Track Listing

1. On The Beach
2. Little Blonde Plaits
3. Giverney
4. Lucky Day
5. Just Passing Through
6. It's All Gone
7. Hello Friend
8. Two Roads
9. Light Of Hope
10. Auf Immerund Ewig
11. Bless Them All
12. Freeways
13. Crack That Mould

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11478 in Music
• Released on: 1988-07-18
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Customer Reviews

Excellent summer music
This is the number one album for listening to in summer, on the beach or not.

It is unlike most chris rea albums, adopting the relaxed style , later found on King of the beach.
The opening track is far better than the re-done version for Old light... Its fades nicely into Little blonde plaits- another great relaxing song.

Giverny is a little bit more upbeat as is lucky day. The mood mellows again for Just passing through, and Its all gone- an 8 minute song that is half instrumental. Hello friend is the next track -this is very good too , and is particularly moving.

Two roads is an upbeat number , followed by possibly the best track- Light of hope which is a great tune and lyrics that just seem so unforced its hard to imagine how they were written. Auf immer and Ewig ( For ever and ever ) is the next track, used in a film. Its a haunting work.

Freeway is possibly the nicest track- very happy and soothing with a great chord sequence. the album ends with Bless them all- a typical Rea instrumental, putting you in the mind of the 3 extra tracks on Dancing with strangers and 'no work today' on Tennis. Finally Crack that mould is heard- a brilliant jazzy classic that doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the album and thankfully its included anyway.

The first times i heard this album on tape i disliked most of the songs except the title track and Crack that mould. i found it boring. But after purchasing it on cd i realized that actually it is one of my top3 Rea albums. A must have.

Simply Amazing
It's simply incredible to think that this album is now 20 years old. If memory serves me correctly, with Shamrock and On The Beach, Rea took more of a driving seat in terms of production - and what a job he has done.

I simply can't think of a more relaxing album - Sunny sunday afternoons on the patio with a cold drink, weekends on the beach, or driving in the car, or (my favourite) phone off the hook, favourite armchair, headphones and a nice brandy. Then, as the brandy soaks into your throat and chest, so this music can wash the daily grind from you and cleanse your soul.

Every song is brilliant, my particular favourites being Giverny, Auf Immer Und Ewig, and Hello Friend - all three extremely moving songs.

This isn't a musak album - it's not an album to be put on in the background while you iron the kids school uniforms - it has to be listened to - open your ears and your heart, and it will enchant you and will become a lifelong friend as it has to me. Listen with a good pair of headphones, and, like me, you will probably hear something new in each track each time you listen it.

A truly brilliant album by the unsung jewel in the crown of British music.

The Soundtrack to Summer
At some stage in all major artists' careers, a defining album or tour stands out when you look back over the body of work they have produced. "On The Beach" is one of those magical periods when Chris Rea found true global acceptance. Although his musical roots have always been earthier, usually found in the blues of the Deep South, in 1986 Rea produced an album that was the perfect soundtrack to summer. Laid back, melodious and expertly crafted. Like Leonard Cohen, Rea has one of those voices that make the speakers on your hi-fi rumble.
The production and understated guitar playing is of the highest quality. Like all great albums, you don't bother picking favourite tracks; you just listen to the whole and get lost in a different world.
The smell of the sea and the heat of the sun just flow over you as you relax to the sounds that melt, lift and inspire your heart.
A lot of people of a certain age will look back on this album with a huge amount of nostalgic warmth......it's just one of those beautiful records that come along every so often.
Failing health and a yearning to do less commercial stuff has meant that this is very much a period of Rea's career that he will not revisit, to that end it makes it even more special.
This is not a compromise between Rea and his commercial obligations to his record company; this is alchemy of pure gold.
Rea had a number of quality albums before and after this, but "On The Beach" shone like the hot sun when it first came out and now over twenty years later; it still produces the most beautiful sunset on the beach. Crisp chilled summer wine and this...........bliss!