Christopher Anton Rea is an English rock and blues singer and guitarist from Middlesbrough. He is known for his distinctive, husky singing and slide guitar playing, with the Guinness Rockopedia describing him as a "gravel-voiced guitar stalwart". After learning to play the guitar relatively late, a short burst of local band activity led to his launching a solo career in 1978.
Water Sign is the fifth studio album by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, released in 1983. The album reached No. 64 on the UK Albums Chart. "I Can Hear Your Heartbeat" was released as a single, initially peaking on the UK Singles Chart at No. 60, while a re-recorded version for Rea's 1988 compilation album, New Light Through Old Windows, reached No. 74. Water Sign reached No. 36 in New Zealand. It sold well in Ireland, prompting Rea to mount an extensive tour there, which marked the beginning of an upswing in the musician's fortunes which gathered pace and continued into the 1990s.
Wired to the Moon is the sixth studio album by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, released in 1984. The album reached No. 35 on the UK album charts. Three singles were released. "I Don't Know What It Is But I Love It" peaked at No. 65 on the UK Singles Chart, "Touché d'Amour" reached No. 86, and "Ace of Hearts" peaked at No. 79. The latter was re-released in 1985 and climbed one position higher, to No. 78.
"I Don't Know What It Is But I Love It" is a song by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, released in 1984 as the lead single from his sixth studio album Wired to the Moon. It was written by Rea, and produced by Rea and Dave Richards. The song reached No. 65 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the Top 100 for four weeks. It also peaked at No. 23 on the Irish Singles Chart.
"Making Plans for Nigel" is a song by the English rock band XTC that was released as the opening track and lead single from their 1979 album Drums and Wires, by Virgin Records. It was written by Colin Moulding, the band's bassist. The lyrics are told from the point of view of parents who are certain that their son Nigel is "happy in his world", affirming that his future in British Steel "is as good as sealed", and that he "likes to speak and loves to be spoken to."
"Be My Number Two" is a song by British singer-songwriter and musician Joe Jackson, which was released in 1984 as the third and final single from his sixth studio album Body and Soul. It was written by Jackson, and produced by Jackson and David Kershenbaum. "Be My Number Two" reached No. 70 in the UK and remained in the charts for four weeks.
"Operator" is a song by British group Floy Joy, which was released in 1985 as the third and final single from their debut studio album Into the Hot (1984). The song was written by band members Shaun Ward and Michael Ward, and produced by Don Was.
"All You Pretty Girls" is a song written by Andy Partridge of the English rock band XTC, released on their 1984 album The Big Express. It peaked at number 55 on the UK Singles Chart, and its music video cost £33,000 to make. Partridge remembers that song came about while he was "dicking around, playing some Hendrix. ... I was just playing this little two-note, quasi-Hendrix thing, and I liked the inherent melody in it."
"I Can Hear Your Heartbeat" is a song by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, released in 1983 as the second single from his fifth studio album Water Sign. It was written by Rea, and produced by Rea and David Richards. "I Can Hear Your Heartbeat" reached No. 60 in the UK and No. 14 in Ireland.
"On the Beach" is a song by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea that was released in 1986 as the second single from his eighth studio album, On the Beach. It was written by Rea and produced by Rea and David Richards. "On the Beach" reached No. 57 in the United Kingdom in 1986 and also charted in France and the Netherlands.
"Stainsby Girls" is a song by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, released in 1985 as the lead single from his seventh studio album Shamrock Diaries. It was written by Rea, and produced by Rea and Dave Richards. "Stainsby Girls" reached No. 26 in the UK and remained in the charts for twelve weeks.
One Fine Day is the twenty-fifth studio album by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, which was given a limited release on 18 October 2019 by Rhino Entertainment on CD and on vinyl. It is available in a hi-res digital format for streaming and download, and was subsequently included on disc 2 of Era 1: 1978–1984 (2020), a 3 CD compilation of singles, B-sides and rarities.
"Heaven" is a song by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, released in March 1991 as the second single from his 11th studio album, Auberge (1991). It was written by Rea and produced by Jon Kelly. "Heaven" reached No. 57 on the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for two weeks.
"Winter Song" is a song by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, released in October 1991 as an extended play and as a track on the European edition of his eleventh studio album Auberge. "Winter Song" was written by Rea and produced by Jon Kelly. The EP, which was released to coincide with Rea's current tour of Britain, reached No. 27 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 30 in the Irish Singles Chart.
"It's All Gone" is a song by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea that was released in 1986 as the lead single from his eighth studio album On the Beach. It was written by Rea, and produced by Rea and David Richards. "It's All Gone" reached No. 69 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the Top 100 for four weeks.
"Loving You" is a song by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, released in 1982 as the lead single from his fourth studio album Chris Rea. It was written by Rea and produced by Jon Kelly and Rea. "Loving You" reached No. 65 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the Top 100 for three weeks. It also peaked at No. 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
"Hello Friend" is a song by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea that was released in 1986 as the third single from his eighth studio album On the Beach. The song was written by Rea, and produced by Rea and David Richards.
"Let It Loose" is a song by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, which was released in 1983 as the lead single from his fifth studio album Water Sign. The song was written by Rea, and produced by Rea and Dave Richards. "Let It Loose" reached No. 85 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the Top 100 for four weeks.
"Loving You Again" is a song by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, which was released in 1987 as the second single from his ninth studio album Dancing with Strangers. The song was written and produced by Rea. "Loving You Again" reached No. 47 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the Top 100 for four weeks.
"Ace of Hearts" is a song by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, which was released by Magnet in 1984 as the fourth and final single from his sixth studio album Wired to the Moon. The song was written by Rea, and produced by Rea and Dave Richards.
