Showing posts with label Chris Rea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chris Rea. Show all posts

Wednesday 17 February 2010

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)'

Saturday 13 February 2010

Loving you again - Chris Rea

Taken from the album 'Dancing with strangers', 'Loving you again' was released five years after another Chris Rea single 'Loving you'. Despite the similar title, the songs had very little in common and if nothing else it showed the progression of Chris Rea's music through these years: it had become a little harder edged.

'Loving you again' was a moderate success, peaking at number 47 in the UK singles chart, number 25 in Ireland and number 43 in Germany.

My collection: 7" single no. 803
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 21, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Loving you again' / 'Donahue's broken wheel'

Tuesday 2 February 2010

Fool (if you think it's over) - Chris Rea

Although I have a lot of singles by Chris Rea, I had a hard time locating a copy of his debut hit, 'Fool (if you think it's over)'. You can imagine my surprise when I found a UK copy of this single in this shop where I got all these singles for 10 cents each.

The single originally failed to chart in Rea's native UK. In the USA, the single peaked at number 12 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart in September 1978, while in the Dutch Top 40 it reached number 25. When re-released in the UK in October 1978, the single made it to number 30 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4508
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Fool (if you think it's over)' / 'Midnight love'

Wednesday 20 January 2010

Let's dance - Chris Rea

Chris Rea released his ninth studio album 'Dancing with strangers' in 1987. The single 'Let's dance' was taken from this album: a bouncy pop song about, well, dancing.

Released in June 1987, 'Let's dance' became Rea's biggest hit up to that point, reaching number 12 in the UK singles chart during a 10 week chart run.

My collection: 7" single no. 931
Found: July 6, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Let's dance' / 'I don't care anymore'

Wednesday 6 January 2010

On the beach - Chris Rea

This limited edition double single includes two live tracks recorded at Hammersmith Odeon in London on May 2, 1986. Rea had just completed his 'On the beach tour' when this single was released, the title track from his 1986 album 'On the beach'. The track was remixed for the single release.

While the single only reached number 57 in the UK singles chart, it was a bigger hit for Rea in the Netherlands, where it got to number 33 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2347
Found: June 26, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'On the beach (special remix)' / 'If anybody asks you' // 'One golden rule (live)' / 'Midnight blue (live)'

Wednesday 16 December 2009

Josephine - Chris Rea

Chris Rea wrote the song 'Josephine' for his daughter of the same name. It was included on his 1985 album 'Shamrock diaries'. (He would pay the same compliment to his youngest daughter Julia on the 1993 album 'Espresso logic'.)

In the UK, the single reached number 67, but in the Dutch Top 40 it peaked at number 3. Part of this popularity was caused by an appearance of Chris Rea in the Dutch weekly chart show 'Toppop'. It was the last edition presented by longtime presenter Ad Visser. While Rea was playing this rather serious song, confetti and balloons were flying through the studio. The artist was visibly surprised and bewildered.

My collection: 7" single no. 311
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Josephine' / 'Josephine (edit remix version)'

Monday 14 December 2009

I can hear your heart beat - Chris Rea

'Water sign' was released in 1983 as Chris Rea's fifth album. By that time, the record company showed so little interest in anything by him, that they wouldn't even give him the money to record the album professionally. What was actually released is a collection of demo versions, with a few overdubs. Hence the extensive use of electronic drum machines.

'I can hear your heart beat' was released as a single from the album. The single and the album were well received. Most people thought the 'new electronic sound' of Chris Rea was rather good. The single reached number 60 in the UK singles chart and number 28 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 974
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, August 29, 1989
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'I can hear your heart beat' / 'From love to love'

Thursday 10 December 2009

It's all gone - Chris Rea

'It's all gone' was the first single from Chris Rea's 1986 album 'On the beach'. The track was written by Chris Rea and produced by Rea with Dave Richards.

The single reached number 69 in the UK singles chart and number 14 in Ireland. In Europe, the single failed to chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 3070
Found: London, May 10, 1999
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'It's all gone' / 'Bless them all'

Thursday 26 November 2009

Stainsby girls - Chris Rea

Chris Rea wrote 'Stainsby girls' as a tribute for his wife Joan, a former student of the Stainsby Secondary Modern School. The single was taken from the album 'Shamrock diaries', released in 1985. The album was a number one hit in many European countries and Australia.

The single was Rea's first major hit in the UK, reaching number 26 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4245
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Stainsby girls' / 'And when she smiles'

Tuesday 24 November 2009

Que sera - Chris Rea

In 1988, Chris Rea released the album 'New light through old windows', an album of re-recordings of his own songs. Reportedly, Rea was dissatisfied with some of his earliest recordings, produced by Gus Dudgeon. There are rumours, however, that Rea wanted to dispense with royalties or contractual payments on the original recordings that would have been due under an agreement with his first manager John McCoy, with whom Rea had parted ways in the early Eighties.

'Que sera' predates this album by a couple of months. It is actually a re-recording of a track on his 1987 album 'Dancing with strangers'. Perhaps this re-recording was also a source of inspiration for 'New light through old windows'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4231
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Que sera' / 'Se sequi'

Wednesday 18 November 2009

Every beat of my heart - Chris Rea

The ballad 'Every beat of my heart' was taken from Chris Rea's self-titled album. The track was produced by Jon Kelly and Chris Rea and written by Chris Rea. The lyric of the song is quite sentimental.

