Please Don't Go (KC and the Sunshine Band song) explained

Please Don't Go
Type:single
Artist:KC and the Sunshine Band
Album:Do You Wanna Go Party
B-Side:I Bet'cha Didn't Know That
Released:July 12, 1979
Genre:Soul, R&B[1]
Length:3:43
Label:TK
Producer:Harry Wayne Casey / Richard Finch
Prev Title:Do You Wanna Go Party
Prev Year:1979
Next Title:Yes, I'm Ready
Next Year:1980

"Please Don't Go" is a song written by Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch, then members of KC and the Sunshine Band, and released as the second single from the band's sixth album, Do You Wanna Go Party (1979). Cover versions of the song that reached the top songs charts were recorded by Double You (1992), KWS (1992), and Basshunter (2008).

Original version

Originally written in the key of D flat, the song was the band's first sentimental ballad. In the song, the subject pleads for a second chance. Shortly after the song's one-week run at number one, the group broke up and Harry Wayne Casey began a solo career.

The song was part of a double-sided single; the flip slide "I Betcha Didn't Know That" was released to R&B stations and reached number 25 on the R&B chart.[2]

Chart performance

The song was the first No. 1 hit of the 1980s on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also an international chart hit, reaching No. 1 in Australia and Canada and charting in Belgium (No. 8), West Germany (No. 20), Ireland (No. 5), the Netherlands (No. 7), New Zealand (No. 3), Norway (No. 4) and the UK (No. 3).

The song was a number-one hit on the Australian ARIA Charts, the band's sixth and final number-one hit in Canada on the RPM national chart as well as their fifth and final number-one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.[3]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1979–1980)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)1
Italy (Musica e dischi)[4] 15
South Africa (Springbok)[5] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1980)Rank
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] [7] 10
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[8] 81
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[9] 8
Italy[10] 65
South Africa[11] 3
UK[12] 71
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 19

All-time charts

Certifications

Double You version

Please Don't Go
Cover:Please_don't_go.jpeg
Caption:Artwork for French releases
Type:single
Artist:Double You
Album:We All Need Love
B-Side:"Please Don't Go" (remix)
Released:January 26, 1992
Recorded:December 1991
Genre:Eurodance
Length:3:18
Label:ZYX
Producer:Robyx Zanetti
Next Title:We All Need Love
Next Year:1992

Italian Eurodance group Double You recorded a cover version of "Please Don't Go" in 1992. Produced by Roberto Zanetti, the song was released in January, earning multiple gold and platinum status and becoming a hit in Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia. The record was also moderately successful in North America (top ten maxi sales), Israel (#12) and in the UK (#2 on the Cool Cuts Chart).

Double You's version of "Please Don't Go" was later adopted as closing theme by Gianni Boncompagni for his TV Show Non è la RAI in 1992.

In 2005, Double You released "Please Don't Go 2005" on Triple B Records in collaboration with artist Don Cartel. The single hit the Dutch Mega Top 100 chart at No. 40 and the Pepsi Chart at No. 38.

Track listings

  1. "Please Don't Go" (radio mix) – 3:18
  2. "Please Don't Go" (club mix) – 6:14
  3. "Please Don't Go" (let's go mix) – 3:31
  4. "Please Don't Go" (a cappella) – 3:18
  1. "Please Don't Go" (radio mix) – 3:18
  2. "Please Don't Go" (a cappella) – 3:18
  1. "Please Don't Go" (radio mix) – 3:18
  2. "Please Don't Go" (let's go mix) – 3:31
  1. "Please Don't Go" (club mix) – 6:14
  2. "Please Don't Go" (radio mix) – 3:18
  3. "Please Don't Go" (let's go mix) – 3:31
  4. "Please Don't Go" (a cappella) – 3:18
  1. "Please Don't Go" (club mix) – 6:14
  2. "Please Don't Go" (let's go mix) – 3:31
  1. "Please Don't Go" (herbie remix) – 5:20
  2. "Organ Dream" – 2:15
  3. "Please Don't Go" (underground mix) – 4:55
  4. "Please Don't Go" (dub go) – 1:45
  1. "Please Don't Go" (U.S.-rave mix) – 6:00
  2. "Please Don't Go" (UK-break mix) – 5:00
  3. "Please Don't Go" (euro-house mix) – 4:55

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1992)Peak
position
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[15] 8
Italy (Musica e dischi)[16] 5
Spain (AFYVE)[17] 1
UK Singles (OCC)[18] 41
UK Dance (Music Week)[19] 10
US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard)[20] 25

Year-end charts

Chart (1992)Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[21] 11
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[22] 81
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[23] 7
Germany (Media Control)[24] 7
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[25] 10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[26] 3
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 6

