Released in April 1979, it was the second single to be taken from their album Manifesto, and became one of the band's most famous songs, reaching number two in the UK and spending a total of 14 weeks on the charts, the longest chart residency of a Roxy Music single.

[5] It did make it to number one on the Irish Singles Chart and held that position for one week.

"Dance Away" was originally written by Bryan Ferry for his 1977 solo album In Your Mind, but did not make the final track listing.

It was finally completed and released on Roxy Music's Manifesto, the band's first studio album in four years.

[4] Cash Box said it is "Roxy Music's most commercial effort to date" and that the highlights are "Andy Mackay's sax lines, Phil Manzanera's guitar treatments and an entrancing percussive' sound.