Customer Reviews
Lively - By: Nik Watt, 18 Mar 2008 
A lot of this album & the one he had just released, was sung at an "exclusive" night we enjoyedin Glasgow a couple of years' ago.
Pity we couldn't get him to sing Patricia The Stripper but hey-ho: a good night.
Terrific album from the master storyteller. - By: film fan, 13 May 2007 I've been listening to Chris De Burgh since I was 14 years old & I've been a huge fan since then too. I originally had this excellent album on LP until a couple of years ago when I decided to own it on cd. I really love the mixture he putsin on this album. Fusing the rockier elements with the power ballads works wonders.
The opening "Don't Pay The Ferryman" is a rousing & haunting track about a guy who hears voices telling him not to sell his soul to the devil. And the closing of the album is a trio of songs about the revolution. The songsin between are also great tracks especially the beautiful lament "Borderline" about a refugeein a war-torn country wanting to be with his sweetheart. This is Chris De Burgh on top form.
Rupert Hine, the keyboard player, uses an array of synthesizers & keyboards to great effect. Check out the sounds on "Crying And Laughing" of the aeroplane taking off & the footprints on the tarmac. An excellent album from a great storyteller.
Don't even fix a price - By: amboline, 13 Oct 2004 
The early 1980s saw Chris de Burghin a musical transition: away from the acoustic-led, folky sound of his early albums to a flirtation with electronica & rock. "The Getaway" was releasedin 1982, somewherein the mid-point of the transition, & benefits from both de Burgh's gifts as an epic storyteller & his ear for a powerful sound. It also, & perhaps less happily, contains the first hints of his flirtation with heart-on-sleeve love ballads, which were to lead to 1986's mega-selling "Ladyin Red" & his subsequent confinement to easy-listening purgatory.
Happily, the album opener (the eerie, thunderous "Don't Pay the Ferryman", also something new for de Burgh as it was his first single release) contains no such portents, instead captivating the listener instantly with a world of half-myth, all crashing keyboard & half-crazed vocals. This is de Burgh at his best. The next few tracks soften the mood without seeming self-conscious or slushy, &in many ways de Burgh reached his peak as a balladeer with "I'm Counting on You", a lullaby for his new-born baby daughter (who subsequently went on to become Miss World...) and, at the same time, a bittersweet rant about the state of the world.
The middle section of the album has more of a "pop" feel to it, with keyboard dominating. "The Getaway" manages to be a defiant protest song at the same time, but "Ship to Shore" is almost Stock/Aitken/Waterman. "Borderline" - the story of a refugee fleeing a country at war to be with his lover far away - is de Burgh at his tragic best, while "Where Peaceful Waters Flow" offers a prayer & a hope for something better. The theme of war is revisited for the epic song-cycle which closes the album - at times a nodin the direction of prog rock. Many of de Burgh's greatest songs are critiques of war; & while he may applaud the sentiments of the revolutionaries here, the picture of bleak devastation which closes the album clearly illustrates his belief (heard laterin songs such as "Last Night" & "The Simple Truth") that the end can never justify the means. A sombre note to end on, perhaps; but one which made de Burgh's mark on the 1980s as a unique songwriter with plenty to say.
An outstanding CD that sparks the entire range of emotions! - By: clemsonu88@aol.com, 13 Nov 2001 CDs that are multidimensional appeal to me the most, & THE GETAWAY is one of the best multidimensional CDs I've found. It has upbeat, exciting, & intriguing songs as well as soft, pleasant, peaceful songs; songs that conjure up images of war & danger & songs that bring forth emotions of peace & contentment.
"Don't Pay The Ferryman", "The Getaway", & "Ship To Shore" are exciting songs that get one's blood flowing, while "Living On The Island", & "Where Peaceful Waters Flow" are as pleasant & relaxing as can be. "I'm Counting On You", "Borderline", & "Crying And Laughing" make one ponder difficult & heart-wrentching situations.
He wraps up the CD with a wonderful Trilogy ("The Revolution", "Light A Fire", & "Liberty") that shows the hardship & glory a revolution brings.
This CD is spectacular (as most of his CDs are)! Simply put itin your CD player, sit back, close your eyes, & you'll be anywhere from a peaceful island to a life threatening revolution. He is masterful at developing images with his words & music. I first heard this CD nearly 15 years ago but believe it is timelessin it's content & quality.
Contains some of my favourite Chris De Burgh tracks - By: , 25 May 2001 I've been listening to Chris De Burgh for about 15 years now, & Don't Pay The Ferryman is still one of my all time favourite tracks. When you then combine that with softer ballads like Borderline & I'm Counting On You, the power of Getaway & add on the end the trio Revolution, Light A Fire & Liberty, it all adds up to an excellent album. If you like his 1980's style then this album is well worth adding to your collection.
