Swans Way -

Swans Way as an English sophisti-pop trio that released the 1982 standalone single “Theme From the Balcony,” followed by the 1984 Phonogram album The Fugitive Kind. Singer–percussionist Maggie De Monde and bassist Rick P. Jones formed the subsequent dance-pop act Scarlet Fantastic.

Members: Rick P. Jones (double bass), Robert Shaw (vocals), Maggie De Monde (percussion, vocals)

Formation, First Single

Swans Way formed in Birmingham in 1982 when singer Robert Shaw teamed with De Monde and Jones, who played jazz contrabass. Their name derived from the English translation of Du côté de chez Swann, the first volume of À la recherche du temps perdu (In Search of Lost Time), a collection of 19th-century recollections by French novelist Marcel Proust (1871–1922).

On September 3, 1982, Swans Way released the single “Theme From the Balcony” backed with “Vibration Hoist,” both group-written songs.

A1. “Theme From the Balcony” (3:00) The extended 12″ version (6:10).
B1. “Vibration Hoist” (2:45) The 12″ version (5:05).

“Theme From the Balcony” appeared on Exit International, which also issued the April 1982 single “Button Up” (b/w “Räumen”) by the American–German punk-funk band The Bloods.

The Fugitive Kind

Swans Way released their singular album, The Fugitive Kind, in 1984 on Phonogram. It’s titled after the 1960 American drama film starring Marlon Brando as a southern drifter in a strange town.

The Fugitive Kind features more than forty backing players on strings, brass, and rock instruments. Session saxophonist Chris Davis (Chaka Khan, Eurythmics) appears on “Keeping It Strong,” “Club Secrets,” “The Blade,” and the singles “The Anchor” and “Illuminations.” The tracks “Soul Train” and “When the Wild Calls” also appeared as singles.

A1. “Soul Train” (3:55) features Turning Point drummer Paul Robinson and a string quintet and brass trio, including saxophonists Alan Wakeman (Rick‘s cousin, ex-Soft Machine) and Larry Stabbins (Centipede, Weekend, Working Week).
A2. “Keeping It Strong” (2:59) features a string quartet and the Uptown Horns.
A3. “Club Secrets” (5:28) features serial trombonist Ann Whitehead (Fun Boy Three, National Health).
A4. “In Trance” (3:59)
A5. “Je Joué” (6:31) features string quartet.

B1. “The Blade” (6:37) features twelve backing players, including tenor saxist Alan Skidmore, Panguin Cafe violinist Gavyn Wright, and Fairport Convention drummer Dave Mattacks.
B2. “The Anchor” (3:26)
B3. “When the Wild Calls” (6:13) features the Uptown Horns.
B4. “Stay” (3:21)
B5. “Illuminations” (3:32)

Swans Way recorded four tracks (“Soul Train,” “The Blade,” “The Anchor,” “Illuminations”) with ex-Landscape keyboardist John L. Walters, a prior Kissing the Pink soundman and subsequent Twelfth Night producer.

Early Wire soundman Mike Thorne produced “Keeping It Strong” and “When the Wild Calls” amid work with Bronski Beat, Carmel, Roger Daltery, and Canadian singer Sherry Kean.

They recorded the remaining tracks with producer/engineer Mark Freegard, a recent soundman for Marillion, Private Lives, and Pete Townshend‘s 1982 solo album All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes.

The Fugitive Kind displays stylish noir group photography by Simon Fowler, also credited on recent sleeves for Clannad, Freur, The Human League, Iron Maiden, Paul Young, and Tracey Allman.

Swans Way released “The Anchor” as a single, backed with the “London Spring” version of “Keeping It Strong.” They also released “When The Wild Calls” and “Soul Train” as singles, backed with the respective non-album tracks “Hangover” and “Gloomy Sunday.” The final single, “Illuminations,” appeared with an instrumental version on the flipside.

B. “Hangover”

B. “Gloomy Sunday”

“Soul Train” reached No. 20 on the UK Singles Chart.

Discography: