Chris Rea Discography Review

[BiteUrLip]

He's one of my very favorite artists. I just don't like that jazz/blues stuff by him much, prefer the adult contemporary genre.

Whatever Happened To Benny Santini *****+ Highlights: "Bows And Bangles", "Fool (If You Think It's Over)"
Deltics *****++ Highlights: "Twisted Wheel" Super highlights: "Diamonds"
Tennis *****+ Highlights: "Dancing Girls", "Every Time I See You Smile"
Chris Rea *****++ Highlights: "Every Beat Of My Heart", "Goodbye Little Columbus", "Do It For Your Love", "Just Want To Be With You"
Water Sign *****+ Highlights: "Candles", "I Can Hear Your Heartbeat", "Out Of The Darkness"
Wired To The Moon *****++ Highlights: "Ace Of Hearts", "Winning" Super highlights: "Holding Out"
Shamrock Diaries *****+ Highlights: "Steel River", "One Golden Rule"
On The Beach *****+
Dancing With Strangers ***** Highlights: "September Blue"
The Road To Hell *****+ Highlights: "That's What They Always Say", "Tell Me There's A Heaven"
Auberge *****++ Highlights: "Set Me Free", "Looking For The Summer", "The Mention Of Your Name" Super highlights: "Auberge"
God's Great Banana Skin ***** Highlights: I'm Ready"
Espresso Logic *****+ Highlights: "Summer Love" Super highlights: "Julia"
La Passione *****+ Highlights: "Girl In A Sports Car", "When The Grey Skies Turn To Blue"
The Blue Cafe ***** Highlights: "In The Shadows Of A Big Man"
The Road To Hell Part 2 ** NOD: 2
The King Of The Beach ***** Highlights: "The Bones Of Angels" Super highlights: "Who Do You Love"
Dancing Down The Stony Road ***
Blue Street (Five Guitars) ***
Hofner Blue Notes **½
The Blue Jukebox ***
Blue Guitars ****½
    CD 1 - Beginnings ***½ Highlights: "Sweet Sunday"
    CD 2 - Country Blues *** NOD: 1
    CD 3 - Louisiana & New Orleans ****½
    CD 4 - Electric Memphis Blues ***½ 
    CD 5 - Texas Blues ***** Highlights: "Angellina", "Weekend Down Mexico", "Texas Line Boogie"
    CD 6 - Chicago Blues *** 
    CD 7 - Blues Ballads ****
    CD 8 - Gospel Soul Blues & Motown *****+ Highlights: "Come Change My World", "I'll Be There For You"
    CD 9 - Celtic & Irish Blues *****++ Highlights: "'til The Morning Sun Shines On My Love And Me", "What She Really Is", "No More Sorrow", "Last Drink", "'til I Find My True Love's Name"
    CD 10 - Latin Blues ***** Highlights: "Lampiou" 
    CD 11 - 60's & 70's **** Highlights: "Yes I Do" NOD: 1
The Return Of The Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes
***½ Highlights: "Let's Getaway", "Skylark Blues" NOD: 1
Santo Spirito Blues ****
Road Songs For Lovers *****

Other highlights: "Winter Song", "From Love To Love", "Look Out For Me"

Total NOD: 5 (Not bad, Chris!)

What to say, an awesome artist... from the beginning up to King Of The Beach, if Road To Hell Part 2 gets deleted.

[newloneranger]

