Single:
Avalon entered the Australian singles chart* on 13 September 1982 and peaked at #22.
Album:
The song is on Avalon which entered the Australian albums chart* on 28 June 1982 and peaked at #1.
Songwriter:
Bryan Ferry
Producers:
Rhett Davies, Roxy Music
Record label of Australian release:
Polydor
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
Songfacts – Avalon:
Avalon is the mythical island of Arthurian legend where King Arthur’s sword, Excalibur, was forged. It is also his final resting place after he was mortally wounded at the Battle of Camlann.
“Avalon is part of the King Arthur legend and is a very romantic thing, when King Arthur dies, the Queens ferry him off to Avalon, which is sort of an enchanted island,” Ferry explained to NME on 19 June 1982. “It’s the ultimate romantic fantasy place.”
Read more: www.songfacts.com/facts/roxy-music/avalon
Wikipedia – recording and Yanick Étienne’s backing vocal:
Roxy Music worked on Avalon at Compass Point, the recording studio in the Bahamas where AC/DC famously made their best-selling album, 1980’s Back in Black. Bryan Ferry said the location helped to bring out the tropical feel of the song.
This song features the Haitian singer Yanick Étienne. Ferry invited her to perform on the spur of the moment after overhearing her singing at the recording studio in New York City where Roxy Music was putting the finishing touches to Avalon. He told The Mail on Sunday on 28 June 2009: “I asked her to come and sing on our record, which she did in one take – and a piece of recording history was made.”
Read more: www.songfacts.com/facts/roxy-music/avalon
Music video:
The song’s music video was directed by Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner) and features the English actress Sophie Ward, daughter of actor Simon Ward. It was filmed in Mentmore Towers country house.
Read more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avalon_(Roxy_Music_song)#Promotional_video
Lyrics:
Now the party’s over
I’m so tired
Then I see you coming
Out of nowhere
Much communication in a motion
Without conversation or a notion
Click for full lyrics
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