from HEAT
written by Tom Saviano
Tom Saviano is a veteran sax player and all-around music-maker (composer, conductor, orchestrator, arranger, music producer, etc.).
Saviano started his career in LA around the mid-seventies. He gained his first accolades as an in-demand session player. He became an arranger and performer with Melissa Manchester on three of her hit albums; Help Is On The Way, Singin and Don’t Cry Outloud.
One of the highlights of Saviano’s career was the r&b trio, Heat that released around 1980 a self-titled album. Heat consisted of sultry soul music strongly influenced by the sophisticated sounds of Earth, Wind & Fire. Heat was Saviano’s brainchild. It showcased his brilliant writing, arranging and production work. He was the leader of the group alongside two talented singers, Joe Pizzulo of Sergio Mendes fame and Jean Marie Arnold. The album’s superior craft followed in the footsteps of the late Maurice White’s (December 19, 1941 to February 4, 2016) seminal work. He carefully selected the backing musicians and David Foster was one of the top session names at that time. Foster appeared on Heat to add a slick, polished touch to the group’s irresistible r&b grooves. The Hitman played keyboards on the stunning tune, “This Love That We’ve Found.” The sumptuous ballad was a masterpiece yet only a minor hit on the R&B chart at #45. “This Love That We’ve Found” was also the subject of one of the first reviews back in 2004 that can still be found in the archives.
Foster’s trademark keyboards can be heard everywhere on “Don’t You Walk Away,” a refined mid-tempo and today’s Song of the Week. Foster’s beautiful work on the Fender Rhodes opens the song and sets the standard of sophistication for the tune. The instrumental backing track offered an alluring beat enhanced by funky rhythm guitars, luscious strings and horns. The horns were arranged by Saviano and Nick De Caro and performed by the famed Jerry Hey horns. “Don’t You Walk Away” featured pristine vocals by Pizzulo who did a fantastic job on the lead as well as ear-candy backing harmonies with Arnold . Heat was chock-full of good music. The album remains a must-listen for EWF lovers and anyone who enjoys great music.
After the 1981 favorable commercial reception of Heat, Saviano released a second album, Still Waiting. Although on the same musical wavelength as Heat, Still Waiting didn’t reach the same top artistic results of its predecessor. At the end of the nineties, Saviano released a couple of good smooth jazz records. Soon after, he became a member of the illustrious Sons Of Champlin, eventually co-producing their critically acclaimed 2005 cd, Hip Lil Dreams.
Listen
[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Heat-Dont-You-Walk-Away-1980.mp3|titles=Don’t You Walk Away|artists=Joe Pizzulo]
Lead Vocals: Joe Pizzulo
Saxophone: Tom Saviano
Keyboards: David Foster
Guitars: Thom Rotella & Charles Fearing
Drums: James Gadson
Bass: Ed Watkins
Percussion: Lenny Castro
Backing Vocals: Jean Marie Arnold & Arnold McCuller
Arranged by Tom Saviano
String Arrangement by Nick De Caro
Vocal Arrangement by Heat
Produced by Tom Saviano & David Wolfert
Lyrics
Oh, oh, don’t you walk away
Babe I think our love is here to stay
No, No, don’t you walk away
Hey, i think our love will find a way
We can set the mood and get around to what all lovers do
Don’t you walk away from love
You say you’re kind of shy, but girl, I think i see love in your eyes
You don’t know what to do
Well, I’ll be glad to show it all to you
Don’t you be afraid, after all it’s love that’s being made
Won’t you take a chance, it’s all right
Don’t you walk away tonight
CHORUS:
Oh, oh, don’t you walk away
Babe I think our love is here to stay
No, No, don’t you walk away
Hey, i think our love will find a way
We can set the mood and get around to what all lovers do
Don’t you walk away from love
The moment has arrived if you can open up and realize
So won’t you give a try, I can make you happier tonight
It’s not hard to do, after all it’s love that’s calling you
Won’t you take my hand, it’s all right
Don’t you walk away tonight
CHORUS
Oh, oh, don’t you walk away
Babe I think our love is here to stay
No, No, don’t you walk away
Hey, i think our love will find a way
We can set the mood and get around to what all lovers do
Don’t you walk away from love