Bombollini - Chris Rea

Released as the first single from Chris Rea's 1984 album 'Wired to the moon', 'Bombollini' was a bit of an eccentric choice. Clocking in at 6 minutes and 10 seconds, the track bares some resemblance to his later hit single Nothing to fear (1991).

Almost unsurprisingly, 'Bombollini' didn't become a hit, just like the other two singles from the album. Still, this single is worth a spin or two, because it shows the craftmanship of Chris Rea like no other single from that point in time in his career. Great melody lines and skillful guitar solos, that's the way we like it.

My collection: 7" single no. 5655
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 23, 2014
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Bombollini' / 'True love'

God's great banana skin - Chris Rea

Chris Rea released a stream of singles during his career that weren't always successful in the charts. Many of his single releases did not chart at all or scraped into the lower reaches - under the top 40 that is.

'God's great banana skin' the title track of his 1993 album, was reasonably successful, as it reached number 31 in the UK singles chart. It repeats that old mantra: 'Don't you ever think no-one's better than you'. It's a thought many people I know should get into their heads.

My collection: 7" single no. 5462
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'God's great banana skin' / 'I saw you coming'

Ace of hearts - Chris Rea

'Ace of hearts' was the fourth single taken from Chris Rea's 1984 album 'Wired to the moon'. In the UK, it was the title track of a mini album featuring five tracks. This German single features just two of them: 'Ace of hearts' and 'True love'.

The single did not become a hit in Germany. In the UK, it reached number 79 in 1984, and a reissue reached number 78 a year later.

My collection: 7" single no. 5291
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received February 1, 2012
Cost: 1,5 euro
Tracks: 'Ace of hearts (special remix)' / 'True love'

Diamonds - Chris Rea

'Diamonds', a single from Chris Rea's 1979 album 'Deltics', sounded a bit crude, not at all like the polished songs he would release during much of the Eighties. Still, it didn't totally put off the record-buying public: the single reached number 44 in the UK singles chart.

One other single was released from the album: 'Raincoat and a rose'. That single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5189
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received July 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Diamonds' / 'Cleveland calling'

Let it loose - Chris Rea

'Let it loose' was recorded by Chris Rea for the soundtrack of the movie 'Cross country'. The track also appeared on his 1983 album 'Water sign'.

Released as a single in February 1983, it only reached number 85 in the UK singles chart. At the time, the record company was barely interested in working with Rea, to a point that his album 'Water sign' was basically a collection of demos.

My collection: 7" single no. 5172
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Let it loose' / 'Urban samurai'

Wired to the moon - Chris Rea

Chris Rea released his sixth album 'Wired to the moon' in 1984, keeping up his 'one album per year' tempo without any problem, it seemed. A whopping five singles were drawn from the album, although only the first one, 'I don't know what it is but I love it', reached the UK singles chart.

The title track was the fifth single, and like the previous three, it didn't chart. All this despite the fact that it's actually a lovely sort of lullaby.

My collection: 7" single no. 5171
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Wired to the moon' / 'True love'

Tennis - Chris Rea

'Tennis' was Chris Rea's third album, released in 1980. The title track was released as a single ahead of the album in March 1980. The single went by without troubling the charts in any territory.

The album wasn't much more successful: it reached number 60 in the UK albums chart - and that was all.

My collection: 7" single no. 5170
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Tennis' / 'If you really love me'

I can hear your heartbeat - Chris Rea

On his album 'New light through old windows' (1988) Chris Rea re-recorded the tracks that made him famous in the Eighties. They were not always better versions, but I guess the man felt the need to do these songs once again.

The album spawned three singles, of which 'I can hear your heartbeat' was the last one. It was the least successful one, too: it only reached number 74 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5081
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I can hear your heartbeat' / 'Loving you again (live version)'

Spirit of the forest - Spirit of the forest

After Band Aid, Dance Aid, Ferry Aid and USA for Africa, the Gentlemen without weapons figured they had something to add to the growing amount of charity singles: a rainforest appeal. Together with the animal and rainforest noises which they'd already used for an album, they rounded up lots of famous artists to record 'Spirit of the forest'.

Somehow, the idea didn't quite work. The song sounded a bit naff and people were apparently not so concerned about the destruction of the rain forest as they were about starving children in Africa. The single was a commercial failure, but fans of Afrika Bambaataa, Jon Anderson, B52's, Michael de Barre, Big Country and the few dozen other artists mentioned on the sleeve of this single had another collector's item to get their hands on.

My collection: 7" single no. 900
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, June 23, 1989
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Spirit of the forest' / 'Spirit of the forest'

Touché d'amour - Chris Rea

The third single from Chris Rea's 1984 album 'Wired to the moon' was 'Touché d'amour'. Somewhat surprisingly, it was a reggae-oriented track.

