Walk On By (Leroy Van Dyke song)

"Walk on By" is a song written by Kendall Hayes and performed by American country music artist Leroy Van Dyke. It was released in June 1961 as the first single and title track from the album Walk On By. The song was Van Dyke's most successful single, spending 37 weeks on the country chart and a record-breaking 19 at the number-one position.[1] "Walk on By" crossed over to the pop chart peaking at number five,[2] and was named by Billboard magazine, in its 100th anniversary issue (1994), as the biggest country music record in history.[3]

"Walk On By"
Single by Leroy Van Dyke
from the album Walk On By
B-side"My World Is Caving In"
ReleasedAugust 1961 (1961-08)
GenreCountry
Length2:19
LabelMercury
Songwriter(s)
  • Kendall Hayes
Producer(s)Shelby Singleton
Leroy Van Dyke singles chronology
"The Auctioneer"
(1956)
"Walk On By"
(1961)
"If a Woman Answers (Hang Up the Phone)"
(1962)
Audio
"Walk on By" on YouTube

The 19-week run of "Walk On By" is a record that stood for 51 years until "Cruise" by Florida Georgia Line reached its 19th week at No. 1 on July 20, 2013; the following week, "Cruise" surpassed the standard when it recorded its 20th week at No. 1. Until Florida Georgia Line surpassed it in total weeks at No. 1, "Walk On By" held the record for most weeks at No. 1 since the introduction of the all-encompassing Hot Country Songs (then called Hot C&W Sides) chart in October 1958; the all-time record for most weeks at No. 1 (50 weeks) is the 2017 release "Meant to Be" by Bebe Rexha featuring Florida Georgia Line.

Synopsis

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A two-timing man has begun a new relationship, but never fully cut off the previous one. While the old girlfriend is aware of his new flame, the new one does not know about it and he intends to keep it that way by not acknowledging his old girlfriend in public. He advises the old girlfriend to treat him as a stranger — “just walk on by, wait on the corner” — and that he will continue meeting with her in dim cafes just outside of town.

Musicians

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Production

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  • Shelby Singleton — producer[3]
  • Mort Thomasson — recording engineer[3]

Cover versions

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Chart performance

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Leroy Van Dyke

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Chart (1961–62) Peak
position
Norwegian Singles Chart 1
Sweden (Tio i Topp)[8] 1
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[9] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 5
UK Singles Chart 5

Donna Fargo

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Chart (1980) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[11] 43
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 53

Asleep at the Wheel

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Chart (1988) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[12] 55

References

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  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 364.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 655.
  3. ^ a b c "Leroy Van Dyke". Leroy Van Dyke Enterprises. 1994-11-01. Archived from the original on 2007-07-11. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  4. ^ Information at Svensk mediedatabas
  5. ^ Cooper, Daniel (1998). Kingsbury, Paul (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Country Music: The Ultimate Guide to the Music. Oxford University Press. p. 234. ISBN 978-0195116717.
  6. ^ "Heldur Karmo". Heldur Karmo. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
  7. ^ "'The Fabelmans' Toronto Review: Steven Spielberg's Cinematic Memoir Becomes Glorious Tribute to Art and Family". 11 September 2022.
  8. ^ Hallberg, Eric; Henningsson, Ulf (2012). Tio i Topp - med de utslagna "på försök" 1961–74 (in Swedish). Premium. p. 420. ISBN 978-91-89136-89-2.
  9. ^ "Leroy Van Dyke Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  10. ^ "Leroy Van Dyke Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  11. ^ "Donna Fargo Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  12. ^ "Asleep at the Wheel Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.