A sad start to the week with the news of the passing of Chris Rea. An artist seldom far from my side since the early eighties when I first heard the Shamrock Diaries album.

For me, he is one of England’s finest ever singer-songwriters, criminally underrated and forever linked to his two biggest hits; Driving Home for Christmas and The Road to Hell. But he was far more than that, his debut album in 1978; Whatever Happened to Benny Santini produced the wonderful Fool (If You Think it’s Over) written by Rea and covered, with great success by Elkie Brooks. Listening to that and Because of You set the tone for what was to come over the next twenty four albums; beautiful lyrics and melodies interspersed with his unique blues guitar playing.

Born and raised in Middlesbrough in the north east of England, he never lost his roots and its history was well documented in his lyrics. In 1979, he released Deltics, with tracks such as Diamonds, Twisted Wheel and the sublime Seabird. His ability to write heart-wrenchingly tender lyrics never left him and by the time of The Blue Cafe album in 1998 with songs such as Sweet Summer Day, Where Do We Go From Here and Thinking of You he proved he could still produce a top ten album.

His hugely successful On the Beach album in 1986 perfectly captured the carefree summers of my late teens. The title track and subsequent remix put him back in the spotlight with its compelling guitar riff to an intoxicating Mediterranean summer video. This, for me, is his best work, track after track it flows through jazzy pop with a blues tone never too far away. Coming off the back of his critically acclaimed and hugely successful Shamrock Diaries in 1985, this would be the start of his commercial peak with Dancing With Strangers, The Road to Hell and Auberge placing him firmly as one of England’s biggest European exports.

Rea wrote a song for everyone and every time in our lives. He met his wife when they were teenagers in Middlesbrough in the late sixties and she never left his side. His hit single Josephine was written for his daughter. A family man who loved vintage cars, racing and painting. We’ve lost a good one.

Chris Rea 1951-2025

See also Chris Rea & The Fabulous Hofner Bluenotes