The Getaway (Chris de Burgh album)

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The Getaway
The Getaway.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 1982
StudioFarmyard Studios (Little Chalfont, Buckinghamshire, England)
Genre Pop rock
Length44:47
Label A&M
Producer Rupert Hine
Chris de Burgh chronology
Best Moves
(1981)
The Getaway
(1982)
Man on the Line
(1984)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]

The Getaway is singer Chris de Burgh's sixth album, released on A&M Records in 1982. It was the first studio album of de Burgh's to chart in the UK, following the compilation Best Moves a year earlier. The album peaked at number 30 in the UK and spent 16 weeks on the chart. [2] In the week beginning 7 February 1983, the album went to the top of the album charts in the then West Germany. [3] In Canada the album spent 36 weeks in the Top 100. [4]

Contents

Background

The album was spearheaded by the U.S. top 40 hit, "Don't Pay the Ferryman", an upbeat, mythology-tinged pop rock song that evokes images of the Grim Reaper, which also became his first UK hit single, reaching number 48.

Another song from the album which has become a de Burgh fan-favourite is "Borderline", the story of a conscientious objector who chooses to flee with his lover than be drafted for military service. A staple of de Burgh's live act, the song's story was continued in 1986's "Say Goodbye to It All" from the later album Into the Light .

In an interview Chris de Burgh pointed out, that the collaboration with producer Rupert Hine strongly influenced the style of the album:

"... I can definitely say that there is a lot of difference. He is a man who understands the mortar and brick of building a track musically. There are more subtle and complex inter-rhythms in the new album than I’ve had on any others. And we blended wonderfully together. I could get on with the bits that I’m good at, and he could get on with the bits that he’s good at. It made for a very strong connection." [5]

Drums on the album were played by Steve Negus of the Canadian progressive rock band Saga.

Some of the guest vocalists were Anthony Head, Diane Davison (Chris de Burgh's wife) and Miriam Stockley (who also collaborated with Mike Oldfield on the album The Millennium Bell (1999).

Track listing

  1. "Don't Pay the Ferryman" – 3:48
  2. "Living on the Island" – 3:31
  3. "Crying and Laughing" – 4:33
  4. "I'm Counting on You" – 4:27
  5. "The Getaway" – 3:52
  6. "Ship to Shore" – 3:49
  7. "All the Love I Have Inside" – 3:18
  8. "Borderline" – 4:37
  9. "Where Peaceful Waters Flow" – 3:54
  10. "The Revolution" – 1:46
  11. "Light a Fire" – 2:08
  12. "Liberty" – 5:02

The Japanese CD splits the last three tracks differently:

10. "The Revolution" – 3:54
11. "Light a Fire" – 4:30
12. "Liberty" – 0:31

All compositions by Chris de Burgh.

Personnel


Production

Charts

Certifications and sales

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [16] Platinum100,000^
Germany (BVMI) [17] Platinum500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. DeGagne, Mike. The Getaway Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  2. David Roberts. British Hit Singles & Albums . Guinness World Records Limited
  3. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts website". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  4. "RPM Top 100 Albums - July 16, 1983" (PDF).
  5. Newton, Steve (22 April 1983). "Chris de Burgh on the making of his new Getaway album and its eerie hit "Don't Pay the Ferryman"". Ear of Newt. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 84. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  7. "Austriancharts.at – Chris de Burgh – The Getaway" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  8. "RPM Top 100 Albums - January 29, 1983" (PDF).
  9. "Offiziellecharts.de – Chris de Burgh – The Getaway" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  10. "Charts.nz – Chris de Burgh – The Getaway". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  11. "Norwegiancharts.com – Chris de Burgh – The Getaway". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  12. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  13. "Chris de Burgh Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  14. "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1983 - December 24, 1983" (PDF).
  15. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. 1983. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  16. "Canadian album certifications – Chris de Burgh – The Getaway". Music Canada . Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  17. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Chris de Burgh; 'The Getaway')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved 5 April 2022.