Bill Champlin - Runaway (1981)

Japanese import

Note: the CD I listened to was the 2016 reissue using SHM-CD materials/technology.

Around 2010 or so, bored at work while listening to some West Coast/Adult-Oriented Rock/soft rock/melodic rock (most likely a Jarreau album), I searched for early '80s albums produced by either Jay Graydon or David Foster. I never found a definitive discography, but the wonderful Danish website Blue Desert directed me to some possibilities and prompted me to seek out a number of albums including this one from Champlin, plus albums from Airplay, Steve Kipner, Pages, and Marc Jordan. I purchased and downloaded all of those albums from the iTunes store and have since replaced all those downloads with physical CDs. That's for the best because iTunes no longer supports those particular purchases, although I still have access to U2's Songs Of Innocence. Yet another example of why I prefer physical product over downloads and streaming. But I digress.

This Runaway album was produced by David Foster and released by a guy that would soon (wisely) accept a job offer from the band Chicago. It bears more than a slight resemblance to the Chicago 16 album in terms of production, songwriting, arrangements, and personnel, so I've often referred to the album as "Chicago 15½" instead of "Runaway." And since I like Chicago 16, it makes sense that I like this offering as well.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #178
• CashBox: #135

Why didn't Runaway perform better commercially? Here's what Champlin had to say about it:

It was weird, I did the Runaway album and the day that it was released, Joe Smith, the guy who had signed me to Elektra Records left the company. Two days later, I got a call from Chicago asking me to join the band. I went 'they’re (Elektra Records) going to lose this album,' I could see it coming from a million miles away. So I thought I’d better go for the rent, you know what I mean?^[source]

And "lose" it they did. I couldn't find any reviews or ads in any of the usual locations. Damn shame. With little support, I'm surprised it charted at all.

Tracks: I enjoy all 11 tracks and at a playing time of 39:24, there's no excuse for not listening to the CD from top-to-bottom. Elektra released three singles:

• Sara, co-written by Champlin and Alan Thicke, peaked at #19 on the adult contemporary chart and #61 on the pop chart. My pick for the album's top track.
• Tonight, Tonight, co-written by Champlin, Foster, & Raymond Louis Kennedy, #55 pop
• Take It Uptown, co-written by Champlin and Kenny Loggins

Four of the tracks are rated on their 'yachtiness' over at the Yacht or Nyacht website:

• Runaway - 91.25
• One Way Ticket - 76.5
• Take It Uptown - 62
• Satisfaction - 51

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: See above.