"It's Better than Walking Out" is a single for Marlena Shaw in 1976.
Background The song was composed by Lee Garrett and Robert Taylor.Cash Box, June 12, 1976 - Page 16 singles reviews, picks of the week Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series, By Library of Congress. Copyright Office - Page 1691 EU 652149 It was the first single from Shaw's Just a Matter of Time album.Cash Box, June 12, 1976 - Page 16 singles reviews, picks of the week In James Hamilton's New Spins section of Record Mirror, issue June 5, the record was referred to as a thudding hustler.Record Mirror, June 5, 1976 - Page 19 New Spins In Sue Byrom's Singles section of the same issue, the speed of the music and catchy repeated chorus that could get some listeners was noted. The slick arrangement, the drums accentuating the backbeat and Shaw's phrasings were also noted.Record Mirror, June 5, 1976 - Page 20 Singles reviewed by Sue Byrom The Cash Box reviewer in the June 12 issue called it a driving disco and r&b cut.Cash Box, June 12, 1976 - Page 16 singles reviews, picks of the week
Airplay For the week of May 22, Cash Box recorded the record being added to the R&B playlists of WAMO in Pittsburgh, WADS in Philadelphia, and WILD in Boston.Cash Box, May 22, 1972 - Page 47 R&B Adds It was also added to the playlist of WDAO in Dayton.Cash Box, May 22, 1972 - Page 45 ADDITIONSTO R&B PlAYLISTS
Charts "It's Better than Walking Out" made its debut in the Cash Box Top 100 R&B chart at 83 the week of June 12, 1976, spending a week on the chart.Cash Box, June 12, 1976 - Page 37 CASH BOX TOP 100 R&B June 12, 1976 83, 6/5 _, Weeks On Chart 1 Cash Box, June 19, 1976 - Page 43 CASH BOX TOP 100 R&B
The song peaked at no. 103 on the Billboard main chart (Bubbling UnderBillboard, June 12, 1976 - Page 35 Bubbling Under The HOT 100 ) and at no. 74 on the R&B chart.MusicVF.com - It's Better Than Walkin' Out By: Marlena Shaw
For the week ending June 26, 1976, "Better than Walking Out" was at no. 109 in the Billboard Bubbling Under The Hot 100 chart.Billboard, June 26, 1976 - Page 29 Bubbling Under The HOT 100 It reached no. 10 on the Billboard Disco Action chart, Colony Records (New York) section.Billboard, June 26, 1976 - Page 48 Disco Action, Colony Records (New York) Retail Sales
In England, the song made the UK Disco Top 20 chart.James Hamilton's Disco Page, July 10, 1976 - UK Disco Top 20 – July 10, 1976
Other versions Lee Garrett recorded his own version which appeared on his Heats for the Feats album that was released on Chrysalis CHR 1109 in 1976. It was actually an "Album Pick" by Record World in the March 27 issue.Record World, March 27, 1976 - Page 101 Album Picks Denny McCaffrey covered "Better than Walking Out" which appeared on his 2014 album, Come On In.Deezer - Come On In, Denny McCaffrey
References
External links Marlena Shaw - Topic channel - It's Better Than Walkin' Out by Marlena Shaw (audio) Antony Rosano channel - Marlena Shaw – It's Better Than Walkin' Out (12" Version) ℗ 1976 Groovy Attack channel - Lee Garrett - Better than walkin out (audio) Denny McCaffrey - Topic channel - Better Than Walking Out by Denny McCaffrey (audio) DennyMcCaffreyBand channel - The Denny McCaffrey Band - better than walking out (live video)