LONDON, UK (Top40 Charts/ U.M.T.V.) - Chris de Burgh's 17th studio album 'Footsteps' will be released in the UK by Universal
Music on 6th April 2009.
Having already sold over 45 million albums worldwide, 'Footsteps' is his first ever collection of covers and also features 2 brand new tracks.
The 13 'covers' on 'Footsteps' represent a personal and candid appraisal by Chris of songs which have influenced and affected the way he has crafted his musical imprint. Chris selected the songs by applying three critical principles: he had to love them, have sung them many times before - and, perhaps most relevantly, they had to have inspired him.
'Listening to the great songwriters was the inspiration for me to try and become a good songwriter myself,' he says. 'I'm talking about the likes of Lennon & McCartney and Bob Dylan; people as good as that just don't seem to exist any more. I learned my trade, my craft, almost at the feet of the Great Masters. And that is my musical journey. Those songs are my footsteps.'
Two new pieces, 'First Steps' and 'Footsteps', explain in greater depth his musical journey, his dreams and aspirations, and his sense of achievement from hopeful beginnings to the success of today.
Chris says the process of short-listing the songs for inclusion on the album was an involved one. 'There were hundreds and hundreds of titles, which all got narrowed down to the ones I recorded. They are all, in my opinion, great songs - and each one has a resonance with me for a very particular reason.
'When I was growing up in my father's castle/hotel, I would sing a lot of these songs, to the guests including 'The Long And Winding Road', 'Sealed With A Kiss', 'Where Have All The Flowes Gone?', 'All Along The Watchtower'... and 'American Pie'.
'Corinna, Corinna' is a song I frequently sing at my soundcheck, as is 'The Last Thing On My Mind'. 'Polly Von', the song by Peter, Paul and Mary, is one that, probably, gave me some indications about writing story songs. 'Spanish Train', 'The Tower'...many of those songs from my early days owe something to 'Polly Von'.'
'I like to wear a song like I'm wearing a coat and wanted to fit into each one of these songs,' Chris explains, 'and a lot of them are singer's songs - they really stretch the singer - but we made the album very quickly. It was all recorded live in the studio, with me singing together with the orchestra or the band. It took us eight days - and that's including all of the vocals and all of the backing vocals. All in all, it was a real pleasure, a complete thrill.'
Track Listings:
(Information subject to change.)
First Steps *
Turn, Turn, Turn
The Long And Winding Road
Africa
Without You
Where Have All The Flowers Gone?
Sealed With A Kiss
Blackbird
We Can Work It Out
All Along The Watchtower
Corrina Corrina
Rhythm Of The Rain / Crying In The Rain **
Polly Von
American Pie
The Last Thing On My Mind
Footsteps *
* Brand New Original Track /
** Bonus track for UK release (never before released)
Chris's hordes of fans will be pleased to know that he will be performing 6 UK dates this year, as follows.
Chris de Burgh April/May 2009 UK tour dates:
(Dates and information subject to change.)
Mon 27 Apr Liverpool Philharmonic 47.50 (boxes)/0151 709 3789 42.50/37.50 cc 0151 256 5555
Tue 28 Apr Manchester Bridgewater Hall 45.00/40.00/0161 907 9000 35.00 cc 0161 832 1111
Wed 30 Apr Gateshead Sage 42.50/37.50 0191 443 4661
Sat 2 May Birmingham Symphony Hall 45.00/40.00/0121 780 3333
Sun 3 May Birmingham Symphony Hall 35.00
Tue 5 May London Royal Albert Hall 50.00 (boxes)/45.00 020 7589 8212 40.00/37.50/30.00 cc 020 7434 2222
Wed 6 May Bournemouth BIC 42.50/37.50 0844 576 3000
National Credit Card Hotline 0871 424 4444. Or book online at www.ticketline.co.uk.
