Runaway (Thompson Twins song)

Last updated
"Runaway"
Thompson Twins Runaway 1982 single cover.jpg
Single by Thompson Twins
from the album Set
B-side "Open Your Eye"
Released14 May 1982
Length3:13
Label T Records
Songwriter(s) Tom Bailey
Producer(s) Steve Lillywhite
Thompson Twins singles chronology
"In the Name of Love"
(1982)		"Runaway"
(1982)		"Lies"
(1982)

"Runaway" is a song by the British pop band Thompson Twins, released by T Records on 14 May 1982 as the second and final single from their second studio album, Set . The song was written by Tom Bailey and produced by Steve Lillywhite.

Contents

Release

The release of "Runaway" as a single from the band's album Set shortly followed a major change to the Thompson Twins line-up, as the seven-piece band was reduced down to the trio of Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie and Joe Leeway. As a result, "Runaway" was promoted by the trio. Bailey considered its release as a "kiss goodbye" to the old band and was reportedly much more excited about the upcoming recording of new material than the release of "Runaway" as a single, particularly as the song had been written a year ago at that point and was recorded by the old line-up. [1]

"Runaway" was released by T Records on 14 May 1982. [2] It failed to enter the UK Singles Chart, but did reach the unnumbered 'bubbling under' section for five consecutive weeks in June and July 1982, which would have been equivalent to a position between 76 and 100 at a time when the main charts covered the top 75. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] It also peaked at number 83 on the Record Business UK Top 100 Singles chart in June 1982. [8]

Critical reception

Upon its release as a single, reviews were largely negative. Fred Dellar of Smash Hits described "Runaway" as a "laboured jog-trot" which is "hardly representative of Set, the quite tasty album from which it is culled". He added, "Maybe the accompanying free live single will help shift a few extra copies. If not, the particular, Thomas Dolby-assisted 'Runaway' is likely to grind to a dead stop." [9] John Shearlaw of Record Mirror remarked, "Another producer's special, this time giving a fairly ordinary album track a glossy mix, bringing Tom Dolby's persistent synth to the fore. But for the Thompson Twins it's the same old story; all influence and no substance. A pity." [10] Paul Morley, writing for NME , commented, "When I hear such a single, I am in the middle of the sandy wasteland, and I am thinking of Edvard Munch's famous (scream) painting." [11] Wattie Buchan, as guest reviewer for Melody Maker , called it "the worst out of all the singles I've reviewed" and added, "The title is appropriate. Play this once and you do want to run away." [12]

Track listing

7–inch single (UK and Europe) [13] [14]

  1. "Runaway" – 3:13
  2. "Open Your Eye" – 3:04

7–inch single with free limited edition live single (UK) [15]

  1. "Runaway" – 3:13
  2. "Open Your Eye" – 3:04
  3. "Living in Europe" (Recorded live at the Hammersmith Palais, April '82 by RAK Mobile) – 3:13
  4. "Make Believe" (Recorded live at the Hammersmith Palais, April '82 by RAK Mobile) – 6:05

12–inch single (UK) [16]

  1. "Runaway" (Extended Remix) – 5:26
  2. "Bouncing" (Extended Remix) – 4:54

12–inch single (Europe) [17]

  1. "Runaway" – 5:26
  2. "Bouncing" – 4:54
  3. "Open Your Eye" – 3:04

Personnel

Thompson Twins

Additional musicians

Production

Other

Charts

Chart (1982)Peak
position
UK Top 100 Singles ( Record Business ) [8] 83

References

  1. ↑ Cooper, Mark (26 June 1982). "Small is beautiful". Melody Maker . p. 24. ISSN   0025-9012.
  2. ↑ "Thompson triplets". New Musical Express . 1 May 1982. p. 4. ISSN   0028-6362.
  3. ↑ "RM Charts - Bubbling Under". Record Mirror . 12 June 1982. p. 2. ISSN   0144-5804.
  4. ↑ "RM Charts - Bubbling Under". Record Mirror . 19 June 1982. p. 2. ISSN   0144-5804.
  5. ↑ "RM Charts - Bubbling Under". Record Mirror . 26 June 1982. p. 2. ISSN   0144-5804.
  6. ↑ "RM Charts - Bubbling Under". Record Mirror . 3 July 1982. p. 2. ISSN   0144-5804.
  7. ↑ "RM Charts - Bubbling Under". Record Mirror . 10 July 1982. p. 2. ISSN   0144-5804.
  8. 1 2 "Top 100 Singles". Record Business . Vol. 5, no. 9. 14 June 1982. p. 6.
  9. ↑ Dellar, Fred (10 June 1982). "Singles". Smash Hits . Vol. 4, no. 12. p. 17.
  10. ↑ Shearlaw, John (12 June 1982). "Singles". Record Mirror . p. 17. ISSN   0144-5804.
  11. ↑ Morley, Paul (29 May 1982). "Singles". New Musical Express . p. 27.
  12. ↑ Wattie (5 June 1982). "Singles". Melody Maker . p. 19. ISSN   0025-9012.
  13. ↑ Runaway (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Thompson Twins. T Records. 1982. TEE 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ↑ Runaway (European 7-inch single sleeve). Thompson Twins. Hansa International. 1982. 104 346.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ↑ Runaway (UK 7-inch single with free limited edition live single sleeve). Thompson Twins. T Records. 1982. TEE 5, RANK 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ↑ Runaway (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Thompson Twins. T Records. 1982. TEE 125.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ↑ Runaway (European 12-inch single sleeve). Thompson Twins. Hansa International. 1982. 600 612.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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