Walk on Air

"Walk on Air"
Single by T'Pau
from the album The Promise
B-side	"Hold on to Love"
Released	1991
Format	7", 12", CD single
Genre	Pop rock
Length	4:34
Label	Siren, Virgin
Writer(s)	Carol Decker, Ron Rogers
Producer(s)	Andy Richards
T'Pau singles chronology
"Whenever You Need Me" (1991) "Walk on Air" (1991) "Soul Destruction" (1991)

"Walk on Air" is a song by British band T'Pau, released as the second single from their 1991 third studio album The Promise.^[1] The song was written by vocalist Carol Decker and rhythm guitarist Ron Rogers. It was produced by Andy Richards.

Background

The single was released as the follow-up single to "Whenever You Need Me", which had entered the Top 20 in the UK. "Walk on Air" failed to replicate the success and peaked at #62 in the UK Singles Chart. It lasted in the Top 100 for a total of two weeks and would be the band's last charting original material single.^[2]

Release

The single was issued on 7" and 12" vinyl, as well as CD, via Siren Records, and was marketed/distributed by Virgin Records. It was released mainly in the UK only, although the 7" vinyl version was issued across Europe too.^[3]

The 7" vinyl release b-side was a live version of "Hold on to Love", which was described as a previously unreleased alternate "unplugged"-style recording of the track from The Promise album.^[4] On the single, it noted "A different version of this song may be found on the Siren CD, Cassette and LP The Promise."^[5] The song was written and produced by all six members of T'Pau.^[6] The live version of the song has remained exclusive to the release ever since.

The UK only 12" vinyl release featured a special edition 12" picture disc and featured the same tracks as the 7" release but with the additional track "Dirty Town" - an exclusive song to the single, before it appeared as b-side to the next single "Soul Destruction".^[7] The song was written and produced by all members of T'Pau. The picture disc used the same artwork design as the single sleeve.^[8]

For the UK only CD release of "Walk on Air", the same track listing as the 12" vinyl release was used, whilst the inner part of the CD single featured the lyrics of "Walk on Air".^[9][10]

All three releases featured artwork of duplicated numbers of Decker standing high up in the sky and clouds on air. The photography was handled by Tony McGee.^[10]

Following the song's release on The Promise album and as a single, the song also appeared on the UK four track album promo "Whenever You Need Me - Sampler" release, along with the three other singles from the album "Soul Destruction", "Whenever You Need Me" and "Only a Heartbeat".^[11] It also appeared on the Japanese promotional only Virgin 10-track CD compilation This is... Nothin' But T'Pau, which was housed in a unique Carol Decker picture sleeve with extensive photo and info booklet.^[12]

Promotion

A music video was created to promote the single. Since being uploaded unofficially onto YouTube in July 2007, the song has gained 95,000 views.^[13]

The band also mimed the song on a German TV show.^[14]

Track listing

7" Single

1. "Walk on Air" - 4:34
2. "Hold on to Love" - 4:33

12" Single

1. "Walk on Air" - 4:34
2. "Hold on to Love" - 4:33
3. "Dirty Town" - 4:03

CD Single

1. "Walk on Air" - 4:34
2. "Hold on to Love" - 4:33
3. "Dirty Town" - 4:03

Chart performance

Personnel

• Carol Decker – lead vocals
• Dean Howard – lead guitar
• Ronnie Rogers – rhythm guitar
• Michael Chetwood – keyboards
• Paul Jackson – bass guitar
• Tim Burgess – drums

Additional personnel

• Producer of "Walk on Air" – Andy Richards
• Mixing on "Walk on Air" – Chris Lord-Alge
• Mastering on "Walk on Air" - Bob Ludwig
• Producer on "Hold on to Love" – T'Pau
• Producer on "Dirty Town" – T'Pau
• Photography - Tony McGee
• Sleeve Design - Mark Millington/The Graphic Edge

References

External links

• "Walk On Air" at Discogs (list of releases)