Best Moves [IMPORT]

Chris De Burgh

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 26, 1985)
• Original Release Date: 1981
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Universal UK
• ASIN: B000006Y1M
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #157,580 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Traveller

2. Every Drop of Rain

3. In a Country Churchyard

4. Patricia the Stripper

5. Satin Green Shutters

6. Spanish Train

7. Waiting for the Hurricane

8. Broken Wings

9. Lonely Sky

10. Spaceman Came Travelling

11. Crusader: The Fall of Jerusalem/In the Court of Saladin/The ...

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

11 Track Collection of Tracks from the Irish Singer/Songwriter Culled from his First Five Albums.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars De Burgh's early career, January 21, 2004

By	CGC (Marina del Rey, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Of all the "Best Of" compilations released by Chris De Burgh over the years, this is the only one that does justice to Chris De Burgh's early career, when he presented himself as more of a storytelling bard than an adult contemporary pop star. No accident of course, since this compilation was released in 1981, before the successes of songs like "Don't Pay the Ferryman" (from De Burgh's brief period as more of a straight-up rocker), "The Lady in Red," (his soft-rock smash) and "Missing You" (more soft rock).

In the 1970s, however, De Burgh favored acoustic and orchestral arrangements, and his songs would often evoke pastoral imagery and/or period moods, with some religious-themed supernatural elements thrown in for good measure. The best known songs from this period are "Spanish Train," "In a Country Churchyard," "The Traveller," the Christmas-themed "A Spaceman Came Travelling," and the jokey "Patricia the Stripper."

To properly represent this period, any compilation of this period must include "Crusader" (an epic but grossly historically inaccurate art-rock suite). The song is nine minutes long, however, and its inclusion takes up a lot of room on an LP-length collection, which is limited to 40 or 45 minutes. Throw in two new songs (one of which, "Waiting for the Hurricane," fails to leave any impression whatsoever), and that means that a lot of excellent material was crowded out. A perfect collection would have included "The Tower" from "Spanish Train," "Sailor" from "Eastern Wind," and "Carry On" and "The Girl with April in Her Eyes" from "Crusader."

But, even without those songs, this is still an excellent collection, with the added bonus of a live version of "Broken Wings" that is slightly superior to the studio version. A delightful listen for fans of this kind of music, and the only option for anyone wanting material from De Burgh's early career, but not wanting to spend a fortune on five expensive import discs.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Anthology Of Early Chris DeBurgh, December 26, 2008

By	The Footpath Cowboy "rockerusa2002" (Kingston, NY United States) - See all my reviews

BEST MOVES is a great anthology of the early work of British singer-songwriter Chris DeBurgh. The obvious influences here are Donovan and the Moody Blues, and the songs are very relaxing. This is true even of the more intense numbers such as "The Traveller" and "Spanish Train." Granted, there are moments that might appeal more to devout Christians than to the average person, and DeBurgh would improve by adding a Steve Miller/Bob Seger influence on the harder-rocking THE GETAWAY and MAN ON THE LINE, but if you want to hear his early work, this is the CD to get.

5.0 out of 5 stars A true convert, May 30, 1999

By A Customer

This album was my first exposure to Chris de Burgh, given to me by a friend who had returned from Germany, where he is much better known. It was this album and his even better "Man on the Line" that made me a life-long fan. His music seemed to have been written especially for me, but everyone I have introduced his music to has also become a fan--my wife, my college roommate, even my parents (yes, it's music that spans the generation gap).