Spark to a Flame: The Very Best of Chris de Burgh

Spark to a Flame: The Very Best of Chris de Burgh
Spark to a Flame: The Very Best of Chris de Burgh
Greatest hits album by Chris de Burgh
Released	24 October 1989
Recorded	Ramport and Scorpio Studios
Genre	Rock
Length	67:58 (68:38 German)
Label	A&M
Producer	Chris de Burgh, Rupert Hine, Roy Thomas Baker, Robin Geoffrey Cable, Paul Hardiman and others
Chris de Burgh chronology

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	link

Spark to a Flame: The Very Best of Chris de Burgh is the third compilation album by Chris de Burgh, released by A&M Records in 1989. The album was released largely to capitalise on the resurgence of de Burgh's career after the smash hit of The Lady in Red three years earlier. As a result, most of the tracks are drawn from his 1980s albums The Getaway, Man on the Line, Into The Light and Flying Colours. Only "Spanish Train," and "A Spaceman Came Travelling" come from de Burgh's early output from the 1970s.

Also notable is the pairing of the songs "Borderline" and "Say Goodbye To It All" – originally from two different albums, which tell a story arc of a conscientious objector fleeing to be with his lover.

Track listing

All songs written by Chris de Burgh.

UK release

"This Waiting Heart" (previously unreleased) – 4:08
"Don't Pay the Ferryman" – 3:24
"Much More Than This" – 2:55
"Sailing Away" – 4:58
"The Lady in Red" – 4:17
"Borderline" – 4:33
"Say Goodbye to It All" – 5:04
"Spanish Train" – 4:47
"Ship to Shore" – 3:47
"Missing You" – 4:06
”Fatal Hesitation“ – 4:14
"Diamond in the Dark" (previously unreleased) – 3:29
"Tender Hands" – 4:28
"A Spaceman Came Travelling" * – 5:10
"Where Peaceful Waters Flow" – 3:53
"High on Emotion" – 4:24

US/Canada release

"This Waiting Heart" (previously unreleased) – 4:08
"Don't Pay the Ferryman" – 3:24
"Much More Than This" – 2:55
"Sailing Away" – 4:58
"The Lady in Red" – 4:17
"Borderline" – 4:33
"Say Goodbye to It All" – 5:04
"Spanish Train" – 4:47
"Patricia the Stripper" – 3:30
"Ship to Shore" – 3:47
"Missing You" – 4:06
"Diamond in the Dark" (previously unreleased) – 3:29
"Tender Hands" – 4:28
"A Spaceman Came Travelling" – 5:10
"Where Peaceful Waters Flow" – 3:53
"High on Emotion" – 4:24

West German/Australasian release

"This Waiting Heart" (previously unreleased) – 4:08
"Don't Pay the Ferryman" – 3:24
"Fire on the Water" – 4:28
"Sailing Away" – 4:58
"The Lady in Red" – 4:17
"Borderline" – 4:33
"Say Goodbye to It All" – 5:04
"One Word (Straight to the Heart)" – 4:16
"A Spaceman Came Travelling" – 5:10
"Ship to Shore" – 3:47
"Missing You" – 4:06
"Diamond in the Dark" (previously unreleased) – 3:29
"Tender Hands" – 4:28
"The Getaway" – 3:52
"Where Peaceful Waters Flow" – 3:53
"High on Emotion" – 4:24

The album features the remixed version of A Spaceman Came Travelling with a re-rerecorded vocal track, it is subsequently titled A Spaceman Came Travelling '89 on later compilations.^[which?]

Charts

Chart (1989)	Peak position
UK Albums Chart	4

Sales and certifications

Certifications for *Spark to a Flame: The Very Best of Chris de Burgh*
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)^[1]	Gold	25,000^*
Canada (Music Canada)^[2]	Gold	50,000^{^}
Germany (BVMI)^[3]	Platinum	500,000^{^}
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)^[4]	Platinum	50,000^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[5]	2× Platinum	600,000^{^}
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.