Avalon (Roxy Music song)

Last updated
"Avalon"
Avalon (single).jpg
Single by Roxy Music
from the album Avalon
B-side "Always Unknowing"
ReleasedJune 1982
Recorded1981–1982
Genre
Length4:16
Label
Songwriter(s) Bryan Ferry
Producer(s)
Roxy Music singles chronology
"More than This"
(1982)
"Avalon"
(1982)
"Take a Chance with Me"
(1982)

"Avalon" is a 1982 song by the English rock band Roxy Music. It was released as the second single from their eighth and final studio album Avalon (1982). The single, with its B-side, "Always Unknowing", charted at No. 13 in the UK. [3]

Contents

Recording

The song's distinctive backing vocals were performed by Haitian singer Yanick Étienne, whom Bryan Ferry encountered during the recording of the album. He heard her in the adjacent studio and invited her to contribute backing vocals to the recording. [4] [5]

Promotional video

The song's music video was directed by Ridley Scott [6] and features the English actress Sophie Ward, daughter of actor Simon Ward. It was filmed in Mentmore Towers country house. [5]

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [21] Silver200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Avalon</i> (Roxy Music album) 1982 studio album by Roxy Music

Avalon is the eighth and final studio album by the English rock band Roxy Music, released on 28 May 1982 by E.G. Records, and Polydor. It was recorded between 1981 and 1982 at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas, and is regarded as the culmination of the smoother, more adult-oriented sound of the band's later work. It has been credited with pioneering the sophisti-pop genre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harlem Shuffle</span> 1963 single by Bob & Earl

"Harlem Shuffle" is an R&B song written and originally recorded by the duo Bob & Earl in 1963. The song describes a dance called the “Harlem Shuffle”, and mentions several other contemporary dances of the early 1960s, including the Monkey Shine, the Limbo, the Hitch hike, the Slide, and the Pony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Why Don't You Get a Job?</span> 1999 single by the Offspring

"Why Don't You Get a Job?" is a song by American rock band the Offspring. The song is the 11th track on the Offspring's fifth studio album, Americana (1998), and was released as its second single on March 15, 1999. The song also appears as the eighth track on the band's Greatest Hits album (2005). The single peaked within the top 10 of the charts in several countries, including reaching number two in the United Kingdom, Australia, Iceland, and Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uptown Girl</span> 1983 single by Billy Joel

"Uptown Girl" is a song written and performed by American musician Billy Joel from his ninth studio album An Innocent Man (1983), released in September 1983 as the album's second single. The lyrics describe a working-class "downtown man" attempting to woo a wealthy "uptown girl". The 12" EP has the tracks "My Life", "Just the Way You Are" and "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me", whereas some 7" single versions featured "Careless Talk" as a B-side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wonderful Tonight</span> 1977 single by Eric Clapton

"Wonderful Tonight" is a ballad written by Eric Clapton. It was included on Clapton's 1977 album Slowhand. Clapton wrote the song about Pattie Boyd. The female vocal harmonies on the song are provided by Marcella Detroit and Yvonne Elliman.

<i>Bête Noire</i> (album) 1987 studio album by Bryan Ferry

Bête Noire is the seventh solo studio album by English singer Bryan Ferry, released on 2 November 1987 by Virgin Records in the United Kingdom and by Reprise Records in the United States. It was a commercial and critical success, peaking at No. 9 in the UK and was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Higher Love</span> 1986 single by Steve Winwood

"Higher Love" is a 1986 song by English singer Steve Winwood. It was the first single released from his fourth solo LP, Back in the High Life (1986). It was written by Winwood and Will Jennings and produced by Russ Titelman and Winwood. The background vocals were performed by Chaka Khan, who also appeared in the music video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Living in America (James Brown song)</span> 1985 song by James Brown

"Living in America" is a 1985 song composed by Dan Hartman and Charlie Midnight and performed by James Brown. It was released as a single in 1985 and reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song entered the Billboard Top 40 on January 11, 1986, and remained on the chart for 11 weeks. It also became a top five hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart; it was his only top 10 single in the UK. It was his first Top 40 hit in ten years on the US pop charts, and it would also be his last. In 1987, it was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song and won Brown a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eternity/The Road to Mandalay</span> 2001 single by Robbie Williams

"Eternity" / "The Road to Mandalay" is the fifth single from English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams' third studio album, Sing When You're Winning (2000). "Eternity" does not appear on the album but was later included on Williams' Greatest Hits album in 2004. The lyrics of "Eternity" were written as a tribute to Williams' close friendship with Geri Halliwell. Brian May of Queen plays electric guitar on the track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Save Me (Queen song)</span> 1980 single by Queen

"Save Me" is a song by the British rock band Queen from their 1980 album The Game. Written by guitarist Brian May, it was recorded in 1979, and released in the UK on 25 January 1980, nearly six months prior to the release of the album. "Save Me" spent six weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 11. It was the band's first single release of the 1980s.

