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Review Copyright (c) 2008, David Price
All rights reserved
Best Moves
Chris de Burgh
1981
A&M Records
I bought this album not long ago, I'd had Chris's Spark To A Flame compilation for quite a while, as well as many of his albums, but I'd never really had his earlier material compiled all in one place. So this was a very interesting album for me. Hearing all the story-songs was amazing, and in my mind I could clearly see the stories unfolding.
The Traveller
This song opens the album with a strong beat and delicate acoustic guitar. It tells the tale of a mysterious horseman, of whom little is known. It appears this traveller is seeking revenge of some sort. the music seems to have a slightly eerie feel to me, when it accompanies the story of this strange traveller.
Every Drop Of Rain
A song which was recorded specifically for this album. This song has a happy feel to it, it is about love and all the happiness that accompanies it. A pleasant little tune to lighten your mood. I especially like the piano, it sounds very delicate and beautiful, as if a musical interpretation of the lyrics - love is beautiful and delicate.
In A Country Churchyard
A story of love. A tender song which follows through a happy time when a woman and man are married, through to the church lying in ruins, and the storyteller reading the words on the "last remaining headstone". This is one of my favourite Chris De Burgh songs. The piano in this song plays the same tune all the way through, but its strange how at the start, it sounds happy, and at the end of the song the same music sounds sad.
Patricia The Stripper
Oh what a song! This one always makes me smile. It is a tale about.......well, a stripper called Patricia! and how she "removes all her clothing" and is "a sinner just to keep fat men thinner". The music is a little jazzy, which adds to the humourous story. Interestingly, this song was released on Chris's second LP, Spanish Train And Other Stories, and on the previous record, Far Beyond These Castle Walls, there is a song called Sin City, which seems to depict Chris acting out the role of a Pimp. Maybe this song is a sort of sequel to Sin City?
Satin Green Shutters
A soft story about love. It sounds a little forlorn at times, and tries to teach the listener that you should always tell that special person how you feel, and always appreciate them. "where your love is, put your heart" - this is the moral of the story.
Spanish Train
One of my all time favourite songs by ANY artist. An eerie number that sees God playing cards and chess with the Devil for the soul of a Railwayman and thousands of other people's souls. The Devil always cheats and wins, but the lord "is doing his best". The spoken lyrics help with the storytelling, more so than if they were sung, as it feels as though Chris is actually talking to us, rather than singing a song.
Waiting For The Hurricane
A quick paced song about people stranded by a Hurricane. This is another new song recorded especially for this album. For some reason it reminds me a little of Don't Pay The Ferryman, from The Getaway.
Broken Wings (live)
This sounds like the story of a man who has gone out to find a better life, but has found that really distant places are no better than where he was before, and some are worse, and he is calling his wife to "carry me home". A lovely tune, a classic Chris De Burgh ballad. This is a live version, but has been faithfully reproduced from its original version, but with more emotion, as with all of Chris's songs, when they are sung live, they have so much emotion and feeling, even more than the studio versions.
Lonely Sky
A ballad about love. It sounds very sad, but has a lot of emotion.
A Spaceman Came Travelling
This is Chris's interpretation of the traditional Christian Christmas story. "It hung in the sky like a star" referring to the Spaceman's vessel hovering overhead like the star that hung over the baby Jesus when he was born. A lovely song and a personal favourite. the music is majestic and is very soothing, especially after a stressful day.
Crusader
The last song on the album. It tells the story of Richard The Lionhearted battling Saladin for the holy lands. Either end of the song is a gentle intro and outro. In the middle there is a marching beat as Chris takes us away to Jerusalem to watch the battle. An amazing story, well told within this song. A classic.
There you have it, my thoughts and opinions on Best Moves.
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