Please Stay (Burt Bacharach song)

"Please Stay" (also known as "(Don't Go) Please Stay") is an early hit of The Drifters featuring the new lead singer Rudy Lewis, who replaced Ben E. King. It is one of songwriter Burt Bacharach's early pop hits, featuring Dionne Warwick's sister Dee Dee Warwick and Doris Troy on background vocals. This song, along with "Some Kind of Wonderful" and "Sweets for My Sweet", were recorded in the same session. The musicians who backed the Drifters on this record include George Barnes and Allan Hanlon on guitar, Abie Baker on bass, Bobby Rosengarden and Ray Kessler on percussion and Ed Shaughnessy and Gary Chester on drums.

The song was covered by The Cryin' Shames (1966, UK No. 26), Lulu (Melody Fair album, 1970), The Bay City Rollers (1974), Jonathan Butler (1975, SA No. 2)^[1] Elvis Costello on Kojak Variety (1995), Marc Almond (2001) and Zoot Money, who also changed the lyrics. Aaron Neville covered it on his 1991 album Warm My Heart. Jamaican singer Lascelles Perkins recorded a reggae version of the song in 1969 for producer Lloyd Daley, and in 1971 Slim Smith, as "Keith", revived it for Bunny Lee.

Peter Kember recorded the song with his band Spectrum, released on the 1992 EP True Love Will Find You in the End.^[2]

"Please Stay" was covered by Welsh singer Duffy for the deluxe edition her debut album, Rockferry, adapting The Cryin' Shames' arrangement.

Westlife version

Irish pop group Westlife recorded a cover of the song in memory of singer's Nicky Byrne's late father as the B-side for their single, "Safe". A preview of the recorded song was later played on a radio show Byrne guested. Westlife performed the whole song on their exclusive acoustic gig in O2 Arena Dublin, Ireland in August 2010.

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