Joys of Christmas explained

Joys of Christmas
Cover:Chris Rea Joys of Christmas 1987 single cover.jpg
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Chris Rea
Album:Dancing with Strangers
B-Side:Driving Home for Christmas
Released:23 November 1987[1]
Length:5:04
Label:Magnet
Producer:Chris Rea
Prev Title:Loving You Again
Prev Year:1987
Next Title:Que Sera
Next Year:1988

"Joys of Christmas" is a song by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, which was released in 1987 as the third single from his ninth studio album Dancing with Strangers. The song was written and produced by Rea. "Joys of Christmas" reached No. 67 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the Top 100 for two weeks.[2]

Background

"Joys of Christmas" was inspired by Rea's own experiences of growing up as a child in Middlesbrough. Rea recalled for the liner notes of the 2019 re-issue of Dancing with Strangers,

The single's B-side is the first version of "Driving Home for Christmas" that Rea recorded. The song was re-recorded for New Light Through Old Windows in 1988 and released as a single in its own right.[3]

Critical reception

On its release as a single, Danny Baker of New Musical Express questioned "Joys of Christmas" as an A-side and felt that the "wee low-key gift tucked away on the B-side", "Driving Home for Christmas", was "the real winner". He added, "'Joys of Christmas' isn't even a seasonally recorded deal. It says here that it's from his last LP. How very odd."[4] In a review of Dancing with Strangers, Robin Denselow of The Guardian described "Joys of Christmas" as a "bleak view of life in the North" and noted the song's "melodic bluesy feel" and "spoken pieces".[5] Helen Metella of the Edmonton Journal commented that the song "juxtaposes a modern hymn against the snapshots of out-of-work youth in north England".[6] James Muretich of the Calgary Herald felt Rea had "penned a classic" with "Joys of Christmas" and noted its "cutting, Claptonish guitar licks" and "tales of hardship amid the season of supposed joy".[7]

Track listing

7-inch single[8]

  1. "Joys of Christmas" – 5:04
  2. "Driving Home for Christmas" – 4:34

12-inch single[9]

  1. "Joys of Christmas" – 5:04
  2. "Driving Home for Christmas" – 4:34
  3. "Hello Friend" (re-record) – 4:20

CD single[10]

  1. "Joys of Christmas" – 5:04
  2. "Yes I Do" – 3:21
  3. "Driving Home for Christmas" – 4:34
  4. "Hello Friend" (re-record) – 4:20

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the UK CD single liner notes and the Dancing with Strangers booklet.[10] [11]

Joys of Christmas

Production

Other

Notes and References

  1. 14 November 1987. Chris Rea - Dancing with Strangers. Music Week. 15. World Radio History. 15 October 2021.
  2. Web site: CHRIS REA - full Official Chart History . . 15 October 2021.
  3. Web site: The Story Of... 'Driving Home for Christmas' by Chris Rea - Smooth . Smoothradio.com . 15 October 2021.
  4. Baker . Danny . 5 December 1987 . 45 . . 15 . 0028-6362.
  5. News: Denselow. Robin. 18 September 1987. Rock/Pop: Jagger on his own true beat. The Guardian. 17.
  6. News: Metella. Helen. 29 October 1987. Melt-in-your-ear tunes sure winners for Rea. Edmonton Journal. E8.
  7. News: Muretich. James. 12 December 1987. Crooner prowls urban jungle. Calgary Herald. H4.
  8. Joys of Christmas. Chris Rea. 1987. UK 7-inch single sleeve. Magnet Records. MAG 314.
  9. Joys of Christmas. Chris Rea. 1987. UK 12-inch single sleeve. Magnet Records. MAGT 314.
  10. Joys of Christmas. Chris Rea. 1987. UK CD single liner notes. Magnet Records. CDMAG 314.
  11. Dancing with Strangers. Dancing with Strangers. Chris Rea. 1987. UK CD album booklet. Magnet Records. CDMAG 5071.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Joys of Christmas".

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