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That wasn´t ment to be instult, just the reality as I´m sure that there is plenty of Chris Rea fans who are only familiar with the pop/rock music and Rea´s turning to blues was suprise and something new for them. I ain´t pointing out which one belongs to each half but I´m pretty sure that´s the case. And there´s nothing wrong with that. You yourself told that you needed a friend to tell you that Chris Rea´s Let´s Dance is blues song, well it can be that with right arrangement and way of playing but with the one which we all know it´s soft rock song.Chris wrote:Hi all,
I wouldn't go as far as (I wouldn't dare it, out of politeness) to even suggest that "half of the people inside this forum" don't know about the blues because - as J.J. Cale sings (in "These Blues" from CD "To Tulsa And Back") - "the blues is not a song you sing; it is a way of life."
One either feels the blues or he/she doesn't. It's as simple as that. One doesn't need to be a musician, know about the chords, riffs etc., to understand the blues. Besides, both melodies and texts are rather simple flowing straight from the hearts and souls.
Chris Rea's songs from his early years, in my opinion, are merely a good material for blues songs and so he seems to say in numerous interviews when he suggests that every of his song can be re-made into the blues.
"Let's Dance" is definitely a blues. I'm grateful to a friend of my who years ago, in Munich, pointed out to this song, saying to me: 'it's a great blues, you ought to listen to it." I guess he knew what he was saying. He is a classical concert pianist.
Best regards to all,
Chris
And I´m talking here about the fact that Rea´s old material in its old production is far from authentic blues music. And that way many of his fans hasn´t thought Chris as blues musician, that group of people may have just found out about the blues music after Stony Road album.
: I have to admit mr_blues may be right in thinking a certain percentage of Chris' fans are not really blues and rock fans. When Chris was on his peak of commercial success there were ten-thousands of people attending his concerts and I heard many of them complaing about Chris playing to loud and too many rock songs and guitar solos - they expected him to play only soft love songs and were kind of shocked by what they saw. Maybe they had never been to a rock concert and it was a frightening experience 
