Chris Rea

Christopher Anton Rea (born 4 March, 1951) is a successful English singer-songwriter, from Middlesbrough.

Biography

European breakthrough

Rea began to focus his attention on continental Europe, releasing eight albums in the 1980s. It wasn't until 1985's 'Shamrock Diaries' and the songs 'Stainsby Girls' and 'Josephine', that UK audiences began to take notice of him. Follow up albums 'On The Beach' and 'Dancing With Strangers' became big UK hits before the New Light Through Old Windows compilation album in 1988 brought Rea great success, cementing his reputation as one of the UK's finest singer-songwriters. His next full album was to be his major breakthrough. 'The Road to Hell' [1989] enjoyed massive success and became his first number one album in the UK. These successes could not be mirrored in the U.S., however, where it failed to chart. The follow-up album, Auberge, also enjoyed massive European success, reaching the top spot in the UK.

After Auberge

After 'Auberge' Chris Rea released 'God's Great Banana Skin' which managed to reach Number 4 in the UK. The album returned Rea to the rockier sound of 'Road To Hell' and the single 'Nothing To Fear' gave him another Top 20 hit. A year later 'Espresso Logic' hit the Top 10 and 'Julia', written about his second daughter, gave him his 11th Top 40. A period of ill health meant his next album did not appear until 1998. Despite no singles being released and little promotion, 'The Blue Cafe' still made the UK Top 10. However it proved to be Rea's last. In 1999, 10 years after 'Road To Hell' Rea released 'Road To Hell' Part 2. Many felt Rea had begun to lose his way, the album received no promotion and as a result never made the Top 40. However it didn't get Rea down and in 2000 he released 'King Of The Beach', receiving critical praise and a healthy Top 30 placing.

In 2000 a remix of Rea's 1986 On The Beach single by York was released and enjoyed moderate dancefloor success!

Fighting cancer and back to the blues

Following a severe bout of cancer, and a predicted 50% chance of survival after an operation, Rea promised himself that if he recovered, he would be returning to his blues roots. This is what he did in 2002, releasing the album Dancing Down The Stony Road following recording sessions in France and the UK. (An abridged version of the album was later released with the title Stony Road.) The album was followed by a DVD of the same name, comprising a "Making Of" documentary and footage from a concert in Cologne. Rea set up his own JazzeeBlue label in 2003 to free himself from the pressure of record companies and their expectations. Since then he has released the blues albums Blue Street (Five Guitars) (an instrumental jazz-blues album) and the recently released The Blue Jukebox (another jazz-blues influenced album released to critical acclaim). He has recently worked with David Knopfler for two albums, Wishbones (2001) and Ship of Dreams (2004). He is a true supporter of charity organizations and a master painter in his own right.

Blue Guitars

Chris Rea released his final box-set album, "Blue Guitars" in 2005. Consisting of 11 CD's and 1 DVD (Dancing Down The Stony Road), the album is Rea's testament to blues. Each album contains specific songs of the blues genre, and all have been newly recorded and released. The box-set includes colourful paintings by Rea. This album closes the final chapter of Chris Rea's solo career and he does not intend to make any further solo records. He has stated that he will continue to make records with some of his favorite players under the name "The Fireflies".

Film

As can be seen at IMDB [1] Rea has also dabbled seriously in film, playing lead in the 1999 comedy "Parting Shots" opposite such notables as John Cleese, Bob Hoskins and Joanna Lumley. Somewhat ironically, Rea plays a man who's told cancer gives him six weeks to live, and decides to kill off the people who've done him wrong in life.

