{{for|the song by [[Styx (band)|Styx]]|The Grand Illusion}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox album | name = 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 | alt = | released = 1974 | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = [[Rock music|Rock]] | length = 44:26 | label = [[A&M Records|A&M]] | producer = Robin Geoffrey Cable | prev_title = | prev_year = | 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== {{Music ratings | rev1 = [[AllMusic]] | rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web | url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/far-beyond-these-castle-walls-mw0000373485 | title= Far Beyond These Castle Walls | website=AllMusic | first=Mike | last=DeGagne | accessdate=10 August 2014}}</ref> }} ''[[Billboard (magazine)|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 Burgh.<ref name="bboardreview">{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1975/Billboard%201975-03-29.pdf|title=Review: Chris De Burgh– ''Far Beyond These Castle Walls''|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=29 March 1975|volume=87|number=13|page=48|location=New York|publisher=Billboard Publications Inc.|access-date=25 August 2022|via=World Radio History|issn=0006-2510|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408000631/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1975/Billboard%201975-03-29.pdf|archive-date=8 April 2022}}</ref> 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."<ref name="AllMusic"/>
==Track listing== All compositions by [[Chris de Burgh]].
#"Hold On" – 4:03 #"The Key" – 4:08 #"Windy Night" – 4:53 #"Sin City" – 4:35 #"New Moon" – 4:59 #"Watching the World" – 3:32 #"Lonesome Cowboy" – 4:23 #"Satin Green Shutters" – 5:02 #"Turning Round", released outside the UK and Ireland as "Flying" – 6:24 #"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 (musician)|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 == {{reflist}}
{{Chris de Burgh}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Chris de Burgh albums]] [[Category:1974 debut albums]] [[Category:A&M Records albums]] [[Category:Albums recorded at Trident Studios]] [[Category:Albums recorded at AIR Studios]]