Runaway

History

Runaway has eight songs in a shorter, more direct format than previous recordings. Earlier songs like "Empty Faces" (1977) and "It's Only Just Begun" (1980) had hinted at a more commercial approach, and Runaway continued this trend to the extreme. Unlike their previous five albums, it did not include any instrumental tracks.

Jim Capaldi of Traffic co-produced the album with the band. Capaldi also wrote or co-wrote the lyrics to seven of the eight songs. He covered two of the songs, "Runaway" and "Bad Breaks", on his next solo album, Fierce Heart.

Runaway entered the chart in the Netherlands on 13 March 1982, reaching #14 and spending 9 weeks on the chart. The title track was also a hit when released as a single.

Four songs from Runaway appeared on Solution Live the following year; this album and the four remaining studio tracks were included on The Ultimate Collection in 2006.

Track listing

"Run Away" (3:50)

Music: Solution

Lyrics: J. Capaldi, H. Waterman

"Shame On You" (4:28)

Music: Solution

Lyrics: J. Capaldi

"Move On" (4:23)

Music: Solution

G. Willemse, J. Capaldi

"Evil Love" (5:07)

Music: G. Willemse

Lyrics: J. Capaldi

Arr. Solution

"Bad Breaks" (4:43)

Music: W.T. Ennes

Lyrics: J. Capaldi

"Who's to Blame" (4:57)

Music: G. Willemse-arr. Solution

Lyrics: G. Willemse, J. Capaldi

"Down Hearted!" (4:15)

Music & lyrics: G. & B. McDonough, S. Higgins

"Lovin' You Was Easy" (4:44)

Music: G. Willemse

Lyrics: G. Willemse, J. Capaldi

Personnel

Tom Barlage: alto sax, keyboards, percussion

Willem Ennes: keyboards

Harry Hardholt: guitars

Hans Waterman: drums, percussion

Gus Willemse: bass guitar, vocals

Production

Produced by Jim Capaldi and Solution

Recorded at Spitsbergen Studio, the Netherlands

Engineering by T. Barlage, W. Ennes.

"Shame On You" basic track recorded at the Triple Sound Studio, Driebergen, the Netherlands

Other Staff

Airbrush: Ph. M. Awuy

Lettering: H. Schutten

Photography: K. de Jong

Art direction: H. de Jong

Design: W. van Ginkel