Chris Rea - Driving Home For Christmas
Chris Rea's second attempt at a 1980s Christmas hit single was rather more successful than the previous year's Joys of Christmas, even though it was not a new song. Rea states that the idea for Driving Home For Christmas came to him many years before he (wrote and) recorded it; apparently, his then girlfriend drove from Middlesbrough to London to pick Rea up and drive him back, as this method of travel was cheaper than the train. It was this experience which is borne out in the lyrics; counterbalancing the frustration of Christmas motorway traffic with the anticipation of being reunited with family and friends. Driven by a playful piano melody, underpinned by lush strings and carried along with light percussion, the jazz-tinged track makes for a wistful, easy listen. Rea's trademark gravelly voice provides an interesting contrast with the lightness of the arrangement, suggesting that even a northerner can be softened by the prospect of the Yuletide season. It is largely devoid of the usual sonic adornments that typify most Christmas tracks, although there is a smattering of sleigh bells midway through. Driving Home for Christmas first emerged in 1986 as the B-side to the Hello Friend single, and it was two years until Rea and Magnet issued it as a lead track. That said, this 1988 release of the Driving Home for Christmas EP was not as hugely successful as its later reputation would suggest, stalling at #53 that year. However, the track found a second lease of life due to its use in advertising campaigns and the proliferation of Christmas compilation albums over the years. The record has become a modern Christmas classic, and a staple of Yuletide airplay. It is a perfectly judged seasonal piece, finding extra resonance these days thanks to the sheer insanity of Christmas motorway traffic.
Written by: Chris Rea
Produced by: Chris Rea & Jon Kelly
WEA Records YZ 325 / #53, 1988
From my Kindle book "80s UK Christmas Singles" -- a bargain at 99p!
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