Certifications

KWS version

Please Don't Go
Cover:PleaseDontGoKWS.jpg
Caption:Artwork for UK and most overseas releases
Type:single
Artist:KWS
Album:KWS
A-Side:"Game Boy" (double A-side)
Released:April 27, 1992
Genre:Dance, house
Label:Network Records
Title2:Game Boy
Next Title:Rock Your Baby
Next Year:1992

A sound-alike cover of Double You's arrangement was released as the debut single by the British group KWS and hit number one on the UK Singles Chart for five weeks in May 1992 and reached number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 in October that year.[28] In Germany, the song reached No. 7 but disappeared out of the German Singles Chart the following week due to legal issues with Double You, who covered the song before. Due to this fall, "Please Don't Go" is the song with the highest position that dropped out of the country's singles chart the following week.

It was recorded and released after record company Network Records failed to secure UK distribution rights for the Double You version. KWS band member Chris King heard the Double You version in a club in early 1992, and, bringing together the other KWS members to form the band, decided to cover it "like the Love Affair covered Robert Knight's 'Everlasting Love' or David Parton covered Stevie Wonder's 'Isn't She Lovely'." The similarity between the versions resulted in Network paying compensation to Roberto Zanetti, Double You's producer, following three years of legal action.[29]

The KWS version was dedicated in honour of Nottingham Forest (European football) defender Des Walker, who was on the verge of signing for Italian team Sampdoria. It was also a double A-side with "Game Boy"; King recalled: "We wanted something new and Game Boy was my son's favourite games console at the time. There were various mixes on the 12-inch single with silly names like "Afternoon of the Rhino", which had been the title of a northern soul single by Mike Post."

Release

The single was featured in a news story by a local TV station in Nottingham, the UK. BBC Radio 1 soon made it "Record of the Week" and it climbed from number 30 in the UK Singles Chart to number nine and then in its third week to number one, which is when the group first performed it on Top of the Pops. They performed it five times on the show, one week upsetting Elton John by using Dressing Room 1, relegating John to Dressing Room 2.[30]

During the time that the song was number one on the UK Singles Chart, SL2's "On a Ragga Tip",[31] Guns N' Roses' "Knockin' on Heaven's Door",[32] Shut Up & Dance's "Raving I'm Raving"[33] and Kris Kross' "Jump" were number two.[34]

The song was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry.[35]

After the song reached 500,000 sales in the UK, the Nottinghamshire County Council honoured KWS with a civic reception.[36]

Critical reception

Joseph McCombs of AllMusic was mixed in his retrospective assessment of the KWS cover, writing that: "The bright vocals, synth bleeps, and predictable house groove that drove 'Please Don't Go' to the top of the charts wear thin quickly."[37] Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as a "house-induced cover" and noted further that the beats "are hard enough to fill dancefloors, but are brightened by radio-friendly vocals and slick synths."[38] Amy Linden from Entertainment Weekly gave it a B−, adding that the song "is loaded with Hi-NRG beats, shake-your-groove-thing vibes, and a couple of originals straight out of Saturday Night Fever. All you need are the disco ball and a white suit."[39]

In 2017, BuzzFeed listed the song at number 52 in their list of "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs Of the '90s".[40]

Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger wrote in his 3/10 review of the cover: "It's hard to muster much love for 'Please Don’t Go' – a barely adequate trot through a good song" and "It's a good example, though, of one of the nineties least-regarded, most revival-immune style, the generic dance cover version. [...] 'Please Don’t Go' isn't quite as deathly as the king of the dance cover version, Undercover's formica take on 'Baker Street', but it’s never memorable. That this nullity got five weeks at the top [of the UK charts] says more about the immobile singles chart than any double-digit run."[41] Ewing considers "Game Boy", the other song in the double A-side release, to be as close as the UK Singles Chart came to a hardcore number one, but nonetheless concedes that: "As 'ardkore goes, it's poor, a collection of five years of weary dance tropes in search of even one good hook – Beltram-style hoover noises, house piano, cut-up vocal samples, a dubby bassline, none of them sticking around long enough to make an impact."

