Runaway (Thompson Twins song)

"Runaway" is a song by British pop band Thompson Twins, released in 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.

"Runaway"
Single by Thompson Twins
from the album Set
B-side"Open Your Eye"
ReleasedMay 1982
Length3:13
LabelT Records
Songwriter(s)Tom Bailey
Producer(s)Steve Lillywhite
Thompson Twins singles chronology
"In the Name of Love"
(1982)		 "Runaway"
(1982)		 "Lies"
(1982)

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."[1] 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."[2] 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."[3] 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."[4]

Track listing

7–inch single (UK and Europe)[5][6]

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

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

  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)[8]

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

12–inch single (Europe)[9]

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

Personnel

Thompson Twins

  • Tom Bailey – vocals, piano, synthesizer, percussion
  • Peter Dodd – synthesizer, guitar, percussion
  • John Roog – guitar
  • Matthew Seligman – bass
  • Alannah Currie – percussion, saxophone
  • Joe Leeway – congas, percussion, vocals
  • Chris Bell – drums

Additional musicians

  • Thomas Dolby – additional synthesiser ("Runaway", "Make Believe")

Production

  • Steve Lillywhite – production ("Runaway", "Open Your Eye", "Bouncing")
  • Tom Bailey – production ("Living in Europe", "Make Believe")
  • Phil Thornalley – engineering ("Runaway", "Bouncing")
  • John Rule – assistant engineering ("Runaway", "Bouncing")

Other

  • Thomi Wroblewski – design and photo illustration

Charts
Chart (1982) Peak
position
UK Record Business Top 100 Singles[10] 83

References
  1. Dellar, Fred (10 June 1982). "Singles". Smash Hits. Vol. 4, no. 12. p. 17.
  2. Shearlaw, John (12 June 1982). "Singles". Record Mirror. p. 17. ISSN 0144-5804.
  3. Morley, Paul (29 May 1982). "Singles". New Musical Express. p. 27.
  4. Wattie (5 June 1982). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 19.
  5. 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)
  6. 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)
  7. 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)
  8. 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)
  9. 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)
  10. "Top 100 Singles". Record Business. Vol. 5, no. 9. 14 June 1982. p. 6.
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