Discography

Albums

• Whatever Happened To Benny Santini? · 1978

Whatever Happened To Benny Santini?/The Closer You Get/Because Of You/Dancing With Charlie/Bows And Bangles/Fool (If You Think It's Over)/Three Angels/Just One Of Those Days/Standing In Your Doorway/Fires Of Spring

• Deltics · 1979

Twisted Wheel/The Things That Lovers Should Do/Dance (Don't Think)/Raincoat And A Rose/Cenotaph/Letter From Amsterdam/Deltics/Diamonds/She Gave It Away/Don't Want Your Best Friend/No Qualifications/Seabird

• Tennis · 1980

Tennis/Sweet Kiss/Since I Don't See You Anymore/Dancing Girls/No Work Today/Everytime I See You Smile/For Ever And Ever/Good News/Friends Across The Water/Distant Summers/Only With You/Stick It

• Chris Rea · 1982

Loving You/If You Choose To Go/Guitar Street/Do You Still Dream?/Every Beat Of My Heart/Goodbye Little Columbus/One Sweet Tender Touch/Do It For Your Love/Just Want To Be With You/Runaway/When You Know Your Love Has Died

• Water Sign · 1983

Nothing's Happening By The Sea/Deep Water/Candles/Love's Strange Ways/Texas/Let It Loose/I Can Hear Your Heartbeat/Midnight Blue/Hey You/Out Of The Darkness

• Wired to the Moon · 1984

Bombollini/Touche D'Amour/Shine Shine Shine/Wired To The Moon/Reasons/I Don't Know What It Is But I Love It/Ace Of Hearts/Holding Out/Winning (Bonus versions included 'Mystery Man')

• Shamrock Diaries · 1985

Steel River/Stainsby Girls/Chisel Hill/Josephine/One Golden Rul/All Summer Long/Stone/Shamrock Diaries/Love Turns To Lies/Hired Gun

• On the Beach · 1986

On The Beach/Little Blonde Plaits/Giverny/Lucky Day/Just Passing Through/It's All Gone/Hello Friend/Two Roads/Light Of Hope/Auf Immer Und Ewig (Title song from the film of the same name) (Bonus versions included 'Freeway', 'Bless Them All' and 'Crack That Mould')

• Dancing with Strangers · 1987

Joys Of Christmas/I Can't Dance To That/Windy Town/Gonna Buy A Hat/Curse Of The Traveller/Let's Dance/Que Sera/Josie's Tune/Loving You Again/That Girl Of Mine/September Blue (Bonus versions included 'I Don't Care Anymore', 'Donahue's Broken Wheel' and 'Danielle's Breakfast')

• The Road to Hell · 1989

The Road To Hell (Part 1)/The Road To Hell (Part 2)/You Must Be Evil/Texas/Looking For A Rainbow/Your Warm And Tender Love/Daytona/That's What They Always Say/I Just Wanna Be With You/Tell Me There's A Heaven

• Auberge · 1991

Auberge/Gone Fishing/You're Not A Number/Heaven/Set Me Free/Winter Song/Red Shoes/Sing A Song Of Love To Me/Every Second Counts/Looking For The Summer/And You My Love/The Mention Of Your Name

• God's Great Banana Skin · 1992

Nothing To Fear/Miles Is A Cigarette/God's Great Banana Skin/90's Blues/Too Much Pride/Boom Boom/I Ain't The Fool/There She Goes/I'm Ready/Black Dog/Soft Top, Hard Shoulder

• Espresso Logic · 1993

Espresso Logic/Red/Soup Of The Day/Johnny Needs A Fast Car/Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea/Julia/Summer Love/New Way/Stop/She Closed Her Eyes

• La Passione · 1996

La Passione (Film Theme)/Dove Il Signore?/Shirley Do You Own A Ferrari?/Girl In A Sports Car/When The Grey Skies Turn To Blue/Horses/Olive Oil/Only To Fly/You Must Follow/'Disco' La Passione/Dove Il Signore? (Part Two)/Le Mans

• The Blue Cafe · 1998

Square Peg Round Hole/Miss Your Kiss/Shadows Of The Big Man/Where Do We Go From Here/Since I Found You/Thinking Of You/As Long As I Have Your Love/Anyone Quite Like You/Sweet Summer Day/Stick By You/I'm Still Holding On/The Blue Cafe

