Please Don't Leave Me (John Sykes song)
"Please Don't Leave Me" is a song by English hard rock musician John Sykes. It was released in 1982 by MCA Records as his first solo single. It also features members of the Irish hard rock group Thin Lizzy, including frontman Phil Lynott, who co-wrote the track with Sykes.
| "Please Don't Leave Me" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by John Sykes | ||||
| Released | 1982 | |||
| Studio | Lombard Sound (Dublin) | |||
| Genre | Soft rock | |||
| Length | 4:51 | |||
| Label | MCA Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Phil Lynott, John Sykes | |||
| Producer(s) | Chris Tsangarides | |||
| John Sykes singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   link |
After leaving his previous band Tygers of Pan Tang, Sykes was still contractually obligated to deliver a single to MCA Records. Having already written the instrumental for what was to become "Please Don't Leave Me", Sykes wanted to approach Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott about a potential collaboration.[1] Producer Chris Tsangarides, who had worked with both Tygers of Pan Tang and Thin Lizzy, acted as an intermediary.[2] After listening to a demo, Lynott agreed to participate, bringing drummer Brian Downey and keyboardist Darren Wharton with him. The song was recorded at Lombard Studios in Dublin with Tsangarides producing.[1] After the track was finished, Lynott asked Sykes to join Thin Lizzy, which he accepted.[2]
In 1992, "Please Don't Leave Me" was repackaged with material Sykes had recorded with Tygers of Pan Tang and released as a compilation album in Japan. That same year, Danish hard rock group Pretty Maids covered the song on their album Sin-Decade.[3] Sykes would later re-record "Please Don't Leave Me" for his 1997 album Loveland, on which it was retitled "Don't Hurt Me This Way (Please Don't Leave Me '97)".
Track listing
All songs written and composed by John Sykes and Phil Lynott, except where noted.[4][5]
7" vinyl (1982)
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Please Don't Leave Me" | 4:51 |
| 2. | "Please Don't Leave Me" (instrumental) | 3:57 |
| Total length: | 8:48 | |
CD (1992, Japan)
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Please Don't Leave Me" (original version) | 4:51 | |
| 2. | "Don't Take Nothing" | Tygers of Pan Tang | 2:52 |
| 3. | "Bad Times" | Tygers of Pan Tang | 3:07 |
| 4. | "All or Nothing" | Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane | 2:44 |
| 5. | "Don't Give a Damn" | Tygers of Pan Tang | 4:31 |
| 6. | "Please Don't Leave Me" (short version) | 4:18 | |
| 7. | "Slave to Freedom" (live) | Tygers of Pan Tang | 5:02 |
| 8. | "Raised on Rock" (live) | Tygers of Pan Tang | 4:44 |
| 9. | "Paradise Drive" | Tygers of Pan Tang | 3:45 |
| 10. | "Love Potion No. 9" (7" mix) | Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | 2:08 |
| 11. | "Please Don't Leave Me" (instrumental version) | 3:57 | |
| Total length: | 42:00 | ||
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the liner notes.[4]
Musicians
- John Sykes – guitar
- Phil Lynott – vocals, bass
- Brian Downey – drums
- Darren Wharton – keyboards
Production
- Chris Tsangarides – production, engineering
- John Swannell – photography
References
- Dome, Malcolm (February–March 2019). "Thunder and Lightning - The Last Days of Thin Lizzy". Rock Candy. No. 12. London, England: Rock Candy Magazine Limited. pp. 28–32.
- Syrjälä, Marko (7 September 2008). "John Sykes - Thin Lizzy, ex-Whitesnake, Blue Murder, Tygers of Pan Tang". Metal-Rules.com. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- Syrjälä, Marko (2 April 2011). "Pretty Maids – Vocalist Ronnie Atkins". Metal-Rules.com. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- Please Don't Leave Me. John Sykes. MCA Records. 1982. MCA 792.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Please Don't Leave Me (booklet). John Sykes. MCA Records. 1992. MVCM-309.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
External links
- "Please Don't Leave Me" at Discogs (list of releases)
- Please Don't Leave Me at Discogs (list of releases)