Walk the Dinosaur

The tune features a tight, funky sound, punctuated by horns and a cowbell.{{cite book|first= Colin |last= Larkin |author-link= Colin Larkin (writer) |year= 2011 |title= The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |edition= 5th |publisher= Omnibus Press |page= 3810 |quote= [Was (Not Was)] international breakthrough came several years later with the sublime funk of the US/UK Top 10 hit 'Walk the Dinosaur'.}}

When released in the UK in 1987, the song reached No. 10 on the singles chart, becoming the group's first UK top 10 hit. The music video features four scantily clad 'cavewomen' dancing while a Flintstones-style TV plays clips from Daffy Duck and the Dinosaur. Towards the end of the video, a group of modern-day humans dance to the song's chorus. The video received heavy rotation on MTV. The song reached No. 7 on the US chart on April 1, 1989,[https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1989-04-01/ Billboard Hot 100, week ending April 1, 1989; retrieved July 21, 2024.] two years after its UK success and became the band's biggest hit single in their home country.

According to an interview with co-writer Randy Jacobs, it "was an infectious sing-along with a Flintstonesque video that probably got played on MTV way too much. But even that seemingly good-time anthem had a dark side. [...] The song's about nuclear Armageddon. It became a dance (anthem) because of the video. They connected it with the girls in the little Pebbles and Bam-Bam outfits. All the sudden it became, like, 'do the mashed potato' or 'the twist.'"{{cite news|first= Brian J. |last= Bowe |title= Out come the freaks |newspaper= Metro Times |date= December 29, 2004 |access-date= May 3, 2018 |url= https://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/out-come-the-freaks/Content?oid=2180376}}

;7" vinyl

1. "Walk the Dinosaur" – 3:38
2. "11 Miles an Hour (Abe Zapp Ruder Version)" – 4:04

;7" vinyl / Cassette (US)

1. "Walk the Dinosaur" – 3:38
2. "Wedding Vows in Vegas" – 3:38

;12" vinyl (1) / CD (1) (Europe)

1. "Walk the Dinosaur (The New York Dangerous Mix)" – 6:58
2. "Walk the Dinosaur (Bruce's Prehistoric Dub)" – 6:43
3. "11 Miles an Hour (Abe Zapp Ruder Version)" – 4:04

;12" vinyl (2) (UK)

1. "Walk the Dinosaur (Jeffrey B. Young Hearts Run Free Remix)" – 6:08
2. "Walk the Dinosaur (A-Cappella Saurus)" – 3:46
3. "Walk the Dinosaur (Full Instrumental)" – 5:03
4. "11 Miles an Hour (Abe Zapp Ruder Version)" – 4:04

;12" vinyl (US)

1. "Walk the Dinosaur (The New York Dangerous Version)" – 6:58
2. "Walk the Dinosaur (Bruce's Prehistoric Dub)" – 6:43
3. "Walk the Dinosaur (The Debunking Of Uri Geller Mix)" – 4:30
4. "Walk the Dinosaur (7" Version)" – 3:38

;CDV (2) (Europe)

1. "Walk the Dinosaur (Jeffrey B. Young Hearts Run Free Remix)" – 6:08
2. "Walk the Dinosaur (A-Cappella Saurus)" – 3:46
3. "Walk the Dinosaur (Full Instrumental)" – 5:03
4. "11 Miles an Hour (Abe Zapp Ruder Version)" – 4:03
5. "Walk the Dinosaur (video)" – 3:36

1. "7" Version" – 3:38
2. "The New York Dangerous Mix" – 6:58 – remixed by Bruce Forest.
3. "Bruce's Prehistoric Dub" – 6:43 – remixed by Bruce Forest.
4. "Jeffrey B. Young Hearts Run Free Remix" – 6:08 – remixed by Jeff Young.
5. "A-Cappella Saurus" – 3:46 – mixed by Bruce Forest and Frank Heller.
6. "Full Instrumental" – 5:03 – mixed by Bruce Forest and Frank Heller.
7. "The Debunking of Uri Geller Mix" – 4:30 mixed by Don Was and Jamie Muhoberac.

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The original recording of "Walk the Dinosaur" appears on the soundtrack of the 1994 film The Flintstones.{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Demalon |title= Original Soundtrack – The Flintstones [Original Soundtrack] |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= 12 July 2013 |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-flintstones-original-soundtrack-mw0000113331}}

A version performed by George Clinton appears on the Super Mario Bros. soundtrack in 1993, and is also featured in the credits.{{cite web|first= Adam |last= Greenberg |title= Original Soundtrack – Super Mario Brothers |website= AllMusic |access-date= 26 January 2018 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/super-mario-brothers-mw0000618853}}

The song is one of the songs that can be heard playing at DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney's Animal Kingdom. It is one of sing-along songs with only a few of the lyrics that have been changed for Flik's Musical Adventure at Disney's Animal Kingdom (1999) from the Disney Sing-Along Songs series. It can also be heard during the Electrical Water Pageant.

The song was heard in promotional spots for the 2000 Disney film Dinosaur.

In the movie Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs a version of the song by Queen Latifah (the voice of the character Ellie) is featured during the film and the credits.{{cite web |title=Walk the Dinosaur - From "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/3NoEwBRJIDnsJAiRDSBsSS |website=spotify.com}} This version featured minor lyrical changes to make the song more family-friendly.{{cite web |title=Walk the Dinosaur (From "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs") - Single |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/walk-the-dinosaur-from-ice-age-dawn-of-the-dinosaurs-single/1510647849 |website=music.apple.com}}

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Category:1987 songs

Category:1987 singles

Category:1989 singles

Category:Chrysalis Records singles

Category:Fontana Records singles

Category:American funk songs

Category:George Clinton (funk musician) songs

Category:Phonogram Records singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Don Was

Category:Songs about dinosaurs

Category:Songs about nuclear war and weapons

Category:Songs written by David Was

Category:Songs written by Don Was

Category:Was (Not Was) songs