"Walk On By" is a song composed by Burt Bacharach, with lyrics by

Hal David Harold Lane David (May 25, 1921 – September 1, 2012) was an American lyricist. He grew up in New York City. He was best known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach and his association with Dionne Warwick. Early life 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.

Dionne Warwick original version (1964)

The original version of "Walk On By" by Dionne Warwick was recorded at

Bell Sound Studios Bell Sound Studios was an independent recording studio in New York City from 1950 to 1976. At its height, the studio was the largest independent recording studio in the United States, and the site of recording sessions that produced seminal hits by ...

in New York City, 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. The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number 1 on the '' Cashboxs R&B chart. (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 ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...

'' list of

The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" is a recurring survey compiled by the American magazine ''Rolling Stone''. It is based on weighted votes from selected musicians, critics, and industry figures. The first list was published in December 2004 in ...

, 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 Gary Chester (born Cesario Gurciullo; October 27, 1924 – August 17, 1987) was an American studio drummer, author, and teacher. Beginning in the 1960s, he played on hundreds of records for bands such as The Coasters, The Monkees, and The Lovin ...

played on this recording as did session bassist

Russ Savakus Russell Savakus (May 13, 1925 – June 26, 1984) was an American session bass player (both electric and stand-up), violinist and singer. Savakus recorded with numerous artists in and around the 1960s folk and folk-rock movement in New York. Earl ...

. 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. Warwick also recorded a German version of the song, titled "Geh Vorbei".

Charts

Certifications

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.

Charts

Isaac Hayes version (1969)

Funk/soul musician Isaac Hayes released a cover version of "Walk on By" in 1969 for his studio album ''

Hot Buttered Soul ''Hot Buttered Soul'' is the second studio album by American soul musician Isaac Hayes. Released in 1969, it is recognized as a landmark in soul music. Recorded with The Bar-Kays, the album features four lengthy tracks, including a 12-minute vers ...

'' and transformed the song into a twelve-minute funk

vamp The VaMP driverless car was one of the first truly autonomous cars Dynamic Vision for Perc ...

. 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 ''Dead Presidents'' is a 1995 American crime film co-written, produced and directed by the Hughes Brothers. The film chronicles the life of Anthony Curtis (Larenz Tate), focusing on his teenage years as a high school graduate and his experience ...

''. His version was ranked No. 312 in the 2021 edition of " Top 500 Songs of All Time" by Rolling Stone Magazine.

Samples

Hayes's version was sampled in 1992 by

Compton's Most Wanted Compton's Most Wanted (C.M.W.) is an American gangsta rap group and part of the early West Coast hip hop scene. The leaders of the group are MC Eiht and Tha Chill. History Formation and early years C.M.W. included rappers MC Eiht, Tha Chill, ...

in " Hood Took Me Under", in 1994 by The Notorious B.I.G. in "Warning", in 1995 by

2Pac Tupac Amaru Shakur ( ; born Lesane Parish Crooks, June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known as 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper. He is widely considered one of the most influential rappers of all time. Shakur is among the b ...

in "

Me Against The World ''Me Against the World'' is the third studio album by American rapper 2Pac. It was released on March 14, 1995, by Interscope and Jive Records. 2Pac draws lyrical inspiration from his impending prison sentence, troubles with the police, and pove ...

", in 1998 by McGruff in " Harlem Kidz Get Biz", in 1999 by

MF DOOM Daniel Dumile ( ; July 13, 1971October 31, 2020), best known by his stage name MF Doom or simply Doom (both stylized in all caps), was a British-American rapper and record producer. Noted for his intricate wordplay, signature metal mask, and ...

in "Dead Bent", in 2000 by

Wu-Tang Clan Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop group formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its original members include RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa. Close aff ...

in "I Can't Go to Sleep", in 1996 by

Hooverphonic Hooverphonic is a Belgian band that formed in October 1995. Though originally categorized as a trip hop group, they quickly expanded their sound to the point where they could no longer be described as a singular genre, but rather encompass altern ...

in "2 Wicky", in 2005 by Hip Hop Pantsula in "Let Me Be", from his album '' YBA 2 NW'', and in R&B singer Beyoncé's 2016 song "

6 Inch "6 Inch" is a song by American singer Beyoncé featuring Canadian singer the Weeknd from the former's sixth studio album ''Lemonade'' (2016). The song's original portions were written by the artists alongside DannyBoyStyles, Ben Billions, The-Dream ...

