Last week I wrote about the song “Boogie Oogie Oogie” by a group called A Taste of Honey, and how they won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1979 over more deserving acts like The Cars, Elvis Costello, Toto, and Chris Rea. In my write-up I called Rea, like A Taste of Honey, a one-hit wonder. Some readers took offense at that, which led to me taking a closer look at Mr. Rea—and making his song “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)” today’s classic song of the day.
First, the song. “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)” was released in July of 1978 on the United Artists label here in the States, and the Magnet label in the UK. The song was written by Mr. Rea and was the lead single from his debut album, Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?. The single peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, #10 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #1 on Billboard’s Easy Listening chart. In Rea’s native England, the single stalled at #30.
Chris Rea is a British rock and blues singer and songwriter, born in 1951. He bought his first guitar when he was in his twenties; influences on his bluesy slide guitar style include Blind Willie Johnson, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and Ry Cooder. He joined his first band, Magdalene, in 1973, then later that year left to form another band called The Beautiful Losers. He released his first solo single in 1974, with his first solo album following in 1978. Over a long career on the other side of the pond, Rea released 25 solo albums, two of which topped the British charts. While he only had one big hit in the U.S., he had a dozen Top 40 hits in the UK.
So I was right in calling Mr. Rea a one-hit wonder here in the States, even though overseas he was a much more successful artist. Despite a series of health issues, he’s still alive and performing today, 73 years old.
