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Chris de Burgh - Notes From Planet Earth (The Ultimate Collection)


Foxy

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Chris de Burgh began his career in the 70's, with lots of acoustic tracks, deeply into story telling, with tracks such as 'Spanish Train', taken from his album 'Spanish Train and other stories', which in my opinion in his best album as it captures him at his finest moment.

This compilation album largely represents his career in the 80's and 90's. Mostly synthesized pop, this is very heavily produced. His first US hit 'Don't Pay The Ferryman' and another 'Ship To Shore' are very energetic and rock n roll-esque. 'Borderline' tells the story of a man leaving his loved one to serve his country, a very gut-wrenching emotional song close to my heart. Closely following is 'Say Goodbye To It All', the sequel to 'Borderline' which begins beautifully and tells the story of the couple meeting again and beginning their life together again. Of course the album would not be complete without 'A Spaceman Came Travelling' (no explanation needed) and his mega hit 'Lady In Red'. 'This Waiting Heart' is a song-a-long in the car song, as experienced many times with an old friend!

Many people diregard Chris de Burgh's work, and his largely seen as being very uncool, that given, he isn't the coolest chap to roam the Earth, but his talent appears to be endless with his songwriting skills. You must remember to listen to the song lyrics, or maybe read them before listening to the album, they have alot of meaning and can be truly heart wrenching as well as uplifting.

I wouldn't say this is his best compilation album, but it ain't half bad.

Notes From Planet Earth - The Ultimate Collection

Release Date: 2001

A & M/Mercury Records

Don’t pay The Ferryman – 3:50

Missing You – 4:03

Fatal hesitation – 4:14

Ship To Shore – 3:45

The lady In Red – 4:16

When I Think Of You – 3:25

Sailing away – 4:59

Two Sides To Every Story – 3:42

Tender Hands – 4:27

A Spaceman Came Travelling – 5:07

I Want it (And I Want It Now) 4:24

Patricia The Stripper – 4:03

Borderline – 4:33

Say Goodbye To It All – 5:03

Where peaceful waters Flow – 3:52

This Waiting Heart – 4:07

High On Emotion – 4:30

Total running time – 72:25 minutes

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I know alot of places banned 'Spanish Train', the story of the Lord and Satan meeting. I think it is a fantastic story.

Spanish Train

There's a Spanish train that runs between

Gualdalquivir and old Saville

And at dead of night the whistle blows

And people hear she's running still

And then they hush their children back to sleep

Lock the doors, upstairs they creep

For it is said that the souls of the dead

Fill that train ten thousand deep

Well a railway man lay dying with his people by his side

His family were crying, knelt in prayer before he died

But above his bed just a waiting for the dead

Was the Devil with a twinkle in his eye

"Well God's not around and look what I've found

This one's mine"

Just then the Lord himself

Appeared in a blinding flash of light

And shouted at the Devil

"Get thee hence to endless night"

But the Devil just grinned and said

"I may have sinned

But there's no need to push me around

I got him first so you can do your worst

He's going underground"

"But I think I'll give you one more chance"

Said the Devil with a smile

"So throw away that stupid lance

It's really not your style"

"Joker is the name

Poker is the game

We'll play right here on this bed

And then we'll bet for the biggest stakes yet

The souls of the dead"

And I said "Look out, Lord, He's going to win

The sun is down and the night is riding in

That train is dead on time, many souls are on the line

Oh Lord, He's going to win"

Well the railway man he cut the cards

And he dealt them each a hand of five

And for the Lord he was praying hard

Or that train he'd have to drive

Well the Devil he had three aces and a king

And the Lord, he was running for a straight

He had the queen and the knave

And nine and ten of spades

All he needed was the eight

And then the Lord he called for one more card

But he drew the diamond eight

And the Devil said to the son of God

"I believe you've got it straight

So deal me one for the time has come

To see who'll be the king of this place

But as he spoke, from beneath his cloak

He slipped another ace

Ten thousand souls was the opening bid

And it soon went up to fifty-nine

But the Lord didn't see what the Devil did

And he said "that suits me fine"

"I'll raise you high to a hundred and five

And forever put an end to your sins"

But the Devil let out a mighty shout, "My hand wins"

And I said "Lord, oh Lord, you let him win

The sun is down and the night is riding in

That train is dead on time, many souls are on the line

Oh Lord, don't let him win"

Well that Spanish train still runs between

Gualdalquivir and old Saville

And at the dead of night the whistle blows

And people fear she's running still

And far away in some recess

The Lord and the Devil are now playing chess

The Devil still cheats and wins more souls

And as for the Lord, well, he's just doing his best

And I said "Lord, oh Lord, you've got to win

The sun is down and the night is riding in

That train is still on time, Oh my soul is on the line

Oh Lord, you've got to win"

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