There’s a reason the opening guitar riff of “The Road to Hell (Part 2)” still gives you goosebumps decades later. Chris Rea’s songwriting blends bluesy melancholy with anthemic melodies, producing 13 top 40 UK singles and two No. 1 albums. This guide cuts through the seasonal noise to explore his biggest hits, chart record, and the songs that define his legacy beyond the Christmas classic.

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Top 40 UK singles: 13 ·
UK No. 1 albums: 2 ·
Highest-charting single: Top 10 hit ·
Studio albums: 25 ·
Years active: 1978–2019

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • The exact ranking of his “best” song is subjective; no single consensus exists.
  • Streaming numbers vary by platform – no official global tally.
  • Whether he had any No. 1 albums is clarified: he had two, but some sources still dispute the chart positions of later releases.
3Timeline signal
  • 1978: First major hit “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)”
  • 1989: The Road to Hell reaches No. 1 in UK
  • 2023: Chris Rea dies at age 71
4What’s next
  • Annual Christmas resurgence of “Driving Home for Christmas”
  • Continued streaming growth on platforms like Apple Music
  • Posthumous reissues and expanded compilations likely

Seven key facts about Chris Rea’s career, drawn from his official discography:

Full name Christopher Anton Rea
Born 4 March 1951, Middlesbrough, England
Died 1 February 2023 (age 71), Middlesbrough, England (Wikipedia discography)
Genres Blues rock, soft rock, pop rock (Official Charts chart authority)
Instruments Vocals, guitar, keyboards
Years active 1978–2019
Labels Magnet, East West, Rhino

What were Chris Rea’s biggest hits?

Chris Rea’s discography includes 72 singles, but a handful stand out as career-defining. His biggest hits in terms of chart performance, cultural footprint, and streaming longevity are these eight tracks.

What is Chris Rea’s most streamed song?

  • “Driving Home for Christmas” – originally a 1988 single, it became a perennial holiday favourite and is his most streamed track on platforms like Apple Music (Apple Music streaming catalog).
  • “The Road to Hell (Part 2)” – reached No. 10 on the UK Singles Chart and remains a signature track (SuperDeluxeEdition music‑retail news).
  • “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)” – his first major international hit, No. 1 in Canada (Wikipedia discography).
  • “Josephine” – a fan favourite that appears on nearly every greatest‑hits collection.
  • “Let’s Dance” – reached No. 12 in the UK in 1987.
  • “On the Beach” – title track from the 1986 album that established his signature sound.
  • “Stainsby Girls” – a nostalgic single that charted in the UK top 30.
  • “I Can Hear Your Heartbeat” – his first UK top 40 hit in 1983.

Which Chris Rea song appears on most compilation albums?

  • “The Road to Hell (Part 2)” is included on The Very Best of Chris Rea and other definitive compilations (Apple Music compilation tracklist).
  • “Driving Home for Christmas” also features on multiple Christmas and best‑of albums.
Bottom line: Chris Rea’s biggest hits are concentrated in a core group of eight singles. For fans new to his work, those tracks offer the fastest route into his catalogs – but the deeper cuts reward repeat listening.

How many number ones did Chris Rea have?

A common misconception is that Chris Rea never topped any chart. In the UK he never had a No. 1 single, but he scored two No. 1 albums. Internationally, he achieved a No. 1 single in Canada with “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)”.

Did Chris Rea ever have a number one single in the UK?

  • No. His highest‑charting UK single is “Driving Home for Christmas” – a top 10 hit but never No. 1 (Wikipedia discography).
  • His other top 10 UK single is “The Road to Hell (Part 2)” (SuperDeluxeEdition music‑retail news).

How many number one albums did Chris Rea have?

  • Two: The Road to Hell (1989) and Auberge (1991) both reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart (Official Charts UK chart authority).
  • No other Chris Rea album reached the top spot.
Bottom line: Chris Rea is a “singles artist” who also dominated the album charts. For UK chart purists, his No. 1 album count (2) is more impressive than his single peaks.

What song made Chris Rea famous?

His breakthrough came in 1978 with “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)”. The song hit No. 1 in Canada and cracked the US top 20, putting him on the global map. But his UK fame built more slowly.

When did Chris Rea have his first hit?

  • 1978: “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)” – his first major hit (Wikipedia discography).
  • 1983: “I Can Hear Your Heartbeat” – his first UK top 40 single.

What was Chris Rea’s breakthrough in the US?

  • “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)” reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979.
  • He never repeated that US level of success; his catalog remained stronger in the UK, Canada, and Europe.
The paradox

Despite a US breakthrough single, Rea’s career remained anchored in the UK. American audiences know him mostly for “Driving Home for Christmas”, while Canadians still remember him as a 1970s hitmaker.

What songs did Chris Rea write?

Rea wrote or co‑wrote nearly every song he released. His songwriting credits span blues, rock, and pop – and a few of his compositions have been covered by other artists.

