On the Beach (Chris Rea song)

"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.[3] It was written by Rea and produced by Rea and David Richards.[1] "On the Beach" reached No. 57 in the UK.[4]

"On the Beach"
Single by Chris Rea
from the album On the Beach (1986 version) and New Light Through Old Windows (1988 version)
B-side
  • "If Anybody Asks You" (1986 version)
  • "I'm Taking the Day Out" (1988 version)
ReleasedMay 1986[1]
July 1988[2]
Length4:20
LabelMagnet (1986 release)
WEA (1988 release)
Songwriter(s)Chris Rea
Producer(s)Chris Rea, David Richards (1986)
Rea, Jon Kelly (1988)
Chris Rea singles chronology
"It's All Gone"
(1986)		 "On the Beach"
(1986)		 "Hello Friend"
(1986)

Later in 1988, Rea re-recorded "On the Beach" for his album New Light Through Old Windows,[5] released it as a single.[2] Produced by Rea and Jon Kelly, it reached No. 12 in the UK and No. 18 in Ireland.[4][6] In 1989, it reached No. 9 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[7]

"On the Beach" was inspired by the Spanish island Formentera off the coast of Ibiza. Speaking to Songfacts, Rea said, "That's where me and my wife became me and my wife. That's what it's about. Yeah, I was 'between the eyes of love.' It's a lovely island if ever you're in Europe."[8]

Critical reception

In a retrospective review of the On the Beach album, Rob Caldwell of AllMusic described the song as the "standout track", adding that the original version was "the most evocative, a little slower and more meditative than [the] others." He recommended the song further by selecting it as an AMG Pick Track.[3] Mike DeGagne, in an AllMusic review of New Light Through Old Windows commented that the song, along with "Let's Dance", "represent a lean toward a more commercial sound".[5]

Use in other media

In June 2000, the German dance music team York sampled the guitar riff for their track O.T.B (On The Beach). It went on to peak at #4 in the UK singles chart, and sold over 200,000 copies. Rea himself played guitar with them for their performance of the track on Top of the Pops. Rea also stated on British Radio that he had intended to go to Ibiza with York for live promotions, but was unable due to a recent heart attack.

Track listing

Chart performance
1986 release
Chart (1986) Peak
position
Dutch Singles Chart[9] 34
French Singles Chart[10] 48
UK Singles Chart[4] 57
1988 release
Chart (1988-89) Peak
position
Irish Singles Chart[6] 18
UK Singles Chart[4] 12
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[7] 9

Personnel
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References
  1. "Chris Rea - On The Beach (Special Remix) / If Anybody Asks You - Magnet - UK - MAG 294". 45cat. Retrieved 2018-04-14.
  2. "Chris Rea - On The Beach Summer '88 / I'm Taking The Day Out - WEA - UK - YZ 195". 45cat. 2014-10-03. Retrieved 2018-04-14.
  3. AllMusic Review by Rob Caldwell. "On the Beach - Chris Rea | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-04-14.
  4. "CHRIS REA | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-04-14.
  5. AllMusic Review by Mike DeGagne (1988-10-17). "New Light Through Old Windows: The Best Of Chris Rea - Chris Rea | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-04-14.
  6. Jaclyn Ward. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2018-04-14.
  7. Billboard. "Chris Rea On The Beach Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-04-14.
  8. "Chris Rea : Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts.com. 2017-09-19. Retrieved 2018-04-14.
  9. Steffen Hung. "Chris Rea - On The Beach". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2018-04-14.
  10. Steffen Hung. "Chris Rea - On The Beach". lescharts.com. Retrieved 2018-04-14.
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