Track listings

  1. "Please Don't Go" (Summer Mix) – 3:40
  2. "Please Don't Go" (Instrumental Surf) – 6:09
  3. "Game Boy" – 3:23
  4. "Kollision" – 4:12

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1992)Peak
position
Europe (European Dance Radio)[42] 4
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)2
Greece (Pop + Rock)[43] 2
Spain (AFYVE)[44] 15
UK Dance (Music Week)[45] 4
US Billboard Hot 1006
US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)25

Year-end charts

Chart (1992)Rank
Australia (ARIA)[46] 7
UK Singles (OCC)[47] 5
US Billboard Hot 100[48] 47

Decade-end charts

Certifications

Basshunter version

Please Don't Go
Cover:Basshunter – Please Don't Go.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Basshunter
Album:Now You're Gone – The Album
Released:May 19, 2008
Length:2:58
Prev Title:Now You're Gone
Prev Year:2007
Next Title:All I Ever Wanted
Next Year:2008

In 2008 "Please Don't Go" was covered by Swedish musician Basshunter.[50] The dance music song lasts two minutes and 58 seconds. It was produced by Basshunter, Robert Uhlmann and Scott Simons. "Please Don't Go" was released by Warner Music Sweden on May 19, 2008. On July 14 it was released as number three on Basshunter's third studio album Now You're Gone – The Album.[51]

The song was originally planned to be released in the United Kingdom as the second single from Now You're Gone – The Album[52] on June 23, 2008. However, the release was cancelled due to technical difficulties and "All I Ever Wanted" took its place[53] on June 30. It had much more success than originally thought as the single reached number 2 in the UK charts. However, despite rumours that this would be the third single in the United Kingdom, "Angel in the Night" was released instead and was premiered on BBC Radio 1 on August 22, 2008, during Scott Mills's "Friday Floor Fillers".

Priya Elan from The Guardian described the single as europop.[54] Editor of Popjustice compared "Please Don't Go" to "Now You're Gone" but with all the fun and spontaneity reduced to a joyless and attempt to quickly capitalise on its predecessor's success.[55] In 2009 "Please Don't Go" was called number 43 of The 50 Worst Songs of the '00s by The Village Voice. Maura Johnston said that it stitches together the undeterred stomp of Gary Glitter's "Rock And Roll Part 2" and the keyboards of L.A. Style's "James Brown Is Dead".[56] "Please Don't Go" debuted at number 39 on May 29, 2008 and after two weeks reached number six on Swedish singles chart.[57] It also charted on Slovak airplay chart.

Charts

Chart (2008)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Slovakia (Radio Top100 Oficiálna)[58] 72

Release history

DateFormatLabel
May 19, 2008Digital downloadWarner Music Sweden
June 11, 200812" singleBalloon Records

