Please Don't Leave Me (John Sykes song)

"Please Don't Leave Me" is a song by John Sykes, released in 1982 by MCA Records as his debut single. The track features members of the Irish hard rock group Thin Lizzy, including vocalist and bassist Phil Lynott, who co-wrote the song.[1] After leaving his previous band Tygers of Pan Tang, Sykes was still contractually obligated to deliver a single to MCA Records. Through producer Chris Tsangarides, Sykes asked Lynott to take part in it. After working on the track, Lynott asked Sykes to join Thin Lizzy, which he accepted.[2][3]

"Please Don't Leave Me"
Single by John Sykes
Released	1982
Studio	Lombard Sound (Dublin)
Genre	Soft rock
Length	4:51
Label	MCA Records
Producer(s)	Chris Tsangarides
John Sykes singles chronology
"Please Don't Leave Me" (1982) "I Don't Wanna Live My Life Like You" (1995)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	link

The track was later repackaged as a compilation album, featuring material by Sykes' previous band Tygers of Pan Tang. This version was only released in Japan in 1992.[4] The song was also covered by Danish hard rock band Pretty Maids on their 1992 album Sin-Decade.[5] Sykes would later re-record the track for his 1998 album Loveland as "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.[1][4]

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"	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.[1]

Musicians

• John Sykes – guitar
• Phil Lynott – vocals, bass
• Brian Downey – drums
• Darren Wharton – keyboards

Production

• Chris Tsangarides – production, engineering
• John Swannell – photography

References

1. Please Don't Leave Me. John Sykes. MCA Records. 1982. MCA 792.CS1 maint: others (link)
2. "June 1999 Interview with Tony Nobles from Vintage Guitar magazine". 27 March 2008. Archived from the original on 27 March 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
3. Syrjälä, Marko (7 September 2008). "JOHN SYKES - Thin Lizzy, ex-Whitesnake, Blue Murder, Tygers of Pan Tang". Metal-Rules.com. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
4. Please Don't Leave Me (booklet). John Sykes. MCA Records. 1992. MVCM-309.CS1 maint: others (link)
5. Syrjälä, Marko (2 April 2011). "PRETTY MAIDS – Vocalist Ronnie Atkins". Metal-Rules.com. Retrieved 4 January 2021.