CHRIS DE BURGH : MAN ON THE LINE

 

  1. The Ecstasy Of Flight (I Love The Night)
  2. Sight And Touch
  3. Taking It To The Top
  4. The Head And The Heart
  5. The Sound Of A Gun
  6. High On Emotion
  7. Much More Than This
  8. Man On The Line
  9. Moonlight And Vodka
  10. Transmission Ends

Label : A&M Records

Length : 41:04

Release Date : May 10, 1984

Review (AllMusic) : The pop/rock power pent up in "High on Emotion" established the fact that Chris de Burgh could be just as energetic as he could be romantic. Its explosive chorus followed by some dynamic electric guitar riffs highlighted 1984's Man on the Line, making a rocker out of the usually complacent balladeer. Following suit, only with a little less vigor, is the title track that sparks a little bit of dramatic anger in de Burgh's voice. He hasn't left his mellifluous candor behind completely, though, but his slower pieces do seem to be a tad more hearty. "Sound of a Gun" deals with a civilian's outlook of living in a war-torn country, which has de Burgh singing in whispers at one point. His trademarked romantic style is brought back to life on "Head and the Heart," a gorgeous love song presented in true de Burgh fashion. The majority of the songs on Man on the Line are made up of catchy pop tunes, rounded out by his debonair vocal approach. Each track brandishes an early-'80s keyboard feel, resilient and bright, and quite fitting for the album's period. Its appeal still remains, and even though it isn't one of his best efforts, it does provide evidence that de Burgh could escape his stereotypical trademark as a one-dimensional artist.

Review (Wikipedia) : Man on the Line is the seventh studio album by Chris de Burgh, released in 1984. It produced de Burgh's second UK hit single, "High on Emotion", which entered the chart on 12 May 1984 and peaked at number 44, the same position it reached on the US Billboard Hot 100. The album reached number 11 on the UK Albums Chart and remained on the chart for 24 weeks. In Germany and Switzerland, the album hit number one on the weekly charts and was the second-best-selling album of 1984 in both countries.