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tom . Breihan . The Number Ones: KC & The Sunshine Band's "Please Don't Go". . March 11, 2020 . One of the defining chart-pop groups of the ’70s pulling off a short-lived last-ditch post-disco reinvention.... July 14, 2023.
  2. KC And The Sunshine Band Chart History . . 2019-09-30.
  3. Book: Dean, Maury . Rock N' Roll Gold Rush . Maury Dean . 2003 . Algora . 0-87586-207-1 . 287.
  4. Web site: Classifiche. Musica e dischi. it. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "K. C. & The Sunshine Band".
  5. Web site: SA Charts 1965–March 1989. 5 September 2018.
  6. Web site: National Top 100 Singles for 1980. . 341 . . January 5, 1981 . January 17, 2022 .
  7. Book: Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (doc) . David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W . 1993. 0-646-11917-6. Kent Music Report.
  8. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1980 . . 12 May 2021 . nl.
  9. Web site: Top 100 Singles (1980) . . 2017-07-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160425051319/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.0272&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062 . 2016-04-25 .
  10. Web site: Top Annuali Single 1980. 29 January 2022.
  11. Web site: Top 20 Hit Singles of 1980. 2 September 2018.
  12. Web site: Top 100 1980 - UK Music Charts.
  13. "Pop Singles" Billboard December 20, 1980: TIA-10
  14. Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart. Billboard. 10 December 2018.
  15. Book: Pennanen, Timo . 2006 . Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 . fi . 1st . Tammi . 978-951-1-21053-5 . Helsinki.
  16. Top 10 Sales in Europe. Music & Media. 9. 35. 14. August 29, 1992. November 23, 2019.
  17. Book: Salaverri, Fernando. Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 1st. September 2005. Fundación Autor-SGAE. Spain. 84-8048-639-2.
  18. Book: Roberts , David . 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited . London. 1-904994-10-5. 167. British Hit Singles & Albums.
  19. Top 60 Dance Singles . . May 2, 1992 . 26 . September 29, 2020.
  20. Billboard [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p38473/charts-awards|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic.com] (Retrieved September 6, 2008)
  21. Web site: Steffen . Hung . Jahreshitparade 1992 . Austriancharts.at . 1992-12-20 . 2016-10-15.
  22. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1992 . . 12 May 2021 . nl.
  23. 1992 Year-End Sales Charts. Music & Media. 9. 51/52. 17. 19 December 1992. 29800226. 17 September 2021. American Radio History.
  24. Web site: Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts . Offizielle Deutsche Charts . 12 May 2021 . de.
  25. Web site: Single top 100 over 1992 . Top40 . nl . 14 April 2010.
  26. Web site: JAAROVERZICHTEN - Single 1992 . . 12 May 2021 . nl.
  27. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1992 . Hitparade.ch . 12 May 2021.
  28. K.W.S.. Billboard. 27 October 2017.
  29. http://eurokdj.free.fr/html_version/z.htm#Zanetti%20Roberto
  30. Web site: KWS. Please Don't Go . BBC. 28 October 2017. 22 November 2004.
  31. Web site: Official Singles Chart Top 75 (3 May 1992) . Official Charts. 26 October 2017.
  32. Web site: Official Singles Chart Top 75 (17 May 1992). Official Charts. 26 October 2017.
  33. Web site: Official Singles Chart Top 75 (24 May 1992). . 26 October 2017.
  34. Web site: Official Singles Chart Top 75 (31 May 1992) . Official Charts . 26 October 2017.
  35. Web site: BPI Certification . . 2016-07-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130124005813/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards.aspx . 24 January 2013 .
  36. Web site: Page . Jemma . The Week That Was 1992: Nottingham boyband KWS celebrate chart success. Nottingham Post . 27 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20150806213053/http://www.nottinghampost.com/week-1992-nottingham-boyband-kws-celebrate-chart/story-26723681-detail/story.html. 6 August 2015 . 18 June 2015.
  37. Web site: McCombs . Joseph . AllMusic Review by Joseph McCombs . . 26 October 2017.
  38. Larry. Flick. Single Reviews: New & Noteworthy. Billboard magazine. 6 June 1992. 12 February 2020. 68. Larry Flick.
  39. Linden, Amy (December 18, 1992). "Please Don't Go". Entertainment Weekly.
  40. Web site: Matt . Stopera . Brian . Galindo . The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s . . 11 March 2017 . 31 March 2020 .
  41. Web site: Ewing. Tom. KWS – "Please Don't Go"/"Game Boy". Freaky Trigger. 26 October 2017. 15 August 2011.
  42. European Dance Radio. Music & Media. 1992-07-04. 22. 2021-10-24.
  43. Top 10 Sales in Europe. Music & Media. 1992-10-03. 2018-03-20.
  44. Book: Salaverri, Fernando. Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 1st . September 2005. Fundación Autor-SGAE. Spain. 84-8048-639-2.
  45. Top 60 Dance Singles . . May 9, 1992 . 22 . September 29, 2020.
  46. Web site: ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 50 Singles 1992 . Aria.com.au . 2016-10-15.
  47. Year End Charts: Top Singles . . 8 . January 16, 1993.
  48. Web site: Billboard Top 100 - 1992 . 2010-07-30 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090708050630/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1992 . 2009-07-08 .
  49. Web site: Lwin. Nanda. https://web.archive.org/web/20000829070927/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100_1990.html. August 29, 2000. Top 100 singles of the 1990s. Jam!. March 26, 2022.
  50. Web site: EQ Interviews Basshunter: "We were born without clothes, so well don't use clothes at home, be naked. Show your ass to the neighbors." . . Raj Rudolph . December 11, 2008 . October 16, 2021.
  51. Web site: Now You're Gone . . October 16, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100718074228/http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/now-youre-gone/id284574742 . July 18, 2010.
  52. Web site: Basshunter 2nd UK single world exclusive . . October 31, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080507193857/http://www.hard2beat.com/releases/basshunter2nduksingleworldexclusive . May 7, 2008.
  53. Web site: Basshunter's new track.... For real this time!!!! . . October 31, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080610040523/http://www.hard2beat.com/releases/basshuntersnewtrackforrealthistime . June 10, 2008.
  54. Web site: Priya Elan's new releases review . . Priya Elan . August 2, 2008 . July 29, 2018.
  55. Web site: Newsflash: the worst single of 2008 is not by Scouting For Girls . . April 22, 2008 . October 16, 2021.
  56. Web site: The 50 Worst Songs of the '00s, F2K No. 43: Basshunter, "Please Don't Go" . . Maura Johnston . Maura Johnston . November 27, 2009 . October 16, 2021.
  57. Web site: Basshunter - Please Don't Go (song) . swedishcharts.com . October 16, 2021.
  58. Web site: IFPI SR Hitparáda - Radio Top100 Oficiálna Týždeň - 200827 . . June 13, 2021 . sk . https://web.archive.org/web/20080715135755/http://www.ifpicr.cz:80/hitparadask/index.php?hitp=R . July 15, 2008.