Don't Walk Away (Pat Benatar song)

"Don't Walk Away" is a song by American singer Pat Benatar, which was released in 1988 as the second single from her eighth studio album Wide Awake in Dreamland. The song was written by Nick Gilder and Duane Hitchings, and produced by Peter Coleman and Neil Giraldo.

"Don't Walk Away"
Single by Pat Benatar
from the album Wide Awake in Dreamland
B-side	"Lift 'em on Up"
Released	1988
Studio	Spyder's Soul Kitchen (Los Angeles, CA)[1]
Length	4:35 (album version) 4:10 (single version)
Label	Chrysalis
Songwriter(s)	Nick Gilder Duane Hitchings
Producer(s)	Peter Coleman Neil Giraldo
Pat Benatar singles chronology
"All Fired Up" (1988) "Don't Walk Away" (1988) "Let's Stay Together" (1988)

Background

It was Chrysalis' decision to release "Don't Walk Away" as a single from Wide Awake in Dreamland. Benatar told Todd Everett of the King Features Syndicate, "'Don't Walk Away' is so typical of what they'd choose to release."^[2]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Jim Yukich and produced by Paul Flattery.^[3] It achieved medium rotation on MTV.^[4]

Critical reception

On its release as a single, Billboard described "Don't Walk Away" as "less aggressive" than the preceding single "All Fired Up", and added that "perhaps the nice mesh of Benatar's vocal and the power of this pretty pop track will produce a hit".^[5] Barry Young of The Press and Journal gave the single a two out of five star rating and wrote, "Benatar continues to produce ultra-American, drive-in teen rock with little relevance to this side of the Atlantic. Some nice touches here, but mainly typical Benatar."^[6]

Track listing

7–inch and cassette single^[7][8][9]

1. "Don't Walk Away" – 4:10
2. "Lift 'em on Up" – 4:54

7–inch single (US promo)^[10]

1. "Don't Walk Away" – 4:10
2. "Don't Walk Away" – 4:10

12–inch and CD single (UK 12-inch and German 12-inch/CD release)^[11][12]

1. "Don't Walk Away" – 4:10
2. "Lift 'em on Up" – 4:54
3. "Hell Is For Children" (Live Version) – 6:14
4. "We Live for Love" (Special Mix) – 3:57

Personnel

Don't Walk Away^[13]

• Pat Benatar – vocals
• Neil Giraldo – guitar
• Kevin Savigar – keyboards
• Fernando Saunders – bass
• Myron Grombacher – drums
• Frank Linx, Nick Gilder – backing vocals

Production

• Peter Coleman – producer and mixer on "Don't Walk Away" and "Lift 'em on Up"
• Neil Giraldo – producer and mixer (all tracks)
• Frank Linx, Steve Ford, Gil Morales – assistant engineers
• George Marino – mastering

Charts

Chart (1988)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[14]	61
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[15]	63
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[16]	48
UK Singles (OCC)[17]	42
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[18]	44