Escapade (Tim Finn album)

Escapade is the first solo album by Split Enz frontman Tim Finn. At the 1983 Countdown Australian Music Awards the album won Best Australian Album and "Fraction Too Much Friction" won Best Video.[2]

Escapade
Studio album by
Tim Finn
Released1983
GenrePop
Length36:53
LabelMushroom Records
ProducerMark Moffatt, Ricky Fataar
Tim Finn chronology
Escapade
(1983)		 Big Canoe
(1986)
Singles from Escapade
  1. "Fraction Too Much Friction"
    Released: May 1983
  2. "Made My Day"
    Released: August 1983
  3. "Staring At the Embers / Through the Years"
    Released: October 1983
  4. "In a Minor Key"
    Released: February 1984
  5. "Through the Years"
    Released: 1984 (Canada-only)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

After Time and Tide

After the release of Split Enz 1982 album Time and Tide, Tim Finn decided to give the band a break after 10 years. Younger brother Neil Finn worked on some demos for the upcoming Split Enz album, while percussionist Noel Crombie released the single My Voice Keeps Changing On Me. It was Tim's intention to take the time to work some of the new songs that he wanted to release, but felt were not Enz material. On the radio documentary Enzology Tim says that he tried some of the songs out with the band (he names "Fraction Too Much Friction"), but it just wasn't working.

Solo outing

With a break from touring and some new songs in hand, Tim decided to work with musicians outside of the Enz stable. He grew quite attached to former Beach Boys drummer Ricky Fataar who along with his partner Mark Moffatt played and produced on the album.

Along with Ricky and Mark, Tim worked with music veteran Venetta Fields whose backing vocals provided a soulful feel to the album. On various songs he worked with Australian music heavy weights such as Wilbur Wilde and Joe Camilleri.

When released the first single "Fraction Too Much Friction" was a major hit in Australia #13 and New Zealand peaking at #2 for 3 weeks behind Flashdance... What a Feeling by Irene Cara, and the album took off from there. Tim himself did not expect this level of success. The idea was to experiment musically away from Split Enz, get it out of his system and then come back to begin the new album.

In spite of the success and the expectation to follow up with a tour, Tim felt an obligation to Split Enz, and after 5 gigs to support the album he went back to the studio with the band to begin work on the new album to be titled Conflicting Emotions.

Conflicting Emotions and beyond

Upon returning to the Enz, the dynamic of the band had changed. Tim seemed less interested and increasingly distracted as did Neil Finn, who had a child on the way. Tim himself only contributed four songs to the album, the remainder being Neil's. There was some conflict within the band regarding where they were going next, and no one except the Finns were particularly happy when Ricky Fataar was brought in to play drums on Message to my Girl. No one is sure why current drummer Noel Crombie was not selected to play on the track.

After touring for the album, and bringing in drummer Paul Hester, Tim made a decision to leave the band, making younger brother Neil the main songwriter for the band. To the surprise of the rest of the band, Neil disbanded Split Enz and arranged for one final album titled See Ya 'Round.

Tim rejoined the band for one final tour, playing the currently successful single "Fraction Too Much Friction" with the Enz. After the tour ended, Tim was back in the studio working on the follow-up Big Canoe.

Track listing

Australia and New Zealand

All tracks are written by Tim Finn.

Side 1
No.TitleLength
1."Fraction Too Much Friction"4:14
2."Made My Day"3:25
3."Not for Nothing"3:28
4."In a Minor Key"3:46
5."Grand Adventure"3:52
Side 2
No.TitleLength
6."Staring at the Embers"3:05
7."Wait and See"4:01
8."I Only Want to Know"4:05
9."Growing Pains"3:02
10."Through the Years"3:50

United States

Resequenced track listing with "Below the Belt" replacing "Grand Adventure"

All tracks are written by Tim Finn.

Side 1
No.TitleLength
1."Fraction Too Much Friction"4:14
2."Staring at the Embers"3:05
3."Through the Years"3:50
4."Not for Nothing"3:28
5."In a Minor Key"3:46
Side 2
No.TitleLength
6."Made My Day"3:25
7."Wait and See"4:01
8."Below the Belt"4:20
9."I Only Want to Know"4:05
10."Growing Pains"3:02

Chart Performance
Chart (1983) Peak position
Australia[3] #8
New Zealand[4] #1
USA[5] #161
Canada[6] #90

Year-end charts
Chart (1983) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] 20

Personnel

Additional personnel

References
  1. Allmusic review
  2. "Australian Music Awards". Ron Jeff. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  3. Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W. (1993). ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  4. "New Zealand Charts". Retrieved 2010-11-15.
  5. "All Music Guide". Retrieved 2010-11-15.
  6. "RPM Canadian Charts". Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 435. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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