The perfect album for a day at the beach, Rea's eighth album takes the listener from the water's edge of the title song to the sunny fields of the French countryside in 'Giverny'. Originally released in 1986. Warner. Album Description
 |  | A must have Chris Rea album |  |
I'd heard about Chris Rea off and on through the years and apart from a few songs, knew next to nothing about his output. Come 2006, I find myself engrossed in this artist and his entire body of work. Sadly, I doubt I will ever get to see him perform live here in the states.
I get drawn into this album more and more with each subsequent listen. The only song I don't really care for is "Crack that mould", but apart from that it is a winner. A very atmospheric and relaxing album to my ears. I enjoy listening to this one on the way to work in the morning too. A solid and consistent release that rates close to the top of Rea output! If you have any Chris Rea, you should add this to your collection.
August 24, 2006This is one of THE most wonderful CD's I have ever had the good fortune of listening to. I purchased this CD originally in 1990 and subsequently lost it to my ex in our divorce. I thought so much of this CD that I purchased it on my own - and I STILL love the music. Chris Rea has a unique, sexy quality to his voice that cannot be adequately described. You MUST listen to experience!
July 4, 2002Unlike most albums released in the mid 80's, this one is not dated. It it the perfect anytime album. The soft soothing music is a perfect fit for Chris Rea and his unique vocal presentation. It is also the best of all the Chris Rea albums. (so far) The song "Giverny" is a great catchy song, but my favorite is still "Just passing through". Simply lovely! I bought this CD for my dad for father's day a few years back and it remains one of his favorite albums in recent times. I have searched Chris Rea's entire catalog for another gem like this one. All of his albums contain a few gems (sans Tennis; what was he thinking?) But this CD is loaded with great songs.
August 4, 2001If you are a Chris Rea fan or wish to know his music - this is the album. And of course the commercial success of Road to hell is another. But this is the album which gets you rooted and does take you beyond the beach with or without her...
October 11, 2000I came to this album late -- a girlfriend introduced me to it -- and I know next to nothing about Rea himself. But that in a way helps, because this album stands on its own as a magnificent piece of mood music, a slightly plaintive ode to holidays and loves of the past. In different hands, this could have been simple lightweight pop music, but the whole packaging of the album, from the lapping surf on the opening track, to the visual design of the cover, gives it a wonderful atmosphere.
The standard of musicianship is high: Dave Mattacks played drums on the Joan Armatrading album, and Max Middleton did the keyboards on the very heavy 'Blow by Blow' of Jeff Beck. Rea himself has a catarrhal voice which, while not quite possessing the gravelly nature of Tom Waits's, often sounds as if he is just recovering from something seriously bronchial.
Many of the tunes here are great. The only ones that seem possibly out of place are the upbeat ones which disturb the mellow sunbathing mood. Rea has always been wielding a guitar whenever I've seen him on TV, but with many of the tunes,I cannot tell whether they were originally written on guitar or keyboard. Rea has himself re-recorded the track 'On the Beach' several times, but the version on this album -- the first -- is by far the best and much more subtle. August 15, 2000
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