"Walk on Air" is a song by British band T'Pau, which was released in 1991 as the second single from their third studio album The Promise.[2] It was written by Carol Decker and Ron Rogers, and produced by Andy Richards.[3] "Walk on Air" reached No. 62 on the UK Singles Chart and remained in the charts for two weeks.[4]
| "Walk on Air" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by T'Pau | ||||
| from the album The Promise | ||||
| B-side | "Hold on to Love" | |||
| Released | 8 July 1991[1] | |||
| Genre | Pop rock | |||
| Length | 4:34 | |||
| Label | Siren, Virgin | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Carol Decker, Ron Rogers | |||
| Producer(s) | Andy Richards | |||
| T'Pau singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
A music video was filmed to promote the single.[5] The 7" single's B-side, a live version of "Hold on to Love", was exclusive to the single and described as a previously unreleased alternate "unplugged"-style recording of the track from The Promise.[6] The 12" and CD formats featured the additional track "Dirty Town", a non-LP song that would re-appear as B-side to the band's next single "Soul Destruction".[7]
Background edit
Decker was inspired to write the lyrics of "Walk on Air" after a friend's boyfriend was killed in a motorcycle accident. She revealed of the song's message in 2019, "You never know what is going to happen to you. You just never know. Life can turn on a sixpence."[8]
Critical reception edit
On its release, Terry Staunton of New Musical Express commented, "'Walk on Air' sounds not unlike John Waite's 'Missing You', which is fine by me." He added that T'Pau are "no-nonsense pomp rockers who know what they want to do and do it very well".[9] Andrew Hirst of the Huddersfield Daily Examiner picked the song as the newspaper's "single of the week" and praised it as a "fine bout of chartbound chugging melodic rock".[10] Jan Rowe of the Hull Daily Mail awarded the single a two star rating and called it an "undemanding yet catchy single [which] is a typical example of T'Pau's music". She continued, "Lilting and atmospheric, it chunters away in the background with its standard love lyrics and smoochy sound. Pleasant but not worth buying a new stylus for."[11]
Track listing edit
7-inch single
- "Walk on Air" – 4:34
- "Hold on to Love" – 4:33
12-inch and CD single
- "Walk on Air" – 4:34
- "Hold on to Love" – 4:33
- "Dirty Town" – 4:03
Personnel edit
T'Pau
- Carol Decker – lead vocals
- Dean Howard – lead guitar
- Ronnie Rogers – rhythm guitar
- Michael Chetwood – keyboards
- Paul Jackson – bass guitar
- Tim Burgess – drums
Production
- Andy Richards – producer of "Walk on Air"
- Chris Lord-Alge – mixing on "Walk on Air"
- Bob Ludwig – mastering on "Walk on Air"
- T'Pau – producers of "Hold on to Love" and "Dirty Town"
Other
- Tony McGee – photography
- Mark Millington/The Graphic Edge – sleeve design
Charts edit
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart[4] | 62 |
References edit
- ^ "World Music: Dire Straits 'Calling Elvis' On 45" (PDF). Radio & Records. 14 June 1991. p. 41. Retrieved November 4, 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "T'Pau - Walk On Air (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
- ^ "T'Pau - Walk On Air / Hold On To Love - Siren - UK - SRN 142". 45cat. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
- ^ a b "T'PAU | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
- ^ YouTube (2007-07-24). "T'pau - Walk On Air". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-05-18.
- ^ "T'Pau - Walk On Air / Hold On To Love - Siren - UK - SRN 142". 45cat. Retrieved 2013-05-18.
- ^ "T'Pau - Soul Destruction at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-05-18.
- ^ "T'Pau - Walk on Air". YouTube. 28 September 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
- ^ Staunton, Terry (20 July 1991). "Singles". New Musical Express. p. 18.
- ^ Hirst, Andrew (20 July 1991). "Reviews: Single of the Week". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. p. 29.
- ^ Rowe, Jan (27 July 1991). "The Sound Box". Hull Daily Mail. p. 7. Retrieved 30 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
External links edit
- "Walk On Air" at Discogs (list of releases)