The single was not a commercial success, as it didn't chart in any territory.

My collection: 7" single no. 1104
Found: All that music, Leiden, November 11, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Every beat of my heart' / 'Don't look back'

Sunday 15 November 2009

Loving you - Chris Rea

'Loving you' was released as the first single from Chris Rea's fourth album in 1982. The single was only a minor success, reaching number 65 in the UK singles chart and number 88 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

It's not one of Rea's best singles, overstretching his voice as he sings this song. But it's still a decent release.

My collection: 7" single no. 3095
Found: House of Rhythm, London, May 13, 1999
Cost: 80p
Tracks: 'Loving you' / 'Let me be the one'

Friday 7 August 2009

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

'I don't know what it is but I love it' was released as a single from Chris Rea's 1984 album 'Wired to the moon'. It only became a minor hit for Rea, reaching number 65 in the UK singles chart.

It was another Chris Rea single which I hadn't heard before, but because the man has made such a lot of great songs, I was confident that this single would be interesting too. And so it is.

My collection: 7" single no. 3943
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'I don't know what it is but I love it' / 'Mystery man'

Love's strange ways - Chris Rea

Back in 1999, I used a listing of Chris Rea's hit singles and my own 7" singles to compile a 'greatest hits' double cd of my own. With the aid of cd's from the public library, I had a chance to make something really complete, unlike commercial compilations. Listening to the 2 discs after I made them, I concluded that Rea has made some great music since his debut in 1978. But because this wasn't a hit, I missed 'Love's strange ways'.

The single was taken from Chris Rea's 1983 album 'Water sign', from which 'I can hear your heart beat' was taken. This single is a great track - and I only discovered it now.

My collection: 7" single no. 3939
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 10p
Tracks: 'Love's strange ways' / 'Smile'

Friday 1 May 2009

Winter song - Chris Rea

This EP features three songs that are ideal for the Winter season. But on dark evenings, I often play Chris Rea anyway, whatever season it is. 'Winter song' was released in November 1991, and reached number 27 in the UK singles chart. The EP also featured 'Tell me there's a heaven' (track not included here), which was a hit for Rea in February 1990.

I bought this single at the point I started to doubt the existance of 'Tell me there's a heaven' as a separate single release. I have no regrets though: 'Winter song' is a beautiful song in its own right.

My collection: 7" single no. 2164
Found: London, September 26, 1994
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Winter song' / 'Footprints in the snow', 'Tell me there's a heaven'

Monday 16 March 2009

Working on it - Chris Rea

While I'm generally not impressed with guitar heroes, I have to admit that Chris Rea has me rocking away from time to time. Some people may call his work too soft, but I find it generally very enjoyable. Which is why I snap up any Chris Rea record when it's cheap.

And that was the story for this 12" single: it appeared in a London shop for less than a pound and although I didn't know the track, I was certain enough that an extended version would be worthwhile. I was not disappointed: it's one of Chris Rea's rockier tracks, with a strong melody line. 'Working on it' was released in 1989 and reached number 53 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 12" single no. 417
Found: Record Exchange, London, 2002
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Working on it (extended)' / 'One golden rule'

Friday 27 February 2009

Tell me there's a heaven - Chris Rea

The whole concept of heaven and the afterlife is one of mindboggling stupidity. It supposes that you have to be miserable your whole damn life and then, when you're dead, suddenly everything turns into a warm, fuzzy, mellow state of constant happiness. This is especially ridiculous when you consider all the people dying of hunger, war, murder and environmental disasters.

Chris Rea once wrote this song about it: 'Tell me there's a heaven'. The song was released at a time when death and unhappiness were all around me. I thought the lyric of this song was highly appropriate for the cynicism I felt about the things that were going on, and I still think it's one of the best songs ever written - lyrically as well as musically.

My collection: 7" single no. 2264
Found: Record fair, April 8, 1995
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Tell me there's a heaven' / 'And when she smiles'


Saturday 21 February 2009

Nothing to fear - Chris Rea

I don't know for sure, but this might well be the longest single ever released. Chris Rea's 'Nothing to fear' clocks in at 9 minutes and 10 seconds: truly an epic song. It's this length that piqued my interest when I came across this single during a week in London in 1992. I listened to it on a listening post, and decided I liked it enough to buy it.

I'm glad I did: it's probably the best song of Chris Rea's career. Taken from his 1992 album 'God's great banana skin', it reached number 16 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1737
Found: Virgin Megastore, October 17, 1992
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Nothing to fear' / 'Nothing to fear (edit)', 'Strange dance'


Sunday 28 December 2008

Hello friend - Chris Rea

Chris Rea has made some beautiful music during the course of this 30 year career. Recently there have been rumours of him retreating from the music scene, but he is still at it. In 1986, he released the album 'On the beach', from which this single, 'Hello friend' was taken. 'Driving home for Christmas', which would be released as a single on its own in 1988, makes its first appearance here on the B-side of the single. But there was more: the copy I bought in London in 1994 featured a second single with two lengthy live tracks, recorded in Montreux.

In August 2008, it was reported that Rea had donated 25,000 pounds to the Conservative Party. Fortunately, he's got more knowledge about making music than he has about politics.

My collection: 7" single no. 2185
Found: London, September 28, 1994
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Hello friend' / 'Driving home for Christmas' // 'It's all gone (live)' / 'Steel river (live)'
Download: here
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Advertising