• The Road to Hell: Part 2 · 1999

Can't Get Through/Good Morning/E/Last Open Road/Coming Off The Ropes/Evil No. 2/Keep On Dancing/Marvin/Firefly/I'm In My Car/New Times Square

• King of the Beach · 2000

King Of The Beach/All Summer Long/Sail Away/Still Beautiful/The Bones Of Angels/Guitar Street/Who Do You Love?/The Memory Of A Good Friend/Sandwriting/Tamatave/God Gave Me An Angel/Waiting For A Blue Sky (Bonus versions included 'Mississippi')

• Dancing Down the Stony Road · 2002

Easy Rider/Stony Road/Dancing The Blues Away/Catfish Girl/Burning Feet/Slow Dance/Segway/Mississippi/So Lonely/Heading For The City/Ride On/When The Good Lord Talked To Jesus/Qualified/Sun Is Rising/Someday My Peace Will Come/Got To Be Moving On/Ain't Going Down This Way/Changing Times/The Hustler/Give That Girl A Diamond

• Blue Street (Five Guitars) · 2003

Blue Miles/Blue Street/Big C/Big C Big Sea/Hofner Break/Heading For The City/1st Slow Mingus/Piano Break/Still Going To A Go-Go/Are You Ready/Funk 48

• Hofner Blue Notes · 2003

Spy/Expectations/Hofner Blue Notes/Paris In Minneapolis/Sao Paulo Blue/What Became/Detroit/Goodnight Joe/Take The Mingus Train/Alone/Saudi Blue/Kestrel Avenue

• The Blue Jukebox · 2004

The Beat Goes On/Long Is The Time, Hard Is The Road/Let's Do It/Let It Roll//Steel River Blues/Somebody Say Amen/Blue Street/Monday Morning/Restless Soul/What Kind Of Love Is This?/Paint My Jukebox Blue/Baby Don't Cry/Speed

• Blue Guitars (130 tracks on 11 CDs, plus associated paintings) · 2005

CD1: BEGINNINGS: West Africa/Cry For Home/The King Who Sold His Own/White Man Coming/Where The Blues Come From/Lord Tell Me It Wont Be Long/Work Gang/Praise The Lord/Sweet Sunday/Sing Out The Devil/Boss Man Cut My Chains

CD2: COUNTRY BLUES: Walking Country Blues/Man Gone Missing/Can't Stay Blues/KKK Blues/Too Much Drinkin'/Catwalk Woman/If You've Got A Friend In Jesus/Head Out On The Highway/Wild Pony/Steam Train Blues/Going Up To Memphis/Somewhere Between Highway 61 & 49/Ticket For Chicago/Dance All Night Long

CD3: LOUISANA AND NEW ORLEANS BLUES: Two Days Missing Down The Viper Room/Who Cares If I Do/What Made Me Love You/You Got Dixie/One Night With You/Talking 'Bout New Orleans/Le Fleur De La Vie/Catfish Girl/Only A Fool Plays By The Rules/Baby Come Home/Dance Avec Moi/L'ete Eternal

CD4: ELECTRIC MEMPHIS BLUES: Electric Guitar/Electric Memphis Blues/All Night Long/Born Bad/Let's Start Again/What I'm Looking For/Rules Of Love/What You Done To Me/Hobo Love Blues/Pass Me By/The Soul Of My Father's Shadow/My Blue World Says Hello

CD5: TEXAS BLUES: Lone Rider (Texas Blues)/Texas Blue/No Wheels Blue/Lone Star Boogie/Blind Willie/The American Way/Angelina/Truck Stop/Weekend Down Mexico/Texas Line Boogie/Too Big City/Houston Angel

