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Music : Far Beyond These Castle Walls
Rating: 
- the magic begins
My introduction to Chris came about like this. A wet Sunday afternoon in Glasgow, to see Supertramp. Concert starts over an hour late, with the crowd kept waiting outside in the rain and cold. Remember this is a Glasgow audience, harsh critics at the best of times. Imagine it; we're finally in our seats, cold and wet through, when the 'support act' appears. It's only a guy with a guitar, dredged up from a bargain bin somewhere: you can sense the crowd lick its lips: he's dead meat already. He sings his first song, after which there's almost complete silence, broken only be a few ragged handclaps. Midway through his second number my pal and I exchange looks, then smiles: this guy is GOOD! By the third number in, the applause is ringing round the venue, as we recognise the quality and range in his voice, as he effortlessly spans octaves, and delivers beguiling tales about 'the key', 'satin green shutters' and a 'spanish train'. By the end, management insist he come off after three encores, and Chris apologises, telling us Supertramp have insisted. We boo Supertramp for their first few numbers. But what about the album I hear you say?
Just this: some glorious songs, overflowing with swooping melodies, and the big themes of love, loss and death, and romantic to the core: 'Hold on', an aching paen to lonliness, 'Windy Night' a universal tale of death and redemption, 'The Key' a ballad of love and loss, and 'Satin Green Shutters', the ultimate love song. Both 'Watching the World' and 'Turning Round' ask you to grab a more uptempo glass with the man. These alone are easily worth five stars, but for songs like 'Sin City' which sits awkwardly with these classics, and an album which feels over-produced compared to the stripped-down genius of the man, unadorned. A far better and more intense album than his later increasingly bland offerings, thoug you won't go wrong with the first few albums after this.
Rating:
- The beginning of the storyteller.
When I first heard this album, I had it on LP. Only a couple of years ago did I purchase this timeless classic on cd and I'm so glad I did. It sounds so much better on cd cause the sound is crisper and clearer. Then there's the songs which are superb from the outset. "Hold On" is a fantastic opener and from this track the listener kind of knows what direction this singer/songwriter is taking. He's known for telling stories with his songs and he does it here first with a genius touch.
My favourite tracks on here are the absolutely gorgeous "Satin Green Shutters", "New Moon", "Goodnight" and "Windy Night". "Satin Green Shutters" became my favourite song for years because I just love its use of synthesizers and choir mixed together in the chorus. All in all, I would have to say that this album is definitely one of his greatest achievements. I really love this album. It comes highly recommended.
Rating:
- Be careful, Chris De Burgh fans!
This was Chris' first album, released in the mid 70s. It is very much unlike anything that followed. Chris seemed to be unsure of his direction at this time. It contains some great vocal performances from Chris, but I wonder just how serious he was as many of the lyrics seem to be humorous in nature to me, and I can't take all of this very seriously at all. Was he just having a laugh?
The opening track, 'Hold On', is about as near to the Chris De Burgh we all know and love. It is a beautiful ballad. After that, it gets weird. 'Sin City' is bonkers. 'Turning Around' is a pleasant enough song, but, lyrically, what the devil is he on about? The brief closer 'Goodnight' cunningly manages to get the previous song titles into the lyric, which is quite effective.
An unusual album, which you need to get into. If you think you know Chris' music and your musical taste is fairly advenurous, try it. If not, stick to his classic period, between 1975-1979.
Rating: - Chris at his best
It seems that when I mention Chris de Burgh to anyone they either laugh or groan. It's very uncool to like the 'Lady in Red' and of course, that IS all he's ever written, is it not ?! Give the man a chance. He is a talented story teller and this earlier album is one of his best. It whisks you away to times and lands now forgotten. Every song will please the ear. Fantastic stuff.
- the magic beginsMy introduction to Chris came about like this. A wet Sunday afternoon in Glasgow, to see Supertramp. Concert starts over an hour late, with the crowd kept waiting outside in the rain and cold. Remember this is a Glasgow audience, harsh critics at the best of times. Imagine it; we're finally in our seats, cold and wet through, when the 'support act' appears. It's only a guy with a guitar, dredged up from a bargain bin somewhere: you can sense the crowd lick its lips: he's dead meat already. He sings his first song, after which there's almost complete silence, broken only be a few ragged handclaps. Midway through his second number my pal and I exchange looks, then smiles: this guy is GOOD! By the third number in, the applause is ringing round the venue, as we recognise the quality and range in his voice, as he effortlessly spans octaves, and delivers beguiling tales about 'the key', 'satin green shutters' and a 'spanish train'. By the end, management insist he come off after three encores, and Chris apologises, telling us Supertramp have insisted. We boo Supertramp for their first few numbers. But what about the album I hear you say?
Just this: some glorious songs, overflowing with swooping melodies, and the big themes of love, loss and death, and romantic to the core: 'Hold on', an aching paen to lonliness, 'Windy Night' a universal tale of death and redemption, 'The Key' a ballad of love and loss, and 'Satin Green Shutters', the ultimate love song. Both 'Watching the World' and 'Turning Round' ask you to grab a more uptempo glass with the man. These alone are easily worth five stars, but for songs like 'Sin City' which sits awkwardly with these classics, and an album which feels over-produced compared to the stripped-down genius of the man, unadorned. A far better and more intense album than his later increasingly bland offerings, thoug you won't go wrong with the first few albums after this.
Rating:
- The beginning of the storyteller.When I first heard this album, I had it on LP. Only a couple of years ago did I purchase this timeless classic on cd and I'm so glad I did. It sounds so much better on cd cause the sound is crisper and clearer. Then there's the songs which are superb from the outset. "Hold On" is a fantastic opener and from this track the listener kind of knows what direction this singer/songwriter is taking. He's known for telling stories with his songs and he does it here first with a genius touch.
My favourite tracks on here are the absolutely gorgeous "Satin Green Shutters", "New Moon", "Goodnight" and "Windy Night". "Satin Green Shutters" became my favourite song for years because I just love its use of synthesizers and choir mixed together in the chorus. All in all, I would have to say that this album is definitely one of his greatest achievements. I really love this album. It comes highly recommended.
Rating:
- Be careful, Chris De Burgh fans!This was Chris' first album, released in the mid 70s. It is very much unlike anything that followed. Chris seemed to be unsure of his direction at this time. It contains some great vocal performances from Chris, but I wonder just how serious he was as many of the lyrics seem to be humorous in nature to me, and I can't take all of this very seriously at all. Was he just having a laugh?
The opening track, 'Hold On', is about as near to the Chris De Burgh we all know and love. It is a beautiful ballad. After that, it gets weird. 'Sin City' is bonkers. 'Turning Around' is a pleasant enough song, but, lyrically, what the devil is he on about? The brief closer 'Goodnight' cunningly manages to get the previous song titles into the lyric, which is quite effective.
An unusual album, which you need to get into. If you think you know Chris' music and your musical taste is fairly advenurous, try it. If not, stick to his classic period, between 1975-1979.
Rating:
- Chris at his bestIt seems that when I mention Chris de Burgh to anyone they either laugh or groan. It's very uncool to like the 'Lady in Red' and of course, that IS all he's ever written, is it not ?! Give the man a chance. He is a talented story teller and this earlier album is one of his best. It whisks you away to times and lands now forgotten. Every song will please the ear. Fantastic stuff.