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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I first heard the strains of this incredible collection of songs 18 years ago through the wall while a neighbour played it every night for a week. There was something very special about the melodies that floated through the brickwork, and it was only months later that a friend played a cassette of the album that I said, "Who IS that?" Chris de Burgh's name was new to me, but the next day I went and bought the album (vinyl LP!). I now have it in CD quality of course, and each song (except possibly "The Painter") still makes the hairs on the back of my head stand. Chris paints a story-board in your imagination with the virtuosity of a musical Picasso. His more recent material is good alright, but this album, with its beautiful melodies, is in a different league. I wish Chris would do a tour which focussed on the less heard tracks on this album, along with those on 'Crusdaer', 'End of a perfect day' and 'Castle Walls'. "Spanish Train" is a wonderful, wonderful album. If you like good stories put to lovely music and sung with feeling, you'll know what these reviews are trying to say. But it and see for yourself.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It's time the reputation of Chris de Burgh had a bit of rehabilitation. In the days before "The Lady in Red" and its bundle of insipid follow-ups, Chris de Burgh was a songwriter with flair and originality. A modern-day descendant of the travelling minstrels of yesteryear, de Burgh perfected the art of storytelling in song, finding equal inspiration from the Celtic tradition and the era of flower power when being a folk singer was something to be proud of. "Spanish Train and Other Stories" was de Burgh's second album, and certainly his creative peak.
The title track opens quietly but rapidly reaches a demented crescendo with a crazy story of God and the Devil playing poker for souls. From here, the album meanders, erratically but with great charm, through some of his best tragic ballads ("Lonely Sky"), understated protest songs ("This Song for You") and drinking choruses ("Going Home" and "Patricia the Stripper"). Religious imagery abounds but from a refreshingly leftfield perspective, re-casting the Nativity angel as a visiting alien in the classic "A Spaceman Came Travelling" and re-telling the story of Jesus as a modern political agitator in the simply gorgeous "Just Another Poor Boy". "The Painter" is a half-crazed murder ballad which leaves you wondering just who was the victim and who the killer, while "The Tower" takes an enchanting step backwards into Celtic mythology to spin a breathtaking fairytale with a modern ecological message - a theme which de Burgh was to follow up in later acoustic albums such as "Crusader".
There's a naive kind of daring about many of these songs. "Patricia" was one of my personal favourites on the sixth-form stereo in years gone by, and the religious imagery of "Spanish Train" and "Spaceman" must certainly have shocked in its day. But mostly these are just beautifully told stories with the catchiest tunes; even if their style has dated, the songs are as memorable as ever. This is one of the classic albums of the post-hippie era. Miss it at your peril.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
What a shame that CdB ever had to discover the commercial success of stuff like Lady in Red, because if that is what you know of CdB you are in for a shock - but a good one! This album is what songwriting should be about - full of energy, soul and pictures. Yes "pictures" - you see the songs in your head such are the pictures he paints - good link to The Painter which is probably my favourite track on the album. Buy it and Enjoy.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Are you sitting comfortably?
I'm going to write another Chris De Burgh review as people seem to like them more than any others I write. Read more
Published 5 months ago by lerusty
Excellent.
My purchase of this CD proved to be excellent. I'd recommend this agency to anyone.
The CD case was a little tatty, but the disc was in superb condition.
The CD case was a little tatty, but the disc was in superb condition.
Published 6 months ago by shewolf56
need the product to review it.
My wife asked me literally 2 minutes ago if I liked the CD from England and I answered,I haven't gotten it yet. then I open my pc and see an e-mail re the CD. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Sonja G. Andrashko
Spanish Train and Other Stories
Chris de Burgh has always been known, to his fans, for writing great songs with a story woven into them and this album offers up ten tracks specifically highlighted for the stories... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Spider Monkey
For fans only...
This album clearly lies within the mainstream 1970's singer-songwriter genre, but the standard of the material presented falls far short. Read more
Published 22 months ago by G. M. Johnson
His best album
A truly 5 star album. It was his second circa 1976/77. He hasn't touched this quality since unfortunately. Read more
Published on 16 Dec 2009 by Andy O'Boogie
Low Vol.
Item as described - Perfect. Easy to download but once again as with other music downloads from Amazon the Vol is the problem ( it may be MY end but.. Read more
Published on 1 Feb 2009 by C. I. Rowley
Before he entered Wimpdom
Such a shame that CdB allowed his songwriting skills to become formulaic, watered-down wimpishness. As if 'Lady in Red' wasn't bad enough (it was surely worse), he wrote and... Read more
Published on 13 Dec 2004 by Alan Sturgess
Er...yes, I do own a Chris de Burgh album
It's not something you readily admit to these days, owning an album by Chris de Burgh. It was Lady in Red that did it - that loathsome song has a lot to answer for. Read more
Published on 6 Dec 2003 by Andy Millward
Pure artistry
My second review of a C De B album and again it is just so brilliant. Patricia the stripper shows Chris full of humour along with songs such as a spaceman came travelling which... Read more
Published on 22 Jun 2001 by jspowart@aol.com
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