leonardcohenforum.com

Posted: **Sat Jul 26, 2003 11:24 pm**

Hello!
Has anybody listened Chris Rea´s The road to hell?
I think his voice remembers me .....(guess?)

Posted: **Sat Jul 26, 2003 11:35 pm**

Sandra, 'The Road To Hell' is the M25 motorway that encircles London.
Just wait till you hear his new album, 'Dancing Down The Stony Road'.
He underwent major surgery last year and only had a 50% chance of survival. This new album is work he wanted to do for himself, and not what the record companies demanded. A lot of it was produced in his own studio. If you like Road To Hell, this new collection will blow your socks off. It's Rea's choice and nobody else's. He appeared on TV and gave a live performance about 4 months ago. He has lost half of his weight and it was a hell of a shock to see how gaunt he looked. But, he belted out the song like days of old. Magic!!
Byron 'sends his best regards'.

Posted: **Sun Jul 27, 2003 1:11 am**

Byron I didn't know Chris Rea was ill. I just did a search to see if I could find any information on his illness and a site I just went to had a bizzare fact which also connected him to LC - bearing in mind people often think "Road to Hell" is sung by Leonard - Chris Rea was in a band called "Beautiful Losers" in the 70's

http://www.musicweb.uk.net/encyclopaedia/r/R33.HTM

Posted: **Sun Jul 27, 2003 2:14 am**

Chris Rea was interviewed on our local TV several months ago - as far as I remember he had cancer from which he was not really expected to recover. I remember mailing someone at the time about it but I'm damned if I can now remember who

and I don't remember exactly what he said, but I do seem to recall something about the experience changing his perspective on life, love and the universe

Some of his new music was played and I really liked it - and I loved Road to Hell so much that I wore my tape out years ago listening to it over and over.

Jo

Posted: **Sun Jul 27, 2003 4:16 am**

"I said mother I come to the valley of the rich, my soul to sell" She said, "son this is the road to hell."
The opening of that song can send shivers up your spine. I think he is being justifiably disenchanted with the popular music industry. Great song, great record.

and there are no diamonds in the mine.

Posted: **Sun Jul 27, 2003 9:03 am**

Some overcome cancer - like Lance Armstrong - and I think part of their trick is to really believe there's always "Diamonds In The Mine" though the mailbox might be empty"...

Posted: **Sun Jul 27, 2003 11:23 am**

I believe it was cancer of the pancreas. He survived. Thank G-d.

Posted: **Sun Jul 27, 2003 1:45 pm**

Chris Rea has produced some excellent albums and 'The Road To Hell' is possibly the best (that I've heard). I really like his use of bottle neck slide and there is a power in the understated use of guitar on his songs. I also really like the song 'You Must Be Evil' on that album. A good commentary on the 6:00 pm news.

Cheers, Witty Owl.

Posted: **Sun Jul 27, 2003 1:56 pm**

I saw Chris Rea live here in Helsinki in 1991, he had the "Road to Hell"
World Tour - a very impressive concert, and the guy himself is most
sympathetic. During these years I have received really many emails
about some of his songs - people have believed that the singer is Leonard!
Jarkko

Posted: **Mon Jul 28, 2003 12:24 am**

chris Rea has a new album just released called Blue Street(Five Guitars) which I saw reviewed in my weekend newspaper. Most tracks are instrumental on this one.

Posted: **Tue Jul 29, 2003 2:52 am**

yes....there is a similarity in the tone of his voice .I do not know much about that singer though I cannot say more