Vinyl Record

Chris Rea - The Very Best of Chris Rea

Buy Chris Rea — The Very Best of Chris Rea on 2LP vinyl from Kilmorna in Listowel, Ireland. Rock record with verified album details.

2LP · Rock · 2001 · Magnet (2)

Available from Kilmorna Collection in Listowel.

Buyer notes: 2001 2LP on Magnet (2), currently available from the Kilmorna Collection Rock shelf. Pay for pickup in Listowel, ship within Ireland from EUR 5.95 per record or outside Ireland from EUR 12.00 per record.

The Very Best of Chris Rea is a career‑spanning compilation that gathers some of the most enduring songs from the British singer‑songwriter’s catalog into a cohesive double‑album journey. Across two LPs, it traces his evolution from softly soulful storyteller to refined craftsman of atmospheric rock, with key moments like The Road To Hell (Part 2), Fool (If You Think It’s Over), and Let’s Dance presenting different sides of his writing and guitar work. Carefully sequenced rather than simply stacked, it moves from radio‑friendly favourites to more reflective cuts, giving a wide angle on his melodic sense and distinctive, grainy vocal style. What makes this set especially rewarding is how it balances familiar hits with songs that reveal his deeper preoccupations: the late‑night glow of On The Beach and Steel River sit comfortably beside seasonal staple Driving Home For Christmas and the poignant Saudade Part 1 & 2 (Tribute To Ayrton Senna). Heard together, these tracks sketch a long arc of themes—roads, travel, memory, and quiet resilience—that run through his work, making the compilation feel like a thoughtfully curated portrait rather than a simple hit parade.

For listeners who know Chris Rea only through a handful of songs, this collection works as an accessible gateway into a much richer songbook. The inclusion of both chart‑tested favourites and deeper selections like Steel River and The Blue Café shows how his songwriting broadens beyond a single era or mood, connecting late‑70s beginnings with later‑career material in one narrative sweep. It is also one of the most widely recognised overviews of his work, originally assembled at a point when his back catalogue could be reassessed with some distance. For a vinyl library, this album earns its place as a concise way to keep many of his signature tracks in one analogue edition. Rather than hunting down multiple studio albums to cover this range, collectors can drop the needle anywhere across these four sides and land on a representative moment from his career, from early ballads to mid‑period rock and reflective pieces.

This is a compilation album, not a studio record, and it has become a reference point for listeners who want a broad sweep of Chris Rea on vinyl in a single purchase. The track sequence aligns with the established two-LP edition issued in the late 2010s, created to bring the 2001 best-of programme back to vinyl. Collectors who value coherence will appreciate that the running order follows a consistent tracklist across reputable retailers, including the closing tribute Saudade Part 1 & 2 (Tribute To Ayrton Senna). While it is not tied to a specific anniversary, this release effectively serves as a modern vinyl counterpart to the original compilation, making it an appealing option if you want an overview without diving into individual albums. Its focus on key songs rather than exhaustive rarities keeps it approachable, and its structure across four sides encourages complete listens rather than just dropping in for a single seasonal track.

A smooth, mid‑tempo blend of melodic rock and softly burnished ballads, with warm guitars, unhurried grooves, and a relaxed yet emotionally grounded vocal presence across the sides.

Recommended for: Listeners who want a single vinyl introduction to Chris Rea’s most recognisable songs; Fans of melodic rock and soft rock who appreciate guitar‑driven songwriting with a reflective tone; Collectors seeking a curated overview of his late‑70s to 1990s work without assembling multiple albums; Owners of Driving Home For Christmas who want the track in the wider context of his catalogue; Vinyl listeners building a shelf of accessible, song‑focused compilations from classic British artists.

Is this release a studio album or a compilation? This is a compilation album that gathers key songs from across Chris Rea’s career, originally assembled as a best‑of collection rather than recorded as a single studio project. Which notable tracks are included on this compilation? The tracklist features The Road To Hell (Part 2), Fool (If You Think It’s Over), Let’s Dance, On The Beach, Steel River, The Blue Café, Driving Home For Christmas, Auberge, Nothing To Fear, and Saudade Part 1 & 2 (Tribute To Ayrton Senna), among others. How does this album fit into Chris Rea’s discography? Originally released as a best‑of in the early 2000s and later reissued on vinyl, it functions as a concise survey of his most enduring songs, bridging his early hits, radio favourites, and more reflective later material in one place.