Heaven (Chris Rea song)

Last updated

"Heaven"
Chris Rea Heaven 1991 single cover.jpg
Single by Chris Rea
from the album Auberge
B-side "Theme from the Pantile Journals"
Released25 March 1991 (1991-03-25) [1]
Length4:14
Label East West
Songwriter(s) Chris Rea
Producer(s) Jon Kelly
Chris Rea singles chronology
"Auberge"
(1991)
"Heaven"
(1991)
"Looking for the Summer"
(1991)
Music video
"Heaven" on YouTube

"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. [2] "Heaven" reached No. 57 on the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for two weeks.

Contents

The song's music video was directed by Nigel Dick and produced by Lisa Hollingshead. It was shot in London and in Dick's garage in California. [3]

Critical reception

In a review of Auberge, Mike Daly of The Age described "Heaven" as "serene" with "gorgeous guitars by Rea and Drennan". He also noted the song as being one of a number of tracks on Auberge to be "strong on optimism" with "positive statements". [4] Deborah Hornblow of the Hartford Courant commented: "On the gentle, evocative "Heaven", the lines 'Happy, boy you bet I am; Holding onto this smile for just as long as I can' are enriched and counterpointed by the sound of Rea's low, heavily weathered rasp." [5]

In a retrospective review, Johnny Loftus of AllMusic commented: "Auberge [contains] the thoughts and feelings of a man on a meandering road trip, thinking over the things he's said and done. "Heaven" seems to recall a time when the afterlife was in reach, but it could just as easily be the song of someone who's finally found his way." [2]

Track listings

7-inch and cassette single

  1. "Heaven" – 4:14
  2. "Theme from the Pantile Journals" – 4:10

12-inch single

  1. "Heaven" – 4:14
  2. "Theme from the Pantile Journals" – 4:10
  3. "Teach Me to Dance" – 4:04

CD single

  1. "Heaven" – 4:14
  2. "Stainsby Girls" – 4:07
  3. "Josephine" – 4:34
  4. "Tell Me There's a Heaven" – 6:02

Personnel

Musicians

Production

Other

Charts

Chart (1991)Peak
position
Germany (Official German Charts) [6] 94
Ireland (IRMA) [7] 30
UK Singles (OCC) [8] 57

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References

  1. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week . 23 March 1991. p. 25.
  2. 1 2 Johnny Loftus. "Auberge - Chris Rea | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  3. "PRODUCTIONS 1991 - Nigel Dick - Director". Nigel Dick. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  4. Daly, Mike (18 April 1991). "Recordings: Mitchell, mellow but unbowed". The Age.
  5. Hornblow, Deborah (4 July 1991). "Processed Cher; Skid Row song; derivative Doobies". The Hartford Courant.
  6. "Chris Rea – Heaven" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  7. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Chris Rea". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  8. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 August 2022.