Avalon

Ferry began writing in western Ireland, but much of the album was written in the studio. Sessions began at Manzanera's Gallery Studios in Chertsey from a blank sheet, moved to Compass Point in Nassau for about a month of backing tracks built around Linn drum rhythms, and finished at the Power Station in New York with vocals, final overdubs and a mix by Bob Clearmountain. Producer Rhett Davies told Sound On Sound that the songs were virtually the last things to go on. Andy Newmark overdubbed live drums, and Yanick Etienne, found singing in a neighboring studio, added vocals to the title song.

The sleeve was designed by Ferry and Antony Price, with typography by Peter Saville and a cover photograph shot near Lough Ugga Beag in Connemara. The album went to number one in the UK for three weeks and in several other countries, reached 53 in the US, and is the band's only US million-seller. The singles were More Than This, Avalon and Take a Chance with Me. Rolling Stone gave it four stars, and Christgau an A-minus. A 2024 Dolby Atmos mix by Clearmountain was nominated for a Grammy.

Ferry wrote the songs. Mackay co-wrote While My Heart Is Still Beating and Tara, and Manzanera co-wrote Take a Chance with Me. Fonzi Thornton sang backing vocals on most of the album, Ferry played guitar synthesizer on India, and Mackay played oboe on Take a Chance with Me. To Turn You On features Kermit Moore on cello, Rick Marotta on drums and Paul Carrack on piano. Lucy Helmore is on the cover, and Ferry married her a month after the release.

Pitchfork's Tom Ewing wrote that on More Than This and To Turn You On the glossy surface is a feint that lets heartbreaking loneliness in close. The Guardian said the album helped define the slick sound of 1980s soft rock. The Guardian heard Manzanera's stark, drum-machine-driven 1982 instrumental album Primitive Guitars as a response to the lushness of Avalon.