Ace of Hearts (Chris Rea song) explained

Ace of Hearts
Cover:	Chris Rea Ace of Hearts 1984 single cover.jpg
Border:	yes
Type:	single
Artist:	Chris Rea
Album:	Wired to the Moon
B-Side:	True Love
Released:	14 September 1984^[1]
Label:	Magnet
Producer:	Chris Rea Dave Richards
Prev Title:	Touche D'Amour
Prev Year:	1984
Next Title:	Stainsby Girls
Next Year:	1985

"Ace of Hearts" is a song by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, which was released by Magnet in 1984 as the fourth and final single from his sixth studio album Wired to the Moon. The song was written by Rea, and produced by Rea and Dave Richards.^[2]

"Ace of Hearts" reached number 79 in the UK Singles Chart in October 1984. A re-issue saw the single peak one position higher at number 78 in November 1985.^[3] In 1988, Rea re-recorded "Ace of Hearts" for his album New Light Through Old Windows.^[4]

Critical reception

Upon its release as a single, Jerry Smith of Music Week stated, "An excellent ballad whose bouncy rhythm, intricate keyboards and sparkling sax plus the effective vocals and vibrant guitar should guarantee plenty of radio exposure. Could do well."^[5] In a review of the 1985 re-issue, Paul Benbow of the Reading Evening Post wrote, "Old gravel voice with a re-release due to popular demand."^[6]

In a retrospective review of Wired to the Moon, Sharon Mawer of AllMusic described the song as a "soft rock number – almost MOR" and one which is "crying out for daytime radio play or a top-selling commercial artist to cover [it]".^[2] In a 2021 retrospective on Rea's "30 best tracks for the open road", Dig! picked "Ace of Hearts" as number 12 on the list. They considered the song to be a "soft rock slow burner" and felt the lyrics were "as much about a heartbroken soul longing for love as it is about a down-on-his-luck gambler waiting for a winning hand".^[7]

Track listing

7-inch single (UK release)^[8]

1. "Ace of Hearts" (Special Remix) – 3:49
2. Excerpts from "I Can Hear Your Heart Beat" (Recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival) – 7:00

7-inch double-pack single (UK release)^[9]

1. "Ace of Hearts" (Special Remix) – 3:49
2. Excerpts from "I Can Hear Your Heart Beat" (Recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival) – 7:00
3. "Bitter Sweet" – 1:13
4. "Auf Immer" – 4:41

7-inch single (German and French release)^{[10] [11]}

1. "Ace of Hearts" (Special Remix) – 3:49
2. "True Love" – 3:40

12-inch and cassette single (UK release)^{[12] [13]}

1. "Ace of Hearts" (Special Remix) – 6:34
2. "I Can Hear Your Heart Beat" – 3:28
3. "From Love to Love" – 3:31
4. "True Love" – 3:40
5. "Smile" – 3:27

12-inch single (German release)^[14]

1. "Ace of Hearts" (Special Remix) – 6:34
2. Excerpts from "I Can Hear Your Heart Beat" (Recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival) – 7:00

12-inch single (French release)^[15]

1. "Ace of Hearts" – 6:34
2. "I Can Hear Your Heart Beat" – 3:28
3. "Love to Love" – 3:31
4. "True Love" – 3:40

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the UK CD1 and CD2 liner notes and the Wired to the Moon sleeve notes.^{[8] [16]}

"Ace of Hearts"

• Chris Rea – vocals, guitar, fretless bass, keyboards, piano
• Jerry Stevenson – guitar, all acoustics
• Kevin Powell – bass
• Jeff Seopardi – drums, brushes

Production

• Chris Rea, Dave Richards – producers

Other

• The Artful Dodgers – sleeve design

Notes and References

1. 15 September 1984 . Record News: Other Releases . . 4.
2. Web site: Mawer . Sharon . Wired to the Moon - Chris Rea; Songs, Reviews, Credits . . 31 January 2022.
3. Web site: CHRIS REA; full Official Chart History . . 31 January 2022.
4. Web site: New Light Through Old Windows: The Best Of Chris Rea - Chris Rea; Songs, Reviews, Credits . . 31 January 2022.
5. Singles . Smith . Jerry . . 6 October 1984 . 28 . 0265-1548 . World Radio History . 11 November 2022.
6. News: Benbow . Paul . 2 November 1985 . Singles . . 15.
7. Web site: Chris Rea Songs: The 30 Best Tracks for the Open Road . Dig! . 3 March 2021 . 31 January 2022.
8. Ace of Hearts . . 1984 . UK 7-inch single sleeve notes . . MAG 269.
9. Ace of Hearts . . 1984 . UK 7-inch double-pack single sleeve notes . . MAG 269X, CHRIS 2.
10. Ace of Hearts . . 1984 . German 7-inch single sleeve notes . . 881 470-7.
11. Ace of Hearts . . 1984 . French 7-inch single sleeve notes . . PB 61553.
12. Ace of Hearts . . 1984 . UK 12-inch single sleeve notes . . MAGT 269.
13. Ace of Hearts . . 1984 . UK special collector's mini-cassette single liner notes . . ZCMAG 269.
14. Ace of Hearts . . 1984 . German 12-inch single sleeve notes . . 881 471-1.
15. Ace of Hearts . . 1985 . French 12-inch single sleeve notes . . PC 61554.
16. Wired to the Moon . Wired to the Moon . . 1984 . UK vinyl LP sleeve notes . . MAGL 5057.