Whatever Happened To Benny Santini Highlights: Bows And Bangles, Fool If You Think Its Over, Whatever Happened to Benny Santini,Standing in Your Doorway. 4 stars
Deltics Highlights: Raincoat and a Rose, Deltics, Seabird, Twisted Wheel 4 1/2 stars
Tennis Highlights: Everytime I See You Smile, Since I Don't See You Anymore, Dancing Girls,Tennis 3 stars
Chris Rea Highlights: Goodbye Little Columbus, Just Want to Be with You, Runaway, One Sweet Tender Touch 4 stars
Water Sign Highlights: Nothing's Happening by the Sea, Love's Strange Ways,Texas,Midnight Blue 4 stars
Wired To The Moon Highlights: Bombollini,Reasons,Touché d'Amour,Ace of Hearts, Holding Out 4 1/2 stars
Shamrock Diaries Highlights: Shamrock Diaries, Stainsby Girls, Chisel Hill,One Golden Rule, Josephine 4 1/2 stars
On The Beach Highlights: Light of Hope, Freeway, Two Roads, On the Beach 3 1/2 stars
Dancing With Strangers Highlights:Joys of Christmas, Gonna Buy a Hat, Curse of the Traveller, Que Sera, Loving You Again 4 1/2 stars
New Light Through Old Windows Highlights: Candles,I Can Hear Your Heartbeat,Windy Town,Steel River,Working On It 4 1/2 stars
The Road To Hell Highlights: The Road To Hell,Lets Dance,Your Warm and Tender Love,Daytona,That's What They Always Say 5 stars
Auberge Highlights: Set Me Free, Auberge, Gone Fishing, Sing a Song of Love to Me,Looking for the Summer,Heaven 5 stars
God's Great Banana Skin Highlights: Nothing to Fear,God's Great Banana Skin,Too Much Pride,Soft Top, Hard Shoulder,90's Blues 5 stars
Espresso Logic Highlights: Espresso Logic,Julia, If You Were Me,Johnny Needs a Fast Car,Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea 4 1/2 stars
La Passione Highlights: You Must Follow, Only to Fly, When the Grey Skies Turn to Blue, Girl in a Sports Car 3 stars
The Blue Cafe Highlights: Shadows of the Big Man, Square Peg, Round Hole,Since I Found You,Sweet Summer Day,The Blue Cafe 4 stars
The Road To Hell Part 2 Highlights: Firefly, Last Open Road,Can't Get Through,New Times Square, Marvin 3 stars
The King Of The Beach Highlights: The Bones of Angels, Guitar Street, Tamatave, God Gave Me an Angel, King of the Beach 3 1/2 stars
Dancing Down The Stony Road Highlights: Burning Feet, Someday My Peace Will Come, Easy Rider 3 stars
Blue Street (Five Guitars) N/A
Hofner Blue Notes N/A
The Blue Jukebox Highlights: Restless Soul, Speed,Long Is The Time, Hard Is The Road 3 stars
Blue Guitars
CD 1 - Beginnings Highlights: West Africa/Cry For Home,Praise The Lord,Sweet Sunday,Work Gang,Where The Blues Come From 5 stars
CD 2 - Country Blues Highlights: Somewhere Between Highway 61 & 49,If You've Got A Friend in Jesus, Catwalk Woman, Wild Pony,Steam Train Blues 4 stars
CD 3 - Louisiana & New Orleans Highlights: You Got Dixie, Talking 'bout New Orleans, Catfish Girl, Only A Fool Plays By The Rules 3 1/2 stars
CD 4 - Electric Memphis Blues Highlights: Electric Guitar, Electric Memphis Blues 3 stars
CD 5 - Texas Blues Highlights: Texas Line Boogie, Too Big City, Blind Willie,Lone Star Boogie,Lone Rider 4 stars
CD 6 - Chicago Blues Highlights : Hip-Sway 2 stars
CD 7 - Blues Ballads Highlights: None 1 1/2 stars
CD 8 - Gospel Soul Blues & Motown N/A
CD 9 - Celtic & Irish Blues Highlights: Too Far From Home, Celtic Blue, Big White Door, Wishing Well, What She Really Is, 5 stars
CD 10 - Latin Blues N/A
CD 11 - 60's & 70's N/A
The Return Of The Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes Highlights: Speak of God, Act Like the Devil,Big Wave,Twister Inside,Rock And Roll Tonight 3 stars
Santo Spirito Blues Highlights: You Got Lucky,The Last Open Road,Electric Guitar,I Will Go On,Think Like A Woman 4 stars
Road Songs For Lovers Highlights: Last Train, Road Songs For Lovers,Two Lost Souls,Angel Of Love 4 stars

[dougs]

BiteUrLip:

I have wanted to thank you for this detailed Chris Rea discography for ages - well done!

Unfortunately, I couldn't name one song or album of his.  I have a huge LP, CD, and iTunes collection going back to the 70s including tons of new stuff but never bought Chris Rea.  I recognize the name of course, but living in Canada Chris just didn't get much airplay.  I don't know one person who owns his music.  I believe that one of his albums went gold years ago here in Canada.  Apparently he has a big UK following and also has success in other European markets.  Cliff Richard is in the same boat; only one or two studio albums in Canada ever reached certification level in sales yet he is a household name in the UK and a few other places.

Question for you;  if I were to buy ONE Chris Rea album (not a big box set, etc.) which one would you recommend?  I am more into musicianship than music that is geared for predictable safe radio play lists.  Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Doug

[BiteUrLip]

Apr 10, 2018 12:28:45 GMT dougs said:

BiteUrLip:

Question for you;  if I were to buy ONE Chris Rea album (not a big box set, etc.) which one would you recommend?  I am more into musicianship than music that is geared for predictable safe radio play lists.  Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Doug

Well, Auberge is the first one that comes to my mind. But it really depends what you're looking after - for instance, his first album is the most guitar dominant album and features some rockers, while in Deltics Chris has some great piano playing. His songs "Twisted Wheel" and "Diamonds" are quite close what "Philadelphia Freedom" sounds, they just weren't big hits.

[dougs]

BiteUrLip:

Thanks for the feedback on Chris Rea.  I will check into the ones that you suggested.

Doug

[nix]

Whatever Happened To Benny Santini **1/2
Deltics ****
Tennis **
Chris Rea *****
Water Sign ****
Wired To The Moon ***1/2
Shamrock Diaries ****
On The Beach *****
Dancing With Strangers ***
The Road To Hell ***1/2
Auberge ****1/2
God's Great Banana Skin ***
Espresso Logic **1/2
La Passione ***1/2
The Blue Cafe ****
The Road To Hell Part 2 **
The King Of The Beach *1/2
Dancing Down The Stony Road ***
Blue Street (Five Guitars) *1/2