"Avalon" is a 1982 song by the English rock band

Roxy Music Roxy Music are an English rock music, rock band formed in 1970 by Bryan Ferry (lead vocals/keyboards/principal songwriter) and Graham Simpson (musician), Graham Simpson (bass). By the time the band recorded their Roxy Music (album), first albu ...

. It was released as the second single from their eighth and final studio album ''

Avalon Avalon () is an island featured in the Arthurian legend. It first appeared in Geoffrey of Monmouth's 1136 ''Historia Regum Britanniae'' as a place of magic where King Arthur's sword Excalibur was made and later where Arthur was taken to recove ...

'' (1982). The single, with its B-side, "Always Unknowing", charted at No. 13 in the UK.

Recording

The song's distinctive backing vocals were performed by Haitian singer Yanick Étienne, whom

Bryan Ferry Bryan Ferry (born 26 September 1945) is an English singer and songwriter. He became known as the frontman of the band Roxy Music and also launched a solo career. His voice has been described as an "elegant, seductive croon". He also established ...

encountered during the recording of the album. He heard her in the adjacent studio and invited her to contribute backing vocals to the recording.

Promotional video

The song's music video was directed by

Ridley Scott Sir Ridley Scott (born 30 November 1937) is an English film director and producer. He directs films in the Science fiction film, science fiction, Crime film, crime, and historical drama, historical epic genres, with an atmospheric and highly co ...

and features the English actress Sophie Ward, daughter of actor Simon Ward. It was filmed in

Mentmore Towers Mentmore Towers, historically known simply as "Mentmore", is a 19th-century English country house built between 1852 and 1854 for the Rothschild family in the village of Mentmore in Buckinghamshire. Sir Joseph Paxton and his son-in-law, George ...

country house.

Personnel

– lead vocals, keyboards * Andy Mackay – saxophone *

Phil Manzanera Phillip Geoffrey Targett-Adams (born 31 January 1951), known professionally as Phil Manzanera, is an English musician, songwriter and record producer. He is the lead guitarist with Roxy Music, and was the lead guitarist with 801 and Quiet Sun. ...

– guitar * Neil Hubbard – guitar * Alan Spenner – bass guitar *

Andy Newmark Andrew Newmark (born July 14, 1950)

– drums * Jimmy Maelen – percussion *

Fonzi Thornton Alfonso "Fonzi" Thornton is an American vocalist, songwriter, producer and vocal contractor. In a career spanning 40 years, Thornton has sung backing vocals for top artists across many genres of music. His vocal credits can be found on the re ...

– backing vocals * Yanick Étienne – backing vocals

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

External links

* 1982 singles 1982 songs Roxy Music songs Songs written by Bryan Ferry Warner Records singles Reprise Records singles E.G. Records singles {{1980s-rock-song-stub