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Blue Guitars [11CD + DVD] by: Chris Rea

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Rating: - Blue Guitars- A "Must Have"

What can I say that hasn't already been said about this remarkable collection of music? Mr. Rea, whilst recovering from a serious illness said that he did not want to die before he wrote a blues album. Blue Guitars was the result- except the one album became ELEVEN wonderful albums set in a beautiful presentation book!

The music is superb. If you haven't listened to Chris Rea before, it doesn't really matter as long as you like blues music and guitars. Start with disc one and just let it wash over you until you reach disc eleven. Almost every style of the blues are here, with some instrumental re-works of old tunes and about 120 new songs! Truly wonderful and if this really is Mr. Rea's Swan Song then what a way to go!

Rating: - A Man and his Music - an education

Chris Rea admits he isn't out to educate us in the blues, but he does. This set is an outstanding feat - the quality of the tracks is astounding, considering how many there are. The task of recreating sounds that were heard decades ago in a modern recording studio, and using such a range of instruments is phenomenal. Rea has done exactly as he has promised: to present a set of albums that are rooted in individual influences of the blues. Your hear elements and recognise twangs, shuffles and rhythms that have populated recordings all over the world for years. The receptive listener will then perhaps research further and perhaps discover the musicians behind the original sounds - the very ones that inspired Rea throughout his career.
Chris Rea never has claimed to be an exponent of the blues, but even the casual listener is going to find something that they like, or even recognise as the set trawls through many different angles,eras and areas of the blues. The Celtic and Irish Album is a great starter for anyone who enjoyed Rea's earlier work that took on elements of the genre, and there is plenty that hints at the gutsy driving feel of Road to Hell and Auberge.
The Latin album also departs significantly from the popular concept that blues is all based in certain states. There is somethng to make the open-minded blues afficionado enjoy - if only because of the many references to proper blues genres and artists - but the musicianship and arrangements are uniquely Chris Rea - in all his ecclectic forms.
It should be pointed out that for those who haven't seen it, the Driving Down the Stony Road DVD which is included is a must-see for those who want to understand where Rea's muse is coming from.
This is one of those sets that isso far ranging, it's staggering- the sheer audacity of it - but the price and wonderfully packaged book make it a wonderful product.
Rea's artwork is worth a second glance - it is accessible and not fruaght with hyperbole - images of guitars in their shapes, forms and colours predominate, but they are easy on the eye anyway.
Chris Rea is one out on his own - a thinking person's musician, with the genuine right to sing the blues in any form - his health struggle alone should inspire us to do what we can for the world whilst we have the chance. With the Blue Guitars box set, Chris Rea has produced soemthing that any artist - in both senses of the word - should be proud of. In true form, he is expressing his spirit independently and honestly, with an ambitious make or break approach, without the backing of a major record label, at a bargain price. Don't be deceived, this is Rea's best body of work ever and it is a pleasure to find the hours to listen to it.
Thank you Chris for sharing your art and music so thoroughly with us - you are what music can be... unpretentious, generous and meaningful.

Rating: - Blue Guitars

I went to this man's farwell tour gig at The Birmingham Symphony Hall.
I had always liked his music and wanted a chance to see him perform live before he hung up his guitar.
What I got, I was not totally prepared for. His talent, technical ability, and pure love of what he does came off the stage like a life force.
During the following week I purchased "Blue Guitars".
If you know even a snippet about music, any music, you will not fail to see that this guy is more than just an exponent of what he calls "The Blues".
HE HAS NO EQUALLS ! At what he does, he is totally brilliant, I envy him for the happiness that he enjoys while practicing his art, infectious enthusiasm.....Love it Chris, I would love to meet you mate.

Rating: - An insult to the blues

As an avid blues fan I decided to buy this album out of curiosity to understand how Chris Rea preceived the evolution of the blues. The resulting 137 tracks, listened to on one sunny weekend, were the biggest musical disappointment I have had in a long time. Chris just does not understand how the blues evolved, cannot perform the blues and has just produced an immense work of elevator music. Saying that, his paintings were good but do not buy the album for its musical content!!

Rating: - Unbelievable - Thanks, Chris!

I've been a Chris Rea fan for - well, ages, and have liked all of the variations in style that he's presented us with over the years. Chris himself, it seems, was less than satisfied with the compromises necessary to satisfy his record companies, who wanted commercial product.

Now, after life-threatening illness, he has produced a stunning set of albums of the music he realy wanted to make all along - based on the blues. He's been working up to this for a little while, with albums such as "Dancing Down The Stony Road" and "The Blue Jukebox", but this 11-CD and 1-DVD set take a completely different approach - that of chronicling the development of the blues as a distinct form of musical expression, and the influence it has had on many of the forms of other popular music that we take for granted today.

As ever, Chris's playing is immaculate, but the freedom he has found in expressing his music his way is very apparent.

To produce 11-albums' worth of brand new material in one shot - it took 18 solid months of writing and recording, apparently - would have been a huge risk if he had been on a mainstream label, but here it just works brilliantly. The songs themselves are of a consistently high standard, even if there are few obviously classic individual songs, but this should be taken in the context of the work as a greater whole.

This is just a stunning achievement, and shows Chris Rea to be a colossus of a musician. I can't think of anyone else who would dare to issue 11 albums of new material simultaneously.

Well done, Chris, and the best of luck with your future projects. This is a wonderful way to sign off from the conventional tour/album/tour round. And at £30 including delivery - what can you say? Brilliant value; everyone with even a passing interest in Chris Rea or the blues should buy this set.

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