Walk On By (song)


"Walk On By" is a song composed by Burt Bacharach, with lyrics by Hal David, for singer Dionne Warwick in 1963. 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 with his version. "Walk On By" has since charted numerous times in various countries, with wildly different arrangements.
Charted versions of the song, in order of their release:

Dionne Warwick original version (1964)

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. The song also reached the top 10 in a 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. "Walk On By" became Warwick's second international million seller following "Anyone Who Had A Heart" in January 1964.
Session drummer Gary Chester played on this recording. 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, titled "Geh Vorbei".

Chart performance

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 to be the band's only hit.

Chart performance

Isaac Hayes version (1969)

/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-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 1992 by Compton's Most Wanted in "Hood Took Me Under", in 1994 by The Notorious B.I.G. in Warning, in 1995 by Tupac Shakur in "Me Against The World", in 2000 by Wu-Tang Clan in "I Can't Go to Sleep", in 1996 by Hooverphonic in "2 Wicky" and in R&B singer Beyoncé's 2016 song "6 Inch".

Samples

Thi song is sampled by the late South African artist Hip Hop Pantsula in "Let Me Be" off his 2005 album YBA 2 NW. In this song Hip Hop Pantsula features Mo'Molemi.

Chart performance

Gloria Gaynor version (1975)

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 Peak
position
Canada90
Germany17
Netherlands19
South Africa 12
US Billboard Hot 10098

The Stranglers version (1978)

In 1978, the Stranglers recorded a punk rock-sounding version of "Walk on By" that hit No. 21 on the UK Singles Chart. 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. Chart performance may have been impaired by the fact that an E.P. featuring the song had been given away with the first 75,000 copies of their album Black and White.

Chart performance

Average White Band version (1979)

The Average White Band cut a lightly disco-tinged version 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

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.

Chart performance

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.

Chart performance

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.

Chart performance

Sybil version (1990)

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

;Year-end charts
Chart Position
New Zealand 48

Gabrielle version (1997)

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. Despite being one of her bigger hits, it was not included on her Greatest Hits compilation in 2001, being the only Top 10 hit in her career not to appear on it.

Track listings

Chart performance

Cyndi Lauper version (2003)

"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.

Formats and track listings

US Promotional 12"
  1. "Walk On By" – 8:12
  2. "Walk On By" – 8:12
US Promotional 12"
  1. "Walk On By" – 10:53
  2. "Walk On By" – 7:52
US Promotional CD
  1. "Walk On By" – 3:26
  2. "Walk On By" – 4:31
  3. "Walk On By" – 4:31

    Chart performance

Seal version (2005)

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

Other versions