CD6: CHICAGO BLUES: I'm Moving Up/Maxwell Street/Bob Taylor/She's A Whole Heap Of Trouble/Jazzy Blue/Hip-Sway/That's The Way It Goes/To Get Your Love/Chicago Morning/Catwalk Woman/Since You've Been Gone/All Night Long/Here She Come Now

CD7: BLUES BALLADS: Last Call/Maybe That's All I Need To Know/Deep Winter Blues/If I Ever Get Over You/I Love The Rain/My Soul Crying Out For You/If That's What I Want/There's No One Looking/What Became Of You/My Deep Blue Ways

CD8: GOSPEL, SOUL, BLUES AND MOTOWN: Sweet Love/Break Another Piece Of My Heart/Ball And Chain/Gospel Trail/Shy Boy/Come Change My World/Call On Me/Just In Case You Never Knew/Let Me In/I'll Be There For You/The Pain Of Loving You/Are You Ready

CD9: CELTIC AND IRISH BLUES: Celtic Blue/Too Far From Home/'Til The Morning Light Shines On My Love And Me/Lucky Day/What She Really Is/Wishing Well/Irish Blues/No More Sorrow/While I Remain/Last Drink/'Til I Find My True Love's Name/Big White Door

CD10: LATIN BLUES: Hey Gringo/Immigration Blues/Still Trying To Clear My Name/Sun Is Hot/Screw You And Your Deep Blue Sea/Nothing Seems To Matter No More/Sometimes/Lampiou/Keep On Dancing/Lucifer's Anger/That's How I Know It's You/Forever/You Got Soul/Bajan Blue

CD11: 60s AND 70s: My Baby Told Me/Got To Be Moving/My Baby Told Me/Heartbreaker/Yes I Do/Wasted Love/Cool Cool Love/Clarkson Blues/Who Killed Love/Never Tie Me Down/Mindless/Ain't That Just The Prettiest Thing/Nobody But You/Waiting For Love/Blue Morning In The Rain

Compilations

• New Light Through Old Windows · 1988 (an album of re-recordings of his best known tracks)

Let's Dance/Working On It/Ace Of Hearts/Josephine/Candles/On The Beach/Fool (If You Think It's Over)/I Can Hear Your Heartbeat/Shamrock Diaries/Stainsby Girls/Windy Town/Driving Home For Christmas/Steel River

• The Best of Chris Rea · 1994

The Road To Hell (Part 2)/Josephine/Let's Dance/Fool (If You Think It's Over)/Auberge/Julia/Stainsby Girls/If You Were Me (Duet With Elton John)/On The Beach/Looking For The Summer/I Can Hear Your Heartbeat/You Can Go Your Own Way/God's Great Banana Skin/Winter Song/Gone Fishing/Tell Me There's A Heaven/Three Little Green Candles

• The Very Best of Chris Rea · 2001

The Road To Hell (Part 2)/Fool (If You Think It's Over)/Let's Dance/You Can Go Your Own Way/Julia/Stainsby Girls/Tell Me There's A Heaven/Josephine/Steel River/On The Beach/I Can Hear Your Heartbeat/All Summer Long/The Blue Cafe/Auberge/Driving Home For Christmas/Nothing To Fear/Saudade (Parts 1 & 2) (Tribute To Ayrton Senna)

• Heartbeats - Chris Rea's Greatest Hits · 2005

On The Beach/Fool (If You Think It's Over)/Auberge/Let's Dance/Stainsby Girls/Nothing To Fear/Tell Me There's A Heaven/Josephine/I Can Hear Your Heartbeat/The Road To Hell (Part 2)/Winter Song/God's Great Banana Skin/You Can Go Your Own Way/Julia/Looking For The Summer/Gone Fishing

See also

• List of best-selling music artists
• List of bands/musicians from North East England

External links

• Official site of his own new record label, JazzeeBlue
• Official site
• Chrisrea.NL - frequently updated fan site, including forum and discography.
• MemphisFireflies.com - a new special about the band Chris is joining after his Farewell tour.
• Biography page at FenderEurope.com