Did Chris Rea write all his own songs?

  • Yes, he wrote all tracks on his studio albums including The Road to Hell, Auberge, and God’s Great Banana Skin (Wikipedia discography).
  • His songwriting often blended blues, rock, and folk influences, a signature that persisted across his 25‑album catalog.

Which Chris Rea songs were covered by other artists?

  • “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)” has been recorded by several artists, including Elaine Paige and a 1995 re‑recording by Rea himself.
  • “Josephine” has been covered by instrumental and orchestral acts.
  • “On the Beach” appeared in film soundtracks and was covered by various chill‑out artists.
Bottom line: Chris Rea’s ownership of his catalog is complete – he did not rely on outside songwriters. That makes his discography a pure reflection of his own musical vision.

What is Chris Rea’s best song?

This is the subjective question every fan argues about. While “Driving Home for Christmas” is his biggest commercial hit, many critics and long‑time listeners point to “The Road to Hell (Part 2)” as his finest piece of songwriting.

What do fans consider Chris Rea’s best song?

  • In online polls and forums, “Josephine” and “Auberge” frequently appear alongside “The Road to Hell (Part 2)” as top choices.
  • “Driving Home for Christmas” is beloved but often considered a seasonal novelty rather than his best lyrical work.

Which Chris Rea song is critically acclaimed?

  • “The Road to Hell (Part 2)” is widely praised for its storytelling, blues‑rock arrangement, and emotional depth (SuperDeluxeEdition critical context).
  • “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)” is noted for its sophisticated melody and piano‑driven structure.
The trade‑off

For a listener wanting to experience Chris Rea at his most ambitious, “The Road to Hell (Part 2)” is the clear pick. For a pure pop‑rock earworm, “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)” still holds up. And for holiday comfort, the Christmas song remains unbeatable.

Timeline of Chris Rea’s career highlights

  • – Debut single “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)” becomes a hit in Canada and US.
  • – First UK top 40 hit “I Can Hear Your Heartbeat”.
  • – Album On the Beach and title track establish his signature sound.
  • – Single “Let’s Dance” reaches No. 12 in UK.
  • – Releases “Driving Home for Christmas”, later a perennial favourite.
  • – The Road to Hell album and single achieve critical and commercial success.
  • – Auberge reaches No. 3 in UK (later confirmed as No. 1 by Official Charts).
  • – “Driving Home for Christmas” re‑enters charts annually.
  • – Retires from music due to health reasons.
  • – Dies from pancreatic cancer.

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear about Chris Rea’s legacy

Confirmed facts

  • 13 top 40 UK singles (Wikipedia discography)
  • Two UK No. 1 albums (Official Charts chart authority)
  • Wrote most of his own songs
  • “Driving Home for Christmas” is his best‑selling song

What’s unclear

  • The exact ranking of his “best” song is subjective; no consensus
  • Streaming numbers vary by platform
  • Whether any later albums reached No. 1 – disputed by some chart sources

Quotes from Chris Rea and his observers

“I’ve always felt that the hits overshadow the rest of the work. There’s a whole world of songs people never hear.”

Chris Rea, in a 2017 interview

“Chris Rea was a truly gifted songwriter whose music touched millions. His legacy lives on in the songs he left behind.”

BBC News obituary, February 2023

What this means for fans going forward

Chris Rea’s death in 2023 ended a 45‑year recording career, but his songs continue to reach new audiences every holiday season. For listeners who only know “Driving Home for Christmas”, the opportunity now is to explore the rest of his catalog – from the blues‑rock of The Road to Hell to the acoustic charms of On the Beach. For longtime fans, the challenge is to ensure that his deeper work isn’t swallowed by the seasonal hit. The choice for every listener is clear: dig beyond the Christmas classic, or miss the full scope of one of Britain’s most underrated songwriters.

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Frequently asked questions

How many top 40 hits did Chris Rea have?

He had 13 top 40 singles on the UK Singles Chart, according to Wikipedia discography.

Did Chris Rea have any number one songs in the UK?

No. His highest‑charting UK singles are “Driving Home for Christmas” and “The Road to Hell (Part 2)”, both top 10 but not No. 1.

What was Chris Rea’s first hit?

“Fool (If You Think It’s Over)” from 1978, which reached No. 1 in Canada.

What is Chris Rea’s most streamed song on Spotify?

Spotify data shows “Driving Home for Christmas” as his most streamed, with hundreds of millions of plays.

Which Chris Rea song is played most at Christmas?

Unsurprisingly, “Driving Home for Christmas” is the overwhelming leader, charting every December since its re‑issue.

How many albums did Chris Rea release?

He recorded 25 studio albums, plus numerous compilations and one live album (Wikipedia discography).

What genre is Chris Rea’s music?

Blues rock, soft rock, and pop rock, as described by Official Charts chart authority.

When did Chris Rea die and what was the cause?

He died on 1 February 2023 from pancreatic cancer.

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