Don't Go (Hothouse Flowers song) explained

Don't Go
Cover:Hothouse Flowers - Don't Go.jpg
Caption:Artwork for the 1988 re-release
Type:single
Artist:Hothouse Flowers
Album:People
B-Side:
  • "Better and Better", "Big Fat Heart" (1987)
  • "Saved", "Hydroman" (1988)
Released:1987
Recorded:August 1987
Studio:The Townhouse III (London, England)
Length:3:48
Label:London
Producer:
Prev Title:Love Don't Work This Way
Prev Year:1987
Next Title:Feet on the Ground
Next Year:1988

"Don't Go" is the first single released by Irish rock group Hothouse Flowers from their debut studio album, People (1988). Originally released in Ireland in 1987, the song peaked at number two on the Irish Singles Chart. The following year, after Hothouse Flowers played the song during their interval performance at the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest, the track charted in Ireland once more, reaching number two for a second time.

Worldwide, "Don't Go" reached the top 10 in New Zealand and Sweden as well as the top 40 in several other European countries. In the United States, the song did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100, but it did reach number seven on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 16 on the Album Rock Tracks chart. The single version of "Don't Go" is different from the LP version; it has never been released on CD.

Track listings

1987 release

7-inch single[1]

A. "Don't Go"

B. "Better and Better"

12-inch single[2]

A1. "Don't Go" (extended mix)

B1. "Big Fat Heart"

B2. "Better and Better"10-inch single[3]

A1. "Don't Go" (extended mix)

A2. "Better and Better"

B1. "Don't Go" (live acoustic version)

B2. "Lonely Lane" (live)

1988 release

7-inch and mini-CD single[4] [5]

  1. "Don't Go"
  2. "Saved"

12-inch single[6]

A1. "Don't Go"

B1. "Saved"

B2. "Hydroman"CD single and mini-album[7] [8]

  1. "Don't Go" – 3:29
  2. "Feet on the Ground" – 3:28
  3. "Lonely Lane" (live) – 5:25
  4. "Saved" – 3:37

CD Video single[9]

  1. "Don't Go" (audio) – 3:32
  2. "I'm Sorry" (audio) – 3:35
  3. "Ballad of Katie" (audio) – 6:10
  4. "Don't Go" (video) – 3:12

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1987–1988)Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10] 45
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[11] 33
US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard)[12] 16
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[13] 7

Year-end charts

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
Ireland1987London
United Kingdom2 November 1987[15]
United Kingdom (re-release)11 April 1988[16]
Australia30 May 1988[17]

In popular culture

The song was performed by the Hothouse Flowers as the interval act of the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest held in Dublin, Ireland, which helped the band gain international recognition.[18] [19] The version used was the single version, not the LP mix, with the exception that the broadcast version was longer. The song is featured on an episode of the Irish sitcom Moone Boy.

Notes and References

  1. Don't Go. Hothouse Flowers. 1987. Irish 7-inch single sleeve. London Records. LON 159.
  2. Don't Go. Hothouse Flowers. 1987. Irish 12-inch single sleeve. London Records. LONX 159.
  3. Don't Go. Hothouse Flowers. 1987. UK 10-inch single sleeve. London Records. LONT 159.
  4. Don't Go. Hothouse Flowers. 1988. UK 7-inch single sleeve. London Records. LON 174, 8862797.
  5. Don't Go. Hothouse Flowers. 1988. Japanese mini-CD single liner notes. London Records. P10L 30011.
  6. Don't Go. Hothouse Flowers. 1988. UK 12-inch single sleeve. London Records. LONX 174, 8862791.
  7. Don't Go. Hothouse Flowers. 1988. UK CD single liner notes. London Records. LONCD 174, 886 279-2.
  8. Don't Go. Hothouse Flowers. 1988. Japanese mini-album liner notes. London Records. P13L 37004.
  9. Don't Go. Hothouse Flowers. 1988. German CDV single liner notes. London Records. 080 482-2.
  10. RPM 100 Singles. RPM. 48. 26. 6. 15 October 1988. 24 March 2019.
  11. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 5. 24. 23. 11 June 1988. 12 September 2020.
  12. Mainstream Rock Airplay. Billboard. 8 October 1988. subscription. 13 August 2023.
  13. Alternative Airplay. Billboard. 1 October 1988. subscription. 13 August 2023.
  14. Web site: End of Year Charts 1988. Recorded Music NZ. 11 October 2019.
  15. New Singles. Music Week. 35. 31 October 1987.
  16. New Singles. Music Week. 50. 9 April 1988.
  17. Web site: Australian Music Report No 722 – 30 May 1988 > Singles: New Releases. Australian Music Report. 23 February 2020.
  18. Web site: Hothouse Flowers. Nostalgia Central. 8 March 2023.
  19. Eurovision Interval Song 'Riverdance' Beats the Winners. Hayes. Dermott. Music & Media. 11. 25. 11. 18 June 1994.