The Getaway [IMPORT]

Chris De Burgh

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 10, 1985)
• Original Release Date: 1982
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Universal UK
• ASIN: B000006Y1X
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #48,068 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not the best-known, but the best, September 8, 2005

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

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.]

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another excellent record from Chris' early career, March 9, 2004

By	Dave (Wales) - See all my reviews

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.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where Peaceful Waters Flow, February 22, 2000

By	Jason Stein (Chula Vista, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Getaway (Audio CD)

This album came out in 1982 and I remember the video for "Don't Pay the Ferryman" on MTV--yes, back in the days when MTV would play an artist like Chris De Burgh. I bought the tape in 1984 and ever since have been a fan. In CDB's entire catalogue I have to say that The Getaway and Man on the Line are his two most rocking albums. They are concise, brief pop excursions. The Getaway is slightly better than Man on the Line though. The 12 tracks on The Getaway show how diverse CDB can be. From rockers to ballads, the storytelling is interesting, never dull. His later works are bogged down with trite adult contemporary pop and less adroite storytelling. The Getaway is a nice change of pace and doesn't sound like it was released in 1982. It still holds up after 18 years. It's worth the money.