Avalon (Roxy Music song)

"Avalon"
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]

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

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[22] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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. ^ a b "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. Archived from the original on July 22, 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  13. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  14. ^ "Roxy Music – Avalon". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  15. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  16. ^ "Roxy Music Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Roxy Music – Avalon" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  18. ^ "Roxy Music – Avalon" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  19. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1982". Ultratop. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1982". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  21. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1982". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  22. ^ "British single certifications – Roxy Music – Avalon". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 September 2021.


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