Charts

Gloria Gaynor version (1975)

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

The Stranglers version (1978)

In 1978,

the Stranglers The Stranglers are an English rock band who emerged via the punk rock scene. Scoring 23 UK top 40 singles and 19 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades, the Stranglers are one of the longest-surviving bands to have origin ...

recorded a six minute version of "Walk on By" (with extended organ and guitar solos) that hit No. 21 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

. The video for the Stranglers' version was based on the 1966 movie "

Blowup ''Blowup'' (sometimes styled as ''Blow-up'' or ''Blow Up'') is a 1966 mystery drama thriller film directed by Michelangelo Antonioni and produced by Carlo Ponti. It was Antonioni's first entirely English-language film, and stars David Hemming ...

" and was filmed in the same location as the movie,

Maryon Park Maryon Park is an urban public park located in Charlton in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. It is situated on the A206 south of the Thames Barrier. There is access from Woolwich Road, Charlton Lane and Thorntree Road. It is part of the Maryon Wil ...

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.''

Charts

Average White Band version (1979)

The

Average White Band The Average White Band (also known as AWB) are a Scottish funk and R&B band that had a series of soul and disco hits between 1974 and 1980. They are best known for their million-selling instrumental track " Pick Up the Pieces", and their album ...

cut a lightly disco-tinged version (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.

Charts

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 Boogie is a repetitive, swung note or shuffle rhythm,Burrows, Terry (1995). ''Play Country Guitar'', p.42. Dorling Kindersley Limited, London. . "groove" or pattern used in blues which was originally played on the piano in boogie-woogie mus ...

/funk version.

Charts

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

Melissa Manchester version (1989)

In 1989, "Walk On By" was covered by singer

Melissa Manchester Melissa Manchester (born February 15, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Since the 1970s, her songs have been carried by adult contemporary radio stations. She has also appeared on television, in films, and on stage. Early l ...

. Her version of the song hit number 6 on the ''Billboard''

Adult Contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, quie ...

chart.

Charts

Sybil version (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".

Track listing

*US, 7" Vinyl single :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 # "Walk On By" (Club Mix) – 7:15 # "Bad Beats Suite" (Radio) – 3:12 # "Walk On By" (Dub Version) – 3:21

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

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 on the

. A reviewer from ''

Music Week ''Music Week'' is a trade publication for the UK record industry distributed via a website and a monthly print magazine. It is published by Future. History Founded in 1959 as '' Record Retailer'', it relaunched on 18 March 1972 as ''Music W ...

'' 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."

Track listings

Charts

Cyndi Lauper version (2003)

"Walk on By" was the first single from

Cyndi Lauper Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper Thornton (born June 22, 1953) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and activist. Her career has spanned over 40 years. Her album ''She's So Unusual'' (1983) was the first debut album by a female artist to achi ...

's 2003 covers album, ''

At Last "At Last" is a song written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren for the musical film '' Sun Valley Serenade'' (1941). Glenn Miller and his orchestra recorded the tune several times, with a 1942 version reaching number two on the US ''Billboard'' po ...

''. 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" # "Walk On By" (S.A.F.'s Walk to the Dance Floor Club Mix) – 8:12 # "Walk On By" (S.A.F.'s Walk to the Dance Floor Dub Mix) – 8:12 US Promotional 12" (Remix) # "Walk On By" (Eddie X Club Mix) – 10:53 # "Walk On By" (Eddie X Dub Mix) – 7:52 US Promotional CD # "Walk On By" (Live Version) – 3:26 # "Walk On By" (Album Version) – 4:31 # "Walk On By" (Tony Moran Mix) – 4:31

Charts

Seal version (2005)

Seal Seal may refer to any of the following: Common uses * Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly: ** Earless seal, or "true seal" ** Fur seal * Seal (emblem), a device to imp ...

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.

Charts

''Spitting Image'' version (1990)

After the resignation of

Margaret Thatcher Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher (; 13 October 19258 April 2013) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. She was the first female British prime ...

in 1990, the British satirical television programme ''

Spitting Image ''Spitting Image'' is a British satirical television puppet show, created by Peter Fluck, Roger Law and Martin Lambie-Nairn. First broadcast in 1984, the series was produced by 'Spitting Image Productions' for Central Independent Television ...

'' adapted the lyrics of the song to highlight the large number of homeless people living on the street during her premiership.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Walk On By (Burt Bacharach and Hal David song) 1963 songs 1964 singles 1969 singles 1997 singles 2003 singles 2005 singles Songs with lyrics by Hal David Songs with music by Burt Bacharach Dionne Warwick songs Isaac Hayes songs The Stranglers songs D Train (entertainer) songs Sybil (singer) songs Gabrielle (singer) songs Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons songs Cyndi Lauper songs Seal (musician) songs Aretha Franklin songs The Beach Boys songs Gloria Gaynor songs Kiki Dee songs We Five songs Scepter Records singles Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients Helen Shapiro songs Torch songs A&M Records singles Go! Beat singles Prelude Records (record label) singles Average White Band songs