The Getaway (Chris de Burgh album)

The Getaway
Studio album by
Chris de Burgh
ReleasedSeptember 1982
StudioFarmyard Studios (Little Chalfont, Buckinghamshire, England)
GenrePop rock
Length44:47
LabelA&M
ProducerRupert Hine
Chris de Burgh chronology
Best Moves
(1981) 		The Getaway
(1982) 		Man on the Line
(1984)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

The Getaway is singer Chris de Burgh's sixth original 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]

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.

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

  • Chris de Burgh – lead vocals, backing vocals, guitars, acoustic piano (8)
  • Rupert Hine – synthesizers, percussion, orchestral arrangements, backing vocals, programming (6, 9)
  • David Caddick – acoustic piano (4)
  • Phil Palmer – acoustic guitars, electric guitars
  • Tim Wynveen – acoustic guitars (2, 3, 11, 12), electric guitars (2, 3, 11, 12), additional vocals
  • John Giblin – bass guitar, fretless bass
  • Steve Negus – drums
  • Anthony Thistlethwaite – saxophones
  • Stephen W. Tayler – saxophones, woodwinds
  • Nigel Warren-Green – cello (4)
  • Anthony Head – voice (1)
  • Diane Davison – additional vocals
  • Miriam Stockley – additional vocals
  • Sue Wilkinson – additional vocals

Production

  • Produced by Rupert Hine
  • Engineered by Stephen W. Tayler
  • Mastered by Bernie Grundman at A&M Studios (Hollywood, CA).
  • Art Direction and Back Cover Photography – Michael Ross
  • Inner Bag Photography – Fin Costello
  • Illustration – Syd Brak
  • Typography – Andrew Ellis
  • Management – Dave Margereson and Kenny Thomson for Mismanagement, Inc.

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[15] Platinum 100,000^
Germany (BVMI)[16] Platinum 500,000^

^ 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. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Chris de Burgh – The Getaway" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  7. ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums - January 29, 1983" (PDF).
  8. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Chris de Burgh – The Getaway" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Charts.nz – Chris de Burgh – The Getaway". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Chris de Burgh – The Getaway". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  12. ^ "Chris de Burgh Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  13. ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1983 - December 24, 1983" (PDF).
  14. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. 1983. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  15. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Chris de Burgh – The Getaway". Music Canada. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  16. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Chris de Burgh; 'The Getaway')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 5 April 2022.