Customer Reviews

Spanish Train & Other Stories [IMPORT]

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The problem with marketing someone like Chris DeBurgh in America is that he's not a pop singer. He's a poet. (A poet with Celine Dion-like levels of beltishness, but a poet nonetheless.) As a result, he was hideously misrepresented by his one big hit more than arguably any other singer in history, and his career never recovered.

Which is just too damn bad, because his poetry, in full force in Spanish Train And Other Stories, is a work of art. He can be funny (Patricia The Stripper), poignant (This Song For You), Optimisic (I'm Going Home), and even incredibly melodic and breathtakingly original at the same time (A Spaceman Came Travelling, and it's a CRIME that this doesn't get any airtime in the holiday season).

This album definitely isn't for everybody. DeBurgh makes no concessions to mainstream thought or religious squeamishness (yes, the devil cheats God, get over it). And he gets pretty dang loud, too. But if you approach with an open mind...and an appetite for riveting stories...you're going to love this, guaranteed.

...actually, to clarify the title of this review, it is the first album I ever had bought for me, or to clarify further, the first album I ever asked for.
Let me take you back to 1979..I was turning 13 and had first heard this album at scout camp during the summer. I was blown away by the songs...God and the Devil playing Cards, women who stripped (at 12, going on 13 it was really erotic) songs about WW1 and love and murder and spacemen.
Therefore, for my birthday in the September I asked my parents for 'Spanish Train by Christy Burke!.
Thankfully someone in the record shop knew what they were asking for and they arrived home with the album.
I played the album so much that both my parents ended up knowing all the words of every song (and they still do!).
As most other reviewers have mentioned, Chris is remembered by most people for the Lady In Red, but this is the album that will always define Chris De Burgh for me.
Over the years I have probably started to dislike some of the songs, especially Spaceman (na,na,na,na,na,na chorus kinda grates at this stage), however I still have the original album. I also have it on tape and on CD, which is probably the best way of explainign how good this is.

The song writing on this album is amazing ... powerful lyrics make this a classic album. Chris DeBurgh's ability to tell a story in a 3 minute song occurs on several tracks ... "Spanish Train" is a classic, and "Spaceman Came Travelling" is still played at Christmas time on the radio, a different twist about
what happened on that special Christmas eve. My favorite is "Lonely Sky", a sad ballad, but written well. "Old Friend" and
"I'm Going Home" are also beautiful songs about friendship and the important things in life, and everybody knows "Patricia the Stripper", a fun song about a stripper who says "God made her a sinner, just to keep fat men thinner". In all, a classic work that should be in your C.D. collection!

Every track on this album has a story and a moral. The lyrics are as brilliant as they are varied and in each the music matches the mood of the story perfectly. Some of his best and most enduring songs had their debut on this album which I have loved on vinyl and CD since the 70's. Buy it...you won't regret it.

This is Chris' second album, but I think you can really consider it his first, since "Beyond These Castle Walls" was not really a debut! As always, Chris de Burgh is the greatest! His voice and his lyrics are unmatched in the world of pop music, and he continues to reign the hearts of his real fans, so who cares if Americans don't know him or if they just know him by "Lady in Red"? The fact is, he is one of the most popular singers all over the world, and Spanish Train is his master piece. Just listen to the title track, and Spaceman, and The Tower, and tell me you have ever heard anything more beautiful!

One of those collection classics. Unfortunatly the artist is famous for Women in Red not this album. This is not pop and is unlikly to be on most radio stations. Listen to "Space man came travelling" "The Painter" or the title track and you have your monies worth. Dropped a star for a couple of corny (aka non excellent) tracks.

Chris De Burgh may not be known for his earlier work, but his true fans prefer it. This is a classic CD, with the truly exceptional storytelling Chris De Burgh is loved for. I love every song, but some of my favourites are Spanish Train, A Spaceman Came Travelling and Lonely Sky. Chris writes and sings from the heart, and he will always be one of my favourites.

From his sad song "The Tower" to his lite hearted "Patricia The Stripper", his songs are amazing stories of love, religion, life experiences & fantasy that are simply breathtaking. If your into short stories, you'll love it.

Chris de Burgh has always been known, to his fans, for writing great songs with a story woven into them and this album offers up ten tracks specifically highlighted for the stories they tell. You get some classic gems here like `Spanish Train' with it's tale of a game for souls between the devil and the lord. `A Spaceman came Travelling' about the return of Christ, as well as lesser known tracks that are equally as good like `Lonely Sky' and the live favourite `Patricia the Stripper'. Overall this is a very strong album in his back catalogue and whilst some tracks are stronger than others, they all sit very well together as a whole. This could be classed as a concept album, but considering nearly all C de B songs have a story or theme of some description, this is merely a continuation of what he already does so well. There are other albums of his I would suggest you buy first (like `Into the Light'), but this needs to be added to your collection at some point and you shouldn't be disappointed.

Feel free to check out my blog which can be found on my profile page.

... long before Chris became a wedding singer (via "Lady In Red"), he put out this terrific recording where every track's a winner - a big thumbs up to the producer (Robin Geoffrey-Cable or something sounding similarly blue-blooded, if memory serves me correctly), who I can't remember presiding over any other recording after this one.

Two things: 1) where's the beautiful album cover artwork featuring a train in the night; 2) when will a remastered version be available?