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.
“Walk On By” – Single by Dionne Warwick from the album Make Way for Dionne Warwick
A-side: “Any Old Time of Day”
Released: April 26, 1964
The original version of “Walk On By” by Dionne Warwick was recorded at Bell Sound Studios in New York City, 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.
This was released as the B-side to Warwick’s single “Any Old Time Of The Day.” She’d had several releases that went nowhere, and her latest tune was, in the opinion of her label, her manager, and herself, her last shot at making the Top 40. Murray the K, whose show on radio station WINS was the top-rated program in New York, wouldn’t play it. No matter how many people called and pleaded with him, he played the B-side instead because he knew that was the tune with potential. Warwick’s record company wasn’t happy with this, but listeners agreed with Murray and “Walk On By” became the hit.
The hit brought Warwick her first Grammy nomination (best rhythm & blues recording). It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.
