Auberge (song)

"Auberge"
Single by Chris Rea
from the album Auberge
B-side	"Hudson's Dream"
Released	4 February 1991 (1991-02-04)
Length	7:18 (album version) 4:40 (single version)
Label	EastWest
Songwriter(s)	Chris Rea
Producer(s)	Jon Kelly
Chris Rea singles chronology
"Texas" (1990) "Auberge" (1991) "Heaven" (1991)
Music video
"Auberge (Official Music Video)" on YouTube

"Auberge" is a song by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, which was released in February 1991 by East West as the lead single from his eleventh studio album, Auberge . It was written by Rea and produced by Jon Kelly. ^[1] "Auberge" reached No. 16 in the United Kingdom and remained on the UK Singles Chart for six weeks. A music video was filmed to promote the single. It was directed by Nigel Dick and shot at Bray Studios, Berkshire. ^[2]

Critical reception

Upon release, Music & Media wrote, "Rea at his best: the perfect combination of Dire Straits-framed vocals and Ry Cooder-styled slide guitar. The type of song to play loud during driving. Traffic will be much nicer the next weeks." ^[3] Andy Stout of Sounds described the song as "good, honest rock à la Bob 'Excitement' Harris". ^[4]

In the US, Billboard described the song as a "dreamy blues-induced rocker", with "dark, Morrison-esque vocal delivery, "rockabilly guitar backdrop", "psychedelic organ vibes" and "lighthearted horn riffs". ^[5] In a review of the album of the same name, Johnny Loftus of AllMusic wrote, "The rousing title track and its accompanying set piece "Set Me Free" move from searching, tentative guitar noodlings into full-blown epics, with bluesy bottom end, blustering horns, backup singers, and Rea's own grainy vocal rumble." ^[1]

Track listings

• 7-inch and cassette single ^{[6] [7]}

A. "Auberge"

B. "Hudson's Dream"

• 12-inch single ^[8]

A1. "Auberge (In Its Entirety)"

B1. "Hudson's Dream"

B2. "Every Second Counts"

• CD single ^{[9] [10]}

1. "Auberge"
2. "Let's Dance" (7-inch version)
3. "On the Beach" (7-inch version)
4. "The Road to Hell (Part II)"

Personnel

• Chris Rea – guitar, slide guitar, Hammond organ
• Max Middleton – piano
• Robert Ahwai – bass
• Martin Ditcham – drums, percussion
• Carol Kenyon – backing vocals
• Linda Taylor – backing vocals

Production

• Jon Kelly – producer
• Justin Shirley-Smith – engineer
• Russell Shaw – assistant engineer

Other

• Alan Fearnley – illustration

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1991) Peak position Australia (ARIA) [11] 101 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [12] 29 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [13] 31 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [14] 86 Canada Adult Contemporary ( RPM ) [15] 34 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [16] 37 France (SNEP) [17] 46 Germany (GfK) [18] 20 Ireland (IRMA) [19] 8 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [20] 45 UK Singles (OCC) [21] 16

Year-end charts Chart (1991) Position Europe (European Hit Radio) [22] 26 Germany (Media Control) [23] 65

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	4 February 1991	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD cassette	EastWest	[24]
Australia	4 March 1991			[25]
Japan	25 July 1991	CD		[26]

References

1. Johnny Loftus. "Auberge - Chris Rea | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 31 May 2019.
2. "PRODUCTIONS 1991 - Nigel Dick - Director". Nigel Dick. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
3. "New releases: Singles". Music & Media. 23 February 1991.
4. Stout, Andy (9 February 1991). "Singles". Sounds . p. 23.
5. "Single reviews". Billboard. 4 May 1991.
6. Auberge (UK 7-inch single sleeve). EastWest Records. 1991. YZ 555, 9031-73436-7.
7. Auberge (UK cassette single sleeve). EastWest Records. 1991. YZ 555C, 9031-73436-4.
8. Auberge (UK 12-inch single sleeve). EastWest Records. 1991. YZ 555T, 9031-73437-0.
9. Auberge (UK & European CD single liner notes). EastWest Records. 1991. YZ555CD, 9031-73438-2.
10. Auberge (Japanese CD single liner notes). EastWest Records. 1991. WMC5-391.
11. "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing 18 March 1991" . Retrieved 20 March 2022.
12. "Chris Rea – Auberge" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
13. "Chris Rea – Auberge" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
14. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1504." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
15. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1487." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
16. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 8, no. 11. 16 March 1991. p. 19. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
17. "Chris Rea – Auberge" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
18. "Chris Rea – Auberge" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Auberge". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
20. "Chris Rea – Auberge" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
21. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
22. "EHR Year-End Top 100" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 8, no. 51–52. 21 December 1991. p. 20. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
23. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1991" (in German). GfK Entertainment . Retrieved 24 November 2021.
24. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week . 2 February 1991. p. vi.
25. "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 04/03/91: Singles". The ARIA Report . No. 58. 3 March 1991. p. 18.
26. "クリス・レア | オーベルジュ(4トラックス)" [Chris Rea | Auberge (4 Tracks)] (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved 16 September 2025.