Into the Light (Chris de Burgh album)

Into the Light is the eighth studio album by British-Irish singer Chris de Burgh, released in May 1986 by A&M Records. The album is notable for featuring de Burgh's biggest hit, "The Lady in Red".

Into the Light
Studio album by
Released27 May 1986[1]
StudioMarcus Recording Studios, London and The Manor, Oxford
GenrePop rock
Length50:24
LabelA&M
ProducerPaul Hardiman
Chris de Burgh chronology
The Very Best of Chris de Burgh
(1984)
Into the Light
(1986)
Flying Colours
(1988)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]

Release edit

Following the success of its lead single "The Lady in Red", which topped the UK Singles Chart and reached number three in the United States, the album peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart, becoming de Burgh's first studio album to enter the top ten.[3] "Fatal Hesitation" was a UK number 44 hit, spending four weeks on the chart.

"Say Goodbye to It All" was a continuation of the song "Borderline" from 1982's The Getaway. Both songs frequently appear in de Burgh's concerts and compilation albums. The song "For Rosanna" is dedicated to de Burgh's then two-year-old daughter Rosanna.

Critical reception edit

Dennis Hunt of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "There's really nothing else as schmaltzy as 'The Lady in Red' on his album [... ] Into the Light includes some gutsy, fairly absorbing pop-rock — some not what you'd expect from 'the Irish Barry Manilow.'"[4]

Track listing edit

All songs written by Chris de Burgh.

No.TitleLength
1."Last Night"6:07
2."Fire on the Water"4:28
3."The Ballroom of Romance"4:26
4."The Lady in Red"4:16
5."Say Goodbye to It All"5:23
6."The Spirit of Man"4:40
7."Fatal Hesitation"4:16
8."One Word (Straight to the Heart)"4:30
9."For Rosanna"3:39
10."The Leader"2:16
11."The Vision"3:13
12."What About Me?"3:03
Total length:50:24

Personnel edit

Production edit

  • Produced, engineered and mixed by Paul Hardiman
  • Assistant engineers – Dick Beetham and Steve Chase
  • Art direction and design – Mike Ross and John Warwicker
  • Art dictator – Dave Margereson
  • Photography – Richard Haughton
  • Cover painting – Mike Doud
  • Management – Dave Margereson and Kenny Thomson for Mismanagement, Inc.

Charts edit

Certifications edit

Certifications for Into the Light
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[19] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[20] 2× Platinum 200,000^
Germany (BVMI)[21] 2× Platinum 1,000,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[22] Gold 7,500^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[23] Platinum 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] 2× Platinum 600,000^
United States (RIAA)[25] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References edit

  1. ^ "BPI".
  2. ^ Into the Light at AllMusic
  3. ^ David Roberts. British Hit Singles & Albums. Guinness World Records Limited
  4. ^ Hunt, Dennis (7 June 1987). "'Lady in Red' may be his ticket to U.S. stardom". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Chris de Burgh – Into the Light" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Chris de Burgh – Into the Light" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Chris de Burgh – Into the Light" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  8. ^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week {{{week}}}, {{{year}}}". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Charts.nz – Chris de Burgh – Into the Light". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Chris de Burgh – Into the Light". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Chris de Burgh – Into the Light". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Chris de Burgh – Into the Light". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Chris de Burgh | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  14. ^ "Chris de Burgh Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  15. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1986". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  16. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  17. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1986". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  19. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mount Martha, Melbourne, Victoria: Moonlight Publishing.
  20. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Chris De Burgh – Into The Light". Music Canada. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  21. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Chris De Burgh; 'Into The Light')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  22. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Chris De Burgh – Into The Light". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  23. ^ "Into The Picture" (PDF). Music and Media. worldradiohistory.com. 8 November 1986. p. 7. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  24. ^ "British album certifications – Chris De Burgh – Into The Light". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  25. ^ "American album certifications – Chris De Burgh – Into The Light". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 25 August 2020.