"Don't Walk Away" is a song by American R&B group Jade, released in November 1992 as the second single from their debut album, ''

Jade to the Max ''Jade to the Max'' is the platinum-selling debut album by American R&B group Jade, released in 1992. The album produced the hit singles " I Wanna Love You" (U.S. #16), " Don't Walk Away" (U.S. #4), " One Woman" (U.S. #22), and "Looking for Mr. D ...

'' (1992). It samples the drums from

Kool & the Gang Kool & the Gang is an American R&B/soul/funk band formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964 by brothers Robert "Kool" Bell and Ronald Bell, with Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, and Ricky West. ...

's 1975 song " Jungle Jazz" and the chords progression from Stevie Wonder's 1982 song "

That Girl ''That Girl'' is an American sitcom that ran on ABC from September 8, 1966 to March 19, 1971. It starred Marlo Thomas as the title character Ann Marie, an aspiring (but only sporadically employed) actress, who moves from her hometown of Brewste ...

". The song peaked at number two on the US ''Billboard''

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...

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, reaching number seven. The success of the single landed the trio spots on ''

The Tonight Show ''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. The show has been hosted by six comedians: Steve Allen (1954–1957), Jack Paar (1957–1962), Johnny Carson (1962–1992), Jay Leno (1992–2009 and 201 ...

'', ''

The Arsenio Hall Show ''The Arsenio Hall Show'' is an American syndicated late-night talk show created by and starring comedian Arsenio Hall. There have been two different incarnations of ''The Arsenio Hall Show''. The original series premiered on January 3, 1989, ...

'', and ''

Top of the Pops ''Top of the Pops'' (''TOTP'') is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly between 1January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show. For most o ...

'' in the United Kingdom. In 2017, ''Billboard'' ranked the song number 52 on their list of "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time". The bassline of the song was

sampled Sample or samples may refer to: Base meaning * Sample (statistics), a subset of a population – complete data set * Sample (signal), a digital discrete sample of a continuous analog signal * Sample (material), a specimen or small quantity of so ...

by A Tribe Called Quest for the song " Award Tour", from the album '' Midnight Marauders''. The first verse and chorus were interpolated in Diplo and Sleepy Tom's 2015 dance track " Be Right There".

Critical reception

William Cooper from

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...

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". Larry Flick from '' Billboard'' commented, "' I Wanna Love You' from the soundtrack to ''

Class Act ''Class Act'' is a 1992 American comedy film directed by Randall Miller and starring hip-hop duo Kid 'n Play. An urban retelling of Mark Twain's ''The Prince and the Pauper'', the film was written by Cynthia Friedlob and John Semper from a s ...

'' laid a fine foundation for this soft-yet-percussive midtempo romp. Charming female trio walks the stylistic line dividing

En Vogue En Vogue is an American vocal girl group whose original lineup consisted of singers Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones. Formed in Oakland, California, in 1989, En Vogue reached No. 2 on the US Hot 100 with the single ...

-ish urban flash and

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-esque pop flair. Catchy chorus ensures heavy multiformat radio action." 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." 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."

Mark Kinchen Marc Kinchen (born August 3, 1972), known by his initials MK, is an American DJ, record producer and remixer. He hit number-one on the US '' Billboard'' Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1993 and 1994 with the songs " Always" and "Love Change ...

for ''

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 ...

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!"

Music video

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device ...

was produced to promote the single. It begins with a group of men hanging out by their cars. One of them are using a

car phone A car phone is a mobile radio telephone specifically designed for and fitted into an automobile. This service originated with the Bell System and was first used in St. Louis on June 17, 1946. Overview The original equipment weighed , and the ...

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.

Formats and track listings

* 7-inch vinyl #"Don't Walk Away" (Pop Walk) #"Don't Walk Away" (Album Walk) * 7" vinyl #"Don't Walk Away" #"Looking For Me Do Right" * 12-inch vinyl #"Don't Walk Away" (Album Walk) #"Don't Walk Away" (A Cappella Walk) #"Don't Walk Away" (Instrumental Walk) #"Don't Walk Away" (TV Walk) * CD single #"Don't Walk Away" (Pop Walk) #"Don't Walk Away" (Lite Walk) #"Don't Walk Away" (Dark Walk) #"Don't Walk Away" (Mack Daddy Stroll) #"Don't Walk Away" (Album Walk) * Cassette single #"Don't Walk Away" (Album Walk) #"Don't Walk Away" (Instrumental Walk)

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

Javine version

"Don't Walk Away" was

covered Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of co ...

by British R&B singer Javine. It was released in the United Kingdom with "

You've Got a Friend "You've Got a Friend" is a 1971 song written by American singer, songwriter, and musician Carole King. It was first recorded by King and included on her second studio album, ''Tapestry'' (1971). Another well-known version is by James Taylor f ...

", a cover of the Carole King classic, as a B-side. The single peaked at number 16 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 ...

Formats and track listings

* CD: 1 # "Don't Walk Away" (album version) # "

" * CD: 2 # "Don't Walk Away" (album version) # "Don't Walk Away" ( Armand Van Helden club mix) # "Don't Walk Away" (Soda Club edit) # "Don't Walk Away" (Bad Boy remix)

Charts

Notes

{{Authority control 1992 singles 1992 songs 2004 singles Giant Records (Warner) singles Jade (American group) songs Javine songs New jack swing songs Songs written by Ronald Spearman Songs written by Vassal Benford Virgin Records singles