The single reached number 86 in the UK singles chart and number 46 in Germany. In other territories, this single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4798
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Touché d'amour (special remix)' / 'Touché d'amour (instrumental)'

Whatever happened to Benny Santini? - Chris Rea

When Chris Rea signed his first record deal with Magnet Records in 1978, they suggested he use the stage name Benny Santini. He refused, but it did inspire him to write the song 'Whatever happened to Benny Santini?'. What's more, his debut album was named after this song.

And the song in turn was released as the second single from the album. Although this single flopped all over Europe, it did manage to reach number 71 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Even more remarkable: only 'Fool (if you think it's over)' (1978) and 'Diamonds' (1979) were bigger single hits for Rea in the USA.

My collection: 7" single no. 4794
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Whatever happened to Benny Santini?' / 'Three angels'

Working on it - Chris Rea

'Working on it' is another one of those catchy rock tunes by Chris Rea that sticks in your head once you've heard it. It was released in 1989 when his compilation album 'New light through old windows' had just seen the light of day. This compilation featured new versions of Chris Rea hits.

This single was only a minor hit, reaching number 53 in the UK singles chart and number 73 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2486
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 30, 1995
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'Working on it' / 'One golden rule'

I don't know what it is but I love it - Chris Rea

Released as the first single from his 1984 album 'Wired to the moon', Chris Rea was unable to get chart success with 'I don't know what it is but I love it'.

The single only managed to reach number 65 in the UK singles chart during a two week chart run. All this despite a rather interesting B-side track that wasn't included on the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 4683
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I don't know what it is but I love it' / 'Mystery man'

That's what they always say - Chris Rea

'That's what they always say' was the second single taken from Chris Rea's 1989 album 'The road to hell'. The track was remixed for the single release, but it didn't help much: the single didn't chart in any territory.

I knew the album 'Road to hell' when it came out, and I didn't think this was the best track to release as a single. There are some standout tracks on the album, but this one wasn't one of them...

My collection: 7" single no. 4682
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'That's what they always say (remix)' / '1975'

All summer long - Chris Rea

'All summer long' was released as a single from Chris Rea's commercially and critically acclaimed album 'Shamrock Diaries' (1985). The album reached number one in several countries including Germany and The Netherlands.

While this single did not reach the UK singles chart, it did reach number 35 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4681
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'All summer long' / 'Dancing shoes'

Heaven - Chris Rea

'Heaven' was the second single from Chris Rea's 1990 album 'Auberge', released in early 1991. After the UK top 20 hit 'Auberge', 'Heaven' was a relative disappointment, peaking at number 57 in the UK singles chart.

The B-side is a beautiful instrumental track, not included on the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 4573
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, February 26, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Heaven' / 'Theme from the Pantile Journals'

Auberge - Chris Rea

The title track of Chris Rea's 1991 album 'Auberge' was released as a single in early 1991. The album as well as the title song was mostly notable for the association of the Caterham Super Seven that Chris Rea owned, in which he called it the 'Blue Seven'. That car appeared on the album cover, illustrated in oil by renowned motoring artist Alan Fearnley.

'Auberge' was a number 1 album in the UK in 1990. The single also gave Rea one of his biggest hits, reaching number 16 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4572
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, February 26, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Auberge' / 'Hudson's dream'

The road to hell (part 2) - Chris Rea

Chris Rea's 'The road to hell' was written about the frustrations of driving on the M25 during rush hour. It's strange how such a boring subject can lead to such a great song. It was the title track of his 1989 album, which featured two parts of the track.

Part 2 was released as a single. The single reached number 10 in the UK singles chart. In 2009, the song inspired the title of a crime novel by northeast author Sheila Quigley, 'The road to hell', the fifth book in the Seahills series of novels.

My collection: 7" single no. 4580
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, February 26, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'The road to hell (part 2)' / 'He should know better'

Looking for the summer - Chris Rea

'Looking for the summer' was a track on Chris Rea's 1990 album 'Auberge'. The album reached number 1 in the UK albums chart, however the three singles taken from the album wouldn't meet a similar fate in the singles chart.

The single version of 'Looking for the summer' was a remix, shorter and faster than the album version. It reached number 49 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1511
Found: August 17, 1991
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Looking for the summer' / 'Six up'

Texas - Chris Rea

'Texas' was released as the third single from Chris Rea's 1990 album 'The road to hell'. The lyric tells of two people who are tired of the situation around them and are discussing moving to the American state of Texas. As often with Chris Rea, it's hard to tell whether this is a serious lyric or one to be interpreted as tongue-in-cheek.

The single only reached the UK singles chart for one week, at number 69. It has been played on radio stations in Texas, and is sometimes played as background music before Texas Rangers baseball games at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

My collection: 7" single no. 1250
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, June 21, 1990
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Texas' / 'Let's dance (live)'