Far Beyond These Castle Walls Explained

Far Beyond These Castle Walls
Type:	Album
Artist:	Chris de Burgh
Cover:	Front cover for Far Beyond These Castle Walls (Chris de Burgh album).jpg
Released:	1974
Genre:	Rock
Length:	44:26
Label:	A&M
Producer:	Robin Geoffrey Cable
Next Title:	Spanish Train and Other Stories
Next Year:	1975

Far Beyond These Castle Walls is the first album by Chris de Burgh, released by A&M Records in 1974. The title refers to Bargy Castle, which is shown on the back of the album cover.

Reception

Billboard in its review of 29 March 1975 considered the album's "sophisticated lyrics and production are good for college market" and expressed a hope that A&M Records will found "another deserving artist" in face of Chris De Burg.^[1] Mike DeGagne of AllMusic retrospectively praised the album, saying: "His gentle, beguiling vocal style is introduced, which instantly trademarks him as a genuine master of the soft ballad... What is most important about this album is the manner in which it reveals de Burgh as one of the finest mood-invoking artists ever."

Track listing

All compositions by Chris de Burgh

1. "Hold On" – 4:03
2. "The Key" – 4:08
3. "Windy Night" – 4:53
4. "Sin City" – 4:35
5. "New Moon" – 4:59
6. "Watching the World" – 3:32
7. "Lonesome Cowboy" – 4:23
8. "Satin Green Shutters" – 5:02
9. "Turning Round", released outside the UK and Ireland as "Flying" – 6:24
10. "Goodnight" – 2:07

Musicians

• Chris de Burgh – vocals, acoustic guitars, additional synthesizers
• Ronnie Leahy – keyboards
• Ken Freeman – string synthesizer
• Phillip Goodhand-Tait – harmonium
• Ray Glynn – electric guitars
• B.J. Cole – pedal steel guitar
• Ray Jackson – harmonica, mandolin
• Brian Odgers – bass guitar
• Chris Laurence – double bass
• Barry De Souza – drums
• Lennox Laington – percussion
• Del Newman – arrangements (1, 8)
• Richard Hewson – arrangements (2, 9)
• Chris Hughes – brass arrangements
• Madeleine Bell – backing vocals
• Liza Strike – backing vocals
• Joy Yates – backing vocals

Production

• Produced and Engineered by Robin Geoffrey Cable
• Assistant Engineers – Mark Dodson and Mike Stavrou
• Recorded at Ramport Studios and AIR Studios (London, UK).
• Mixed at AIR Studios and Trident Studios (London, UK).
• Art Direction – Fabio Nicoli
• Design – Nick Marshall
• Photography – Dave Morse

Notes and References

1. Review: Chris De Burg – Far Beyond These Castle Walls. Billboard. 29 March 1975. 87. 13. 48. New York. Billboard Publications Inc.. 25 August 2022. World Radio History. 0006-2510. https://web.archive.org/web/20220408000631/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1975/Billboard%201975-03-29.pdf. 8 April 2022.