Chris de Burgh - The Getaway

The Getaway by Chris de Burgh

I love the music and the artist. I wore out the tape of this artist so I
decided to replace it. June 12, 2007

A highlight among de Burgh's work

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. January 24, 2006

Not his most famous, but his best

Fans of Chris de Burgh's adult-oriented pop will often cite "Into the Light" (with its massive international hit "The Lady in Red") as their favorite de Burgh album. Fans of de Burgh's early-career acoustic ballads and period stories might cite "Spanish Train" as their favorite. But for me, "The Getaway" is the best.

More assured and less precious than his early work but more evocative and alive than his later releases (which tend to be overproduced), "The Getaway" is a perfect balance of de Burgh's many sounds and interests.

Three tracks are straight-ahead, bright-sounding, energetic rock and roll: "Don't Pay the Ferryman" (his first US hit, which admittedly may seem a bit dated now), the title track, and "Ship to Shore"--the strongest and tightest of the trio, with a very well-placed horn section). (These represent a sound he would fully explore in "Man on the Line," but as the albums that followed grew more and more reliant on synthesizers, the energy of his rock numbers dissipated.)

His art-rock and period interests are represented by the three part epic "Revolution/Light a Fire/Liberty," whose content is obvious from the titles, building energy in part one, exploding in part two, and settling down to a quiet acoustic sound in the last segment. While it's not quite as strong as earlier epics, it still succeeds.

The rest of the album consists of the light-hearted, light-rock but very catchy "Living on the Island" and some of the best ballads of his career. These include "Counting on You" (written for his new-born child), "Where Peaceful Waters Flow," and the melancholy anti-war "Borderline." All have become staples of his concerts and greatest-hit collections.

"The Getaway" was my introduction to Chris de Burgh, and twenty-two years later, it's still the best place to start. September 9, 2005

Not the best-known, but the best

Fans of Chris de Burgh's adult-oriented pop will often cite "Into the Light" (with its massive international hit "The Lady in Red") as their favorite de Burgh album. Fans of de Burgh's early-career acoustic ballads and period stories might cite "Spanish Train" as their favorite. But for me, "The Getaway" is the best.

More assured and less precious than his early work but more evocative and alive than his later releases (which tend to be overproduced), "The Getaway" is a perfect balance of de Burgh's many sounds and interests.

Three tracks are straight-ahead, bright-sounding, energetic rock and roll: "Don't Pay the Ferryman" (his first US hit, which admittedly may seem a bit dated now), the title track, and "Ship to Shore"--the strongest and tightest of the trio. (These represent a sound he would fully explore in "Man on the Line," but as the albums that followed grew more and more reliant on synthesizers, the energy of his rock numbers dissipated.)

His art-rock and period interests are represented by the three part epic "Revolution/Light a Fire/Liberty," whose content is obvious from the titles, building energy in part one, exploding in part two, and settling down to a quiet acoustic sound in the last segment. While it's not quite as strong as earlier epics, it still succeeds.

The rest of the album consists of the light-hearted, light-rock but very catchy "Living on the Island" and some of the best ballads of his career. These include "Counting on You" (written for his new-born child), "Where Peaceful Waters Flow," and the melancholy anti-war "Borderline." All have become staples of his concerts and greatest-hit collections.

"The Getaway" was my introduction to Chris de Burgh, and twenty-two years later, it's still the best place to start.

[Note: this import edition appears released more recently that the US version by A&M. I am not aware, however, if it has been remastered.] September 9, 2005

Thats right, 21 years old

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. March 27, 2005

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