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Don't Walk Away (Jade song)

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"Don't Walk Away"
Single by Jade
from the album Jade to the Max
ReleasedNovember 23, 1992
Genre
Length
  • 4:44 (album version)
  • 3:37 (with intro edit)
LabelGiant
Songwriter(s)
  • Vassal Benford III
  • Ronald Spearman
Producer(s)
  • Vassal Benford III
  • Ronald Spearman
Jade singles chronology
"I Wanna Love You"
(1992) 		"Don't Walk Away"
(1992) 		"One Woman"
(1993)
Music video
"Don't Walk Away" on YouTube

"Don't Walk Away" is a song by American R&B group Jade, released in November 1992 by Giant Records as the second single from their debut album, Jade to the Max (1992). It samples the drums from Kool & the Gang's 1975 song "Jungle Jazz" and the chords progression from Stevie Wonder's 1982 song "That Girl". The song was both written and produced by Vassal Benford III and Ronald Spearman, and peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number four on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside of the United States, it also peaked within the top 10 in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, reaching respectively number seven and nine. Its music video was directed by Eric Meza. The success of the single landed the trio spots on The Tonight Show, The Arsenio Hall Show, and Top of the Pops in the United Kingdom.

In 2017, Billboard ranked the song number 52 on their list of "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time".[3] The bassline of the song was sampled by A Tribe Called Quest for the song "Award Tour", from the album Midnight Marauders.[4] The first verse and chorus were interpolated in Diplo and Sleepy Tom's 2015 dance track "Be Right There".[5]

Critical reception

[edit]

William Cooper from AllMusic felt that the song is "so infectious and irresistible", adding that it "may be a familiar tune heard on the radio years after its success".[6] Larry Flick from Billboard commented, "'I Wanna Love You' from the soundtrack to Class Act laid a fine foundation for this soft-yet-percussive midtempo romp. Charming female trio walks the stylistic line dividing En Vogue-ish urban flash and Exposé-esque pop flair. Catchy chorus ensures heavy multiformat radio action."[7]

In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton said, "The cynic in me has the temptation to label this track as sanitised West coast production pop of the kind US FM radio is so enamoured with. Certainly all-girl groups of this particular genre never seem to make much of an impression over here, except it seems at this time of year. Predictions as to the future chart success of this one are divided but it is harmless and inoffensive enough to be an Easter hit."[8] A reviewer from Music & Media noted, "Hot on the heels of En Vogue, this female vocal group is already top 10 in the UK. The beat gets any person out of their arm chair, and the lyrics could make a guy walk on clouds."[9] Mark Kinchen for Music Week's RM Dance Update wrote, "Jade just catches me with great harmonies in the chorus. The trio's great vocals are backed by a slamming hip hop style track. When you play this one, play it very loud!"[10]

Music video

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A music video was produced to promote the single, written and directed by Eric Meza. He also directed videos for Public Enemy and N.W.A. It begins with a group of men hanging out by their cars. One of them is using a car phone to call the group. Jade then performs the song as they dance on the sidewalk, while people around them are watching and/or dancing. Other scenes shows the group singing on a staircase in the locality. In the end, the girls are seen in one of the cars, as it slowly drives away.[11]

Formats and track listings

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Charts

[edit]

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[39] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[41] Gold 600,000[40]

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States November 23, 1992
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 Giant [citation needed]
United Kingdom March 8, 1993 [42]

Javine version

[edit]
"Don't Walk Away"
Single by Javine
from the album Surrender
A-side"You've Got a Friend"
ReleasedAugust 9, 2004 (2004-08-09)[43]
Length3:00
LabelInnocent, Virgin
Songwriter(s)Vassal Benford III, Ronald Spearman
Producer(s)Stargate
Javine singles chronology
"Best of My Love"
(2004) 		"Don't Walk Away"
(2004) 		"Touch My Fire"
(2005)

"Don't Walk Away" was covered by British R&B singer Javine. It was also released with "You've Got a Friend", a cover of the Carole King classic, as a double A-side. The single peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart.

Formats and track listings

[edit]
  • CD: 1
  1. "Don't Walk Away"
  2. "You've Got a Friend"
  • CD: 2
  1. "Don't Walk Away"
  2. "Don't Walk Away" (Armand Van Helden club mix)
  3. "Don't Walk Away" (Soda Club edit)
  4. "Don't Walk Away" (Bad Boy remix)

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2004) Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[44] 20
UK Singles (OCC)[45] 16
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[46] 4

References

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  1. ^ Josephs, Brian (July 20, 2012). "The 25 Best New Jack Swing Songs". Complex. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  2. ^ Billboard Staff (July 10, 2017). "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2024. ..."Don't Walk Away" had a strut without peer in '90s R&B...
  3. ^ "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  4. ^ Midnight Marauders--A Tribe Called Quest (1993) Vibe. Accessed on May 25, 2021.
  5. ^ "Diplo Unleashes New Collab 'Be Right There' With Sleepy Tom". edm.com. August 21, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  6. ^ Cooper, William. "Jade – Jade to the Max". AllMusic. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  7. ^ Flick, Larry (November 7, 1992). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 79. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  8. ^ Masterton, James (March 14, 1993). "Week Ending March 20th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  9. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 19. May 8, 1993. p. 9. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  10. ^ Kinchen, Mark (January 23, 1993). "Hot Vinyl Buzzing" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 7. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  11. ^ "Jade - Don't Walk Away (1992)". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  12. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  13. ^ "Jade – Don't Walk Away" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  14. ^ "Jade – Don't Walk Away" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  15. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1734." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  16. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 18. May 1, 1993. p. 23. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  17. ^ "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 20. May 15, 1993. p. 21. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  18. ^ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 19. May 8, 1993. p. 26. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  19. ^ "Jade – Don't Walk Away" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  20. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Jade". Irish Singles Chart.
  21. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 26, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  22. ^ "Jade – Don't Walk Away" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  23. ^ "Jade – Don't Walk Away". Top 40 Singles.
  24. ^ "Jade – Don't Walk Away". Singles Top 100.
  25. ^ "Jade: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  26. ^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. April 24, 1993. p. 16. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  27. ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. March 20, 1993. p. 20. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  28. ^ "Jade Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  29. ^ "Jade Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  30. ^ "Jade Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  31. ^ "Jade Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  32. ^ "Top 100 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LVI, no. 30. April 3, 1993. p. 4. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  33. ^ "1993 Year-End Airplay Charts: European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 51/52. December 18, 1993. p. 18. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  34. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1993". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  35. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1993". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  36. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1993". Music Week. January 15, 1994. p. 24.
  37. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1993". Archived from the original on November 10, 2006. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  38. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  39. ^ "British single certifications – Jade – Don't Walk Away". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  40. ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1993". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 3. January 15, 1994. p. 73. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  41. ^ "American single certifications – Jade – Don't Walk Away". Recording Industry Association of America.
  42. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. March 6, 1993. p. 17.
  43. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. August 7, 2004. p. 31.
  44. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  45. ^ "Javine: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  46. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
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