Chris De Burgh Album: “Getaway”

WHO LIKES CHRIS DE BURGH? HOW CAN ANYONE LIKE THAT TWEE, CRUDDY SONGWRITER?, scream the critics.

Chris De Burgh has undoubtedly been the victim of some unnecessarily bad press since 1986, when "The Lady In Red" destroyed his credibility. What's often ignored, however, is that some of his early records are actually very good.

There's a whole host of great songs on this album - "The Getaway", "Where Peaceful Waters Flow", "Borderline" - laid back ballads that could be mistaken for De Burgh's namesake and one-time chart rival Chris Rea during his own early career if De Burgh's vocals were not totally different to Rea's, all talking about experiences with those close to you, but with none of the slush and pomp that made all his records between 1986 and 1991 unlistenable.

Even if you don't like rock balladry, at least check this album out for "Don't Pay The Ferryman" - a soaring rock ballad, with sniping vocals, rip-roaring guitar riffs, and washes of keyboard all in one - a pure joy to listen to indeed!

Who likes Chris De Burgh, ask the critics? I'll tell you who likes Chris De Burgh - the thousands of people who check out his back catalogue every year, after realising that there's more to this man's music than just THAT song.

I am 21 years old and this is one of my favorite albums. It ranks just lower than System of a Down's self titled and Manson's Anti-Christ Superstar. I heard it for the first time when I was 16 going through my Dad's tapes (yeah, TAPES.) I just now found out what the album was called and ordered two (one for myself and one to replace the tape i stole from my dad 5 years ago.) This is not the same "Lady in Red" music you have to put up with in every crappy love story movie, its good music. So whether you fit in with the genre of people who listen to the kind of music I was conceived to or are atleast willing to give it a chance, I would recomend this album.

This is probably Chris de Burgh's strongest album even if it is not his most recognized or commercially successful work. I'm not sure if Chris himself picked the tracks for his greatest hits compilation of 1989, Spark to a Flame, or if his record label was responsible. Either way, it reflects the strength of this album that five tracks here made the greatest hits: "Don't Pay the Ferryman," "The Getaway," "Ship to Shore," "Borderline" and "Where Peaceful Waters Flow."

"Ferryman" was Chris' first real hit around the world. It's a strong, driving rock song with a great hook and a nice lyric. The imagery is typical of de Burgh's story-song settings even if this is not one of his deeper lyrics. "Getaway" and "Ship to Shore" are two other catchy, rockier songs on the album, with the rest being quieter ballad-type songs.

"Borderline" is a sadly sung ballad about a soldier longing for the day there is no more war and he can return to his love. This song had an interesting sequel five years later on the album Into the Light. Chris actually sampled the closing lines of "Borderline" before heading into the faster and more upbeat "Say Goodbye to it All." I remember how "Borderline" was strummed on guitars by soldiers at a real borderline in the war between Angola and South Africa.

"Where Peaceful Waters Flow" recalls earlier de Burgh ballads like "In a Country Churchyard" and "A Spaceman Came Travelling." It's a haunting song with a beautiful chorus. All these songs make the album worth getting.

I love the music and the artist. I wore out the tape of this artist so I

decided to replace it.

I have always enjoyed Chris de Burgh's music, although his most famous songs are most often not my favourites. The 'Getaway' is, however, one of my favorite CD's. This is not because it is not famous, but rather because it has a wide variety of songs which are as unusual as they are timeless. Some songs such as 'Living on the Island' sound as though they could have come from one of Chris de Burgh's earliest album's, while there are others such as 'Don't Pay the Ferryman' which are relatively modern. Songs like 'Where Peaceful Waters Flow' (one of my favorites) give one a taste of his softer melodies, while ones such as the 'Getaway' are completely different. This album, I think, has the best mixture of music in any of his CD's. In other words: if you can honestly say that you did not enjoy (or at least stop and think about) one song on this CD, then you have absolutely no taste and really shouldn't be listening to Chris de Burgh, because this is him at his best.