 46 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 92 |
D-Train version (1982)
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.
Charts
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC) | 44 |
| US Hot R&B Songs (Billboard) | 42 |
| US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard) | 45 |
Jo Jo Zep version (1983)
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.
Charts
| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia | 55 |
| New Zealand | 6 |
Melissa Manchester version (1989)
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.
Charts
| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 6 |
Sybil version (1990)
| "Walk On By" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Sybil | ||||
| from the album Sybil | ||||
| Released | 1990 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:04 | |||
| Label | PWL Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Eddie O'Loughlin | |||
| Sybil singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Walk On By" on YouTube | ||||
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".
Track listing
- US, 7" Vinyl single[25]
- 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
- UK, CD Maxi single[26]
- "Walk On By" (Club Mix) – 7:15
- "Bad Beats Suite" (Radio) – 3:12
- "Walk On By" (Dub Version) – 3:21
Chartsedit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
Gabrielle version (1997)edit
| "Walk On By" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Gabrielle | ||||
| from the album Gabrielle | ||||
| B-side | "Something to Talk About" | |||
| Released | January 20, 1997 | |||
| Length | 3:21 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | The Boilerhouse Boys | |||
| Gabrielle singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
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."[31]
Track listingsedit
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Walk On By" | 3:21 |
| 2. | "Walk On By" (45% Novocaine Remix) | 3:41 |
| 3. | "Walk On By" (Live from TFI Friday) | 3:32 |
| 4. | "Something To Talk About" | 4:13 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Walk On By" | 3:21 |
| 2. | "Give Me A Little More Time" (Def Mix) | 7:57 |
| 3. | "Walk On By" (45% Novocaine Remix) | 3:41 |
| 4. | "Forget About The World" (Daft Punk 'Don't Forget The World' Mix) | 5:44 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Walk On By" | 3:21 |
| 2. | "Something To Talk About" | 4:13 |