<i>Boys and Girls</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Bryan Ferry

Boys and Girls is the sixth solo studio album by English singer and songwriter Bryan Ferry, released on 3 June 1985 by E.G. Records. The album was Ferry's first solo album in seven years and the first since he had disbanded his band Roxy Music in 1983. The album was Ferry's first and only number one solo album in the UK. It was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and contains two UK top 40 hit singles. It is also Ferry's most successful solo album in the US, having been certified Gold for sales in excess of half a million copies there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heaven for Everyone</span> 1988 single by the Cross

"Heaven for Everyone" is a song written by British rock band Queen drummer Roger Taylor. It originally appeared on his side project the Cross's album Shove It, with Freddie Mercury as a guest vocalist, and it is the album's fourth track. It was reworked with Queen's music and appeared in their fifteenth and final studio album, Made in Heaven (1995), where it was the seventh track, and was released as the first single by Parlophone – four years after Mercury's death. Queen's version reached number two on the UK Singles Chart while peaking at number one in Hungary and becoming a top-ten hit in several other European nations. In 1999 it was included in Queen's compilation album Greatest Hits III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twilight Zone (Golden Earring song)</span> 1982 single by Golden Earring

"Twilight Zone" is a 1982 hit by Dutch band Golden Earring. It was written by the band's guitarist George Kooymans, who drew inspiration from the spy thriller book The Bourne Identity rather than the 1960s mystery television series The Twilight Zone. The song "Twilight Zone" appears on Golden Earring's 1982 album Cut. It spent 27 weeks on the US Pop charts. It was the group's sole Top 10 Pop single on the US Billboard Hot 100 and hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Album Tracks chart, the band's only No. 1 hit in America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nikita (song)</span> 1985 single by Elton John

"Nikita" is a song by English musician Elton John from his 19th studio album, Ice on Fire (1985). It was released as the album's lead single on 4 October 1985, charting at number three on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number seven in the United States, and reaching the top 10 worldwide, topping the charts of eight countries. The song features George Michael on backing vocals and Nik Kershaw on guitar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angel Eyes (Roxy Music song)</span> 1979 single by Roxy Music

"Angel Eyes" is a song by the English rock band Roxy Music. It was released in August 1979 as the third single from their sixth studio album Manifesto (1979), and peaked at No. 4 in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grease (song)</span> 1978 song by Frankie Valli

"Grease" is a song written by Barry Gibb and recorded by Frankie Valli : it was released as a single in May 1978. It is the title song for the musical motion picture Grease of that year, which was in turn based on the 1971 stage play Grease. The song celebrates the greaser lifestyle, and it sold over seven million copies worldwide and appeared twice on the film's soundtrack, first as the opening track and again as the closing track. "Grease" is one of four songs written specifically for the film that had not been in the stage production.

"I Need You" is a song written by Eric Carmen. Versions by Euclid Beach Band (1979) and then 3T (1996) were released as singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">More Than This (Roxy Music song)</span> 1982 single by Roxy Music

"More Than This" is a song by the English rock band Roxy Music. It was released in March 1982 as the first single from their eighth and final studio album, Avalon (1982). "More Than This" was the group's last top-10 UK hit, peaking at No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart, and also charted in the United States, reaching No. 58 on the Billboard Rock Top Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Use Somebody</span> 2008 single by Kings of Leon

"Use Somebody" is a song recorded by the American rock group Kings of Leon. It was the second single from the band's fourth studio album Only by the Night, and it entered American and British charts in early October 2008, three weeks after the album release. The single was augmented with a music video released a month later.

Yanick Étienne was a Haitian singer and backing vocalist. She performed backing vocals on the hit song, "Avalon" by Roxy Music in 1982.

References

  1. de Visé, Daniel. "Thirteen New Wave Album Classics". AllMusic . Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  2. Sheffield, Rob (2004). "Roxy Music". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 705–706. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  3. EveryHit - Roxy Music - Avalon Archived 12 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  4. Mix Magazine - Roxy Music's "Avalon" Archived 22 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Roxy Music - Singles - on". Vivaroxymusic.com. 15 June 1982. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  6. "Ridley Scott's Commercial & Music Video Work (1982-1984)". 14 March 2018.
  7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  8. "Roxy Music – Avalon" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  9. "irishcharts.ie search results" . Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  10. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 31, 1982" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  11. "Roxy Music – Avalon" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  12. "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 12 September 1982. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  13. "Roxy Music – Avalon". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  14. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  15. "Roxy Music Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  16. "Offiziellecharts.de – Roxy Music – Avalon" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  17. "Roxy Music – Avalon" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  18. "Jaaroverzichten 1982". Ultratop. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  19. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1982". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  20. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1982". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  21. "British single certifications – Roxy Music – Avalon". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 3 September 2021.