On the Beach (Chris Rea song)

"On the Beach"
Single by Chris Rea
from the album On the Beach (1986 version) and New Light Through Old Windows (1988 version)
B-side	"If Anybody Asks You" (1986) "I'm Taking the Day Out" (1988)
Released	May 1986[1]
Genre	Soft rock[2]
Length	5:04 (album version) 4:20 (special remix) 6:02 (special extended remix)
Label	Magnet (1986 release) WEA (1988 release)
Songwriter(s)	Chris Rea
Producer(s)	Chris Rea David Richards (1986 version) Jon Kelly (1988 version)
Chris Rea singles chronology
"It's All Gone" (1986) "On the Beach" (1986) "Hello Friend" (1986)
"Que Sera" (1988) "On the Beach (Summer '88)" (1988) "I Can Hear Your Heartbeat" (1988)
Music video
"On the Beach" on YouTube

"On the Beach" is a song by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea that was released in 1986, as the second single from his eighth studio album, On the Beach.^[3] It was written by Rea and produced by Rea and David Richards. "On the Beach" reached No. 57 in the United Kingdom in 1986, and also charted in France and the Netherlands.

In 1988, Rea re-recorded "On the Beach" for his album New Light Through Old Windows and released it as a single.^[4] Produced by Rea and Jon Kelly, it reached No. 12 in the UK and No. 18 in Ireland. In 1989, it reached No. 9 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

Background

"On the Beach" was inspired by the Spanish island Formentera off the coast of Ibiza. Speaking to Songfacts, Rea said, "That's where me and my wife became me and my wife. That's what it's about. Yeah, I was 'between the eyes of love.' It's a lovely island if ever you're in Europe."^[5]

Critical reception

In a retrospective review of the On the Beach album, Rob Caldwell of AllMusic described the song as the "standout track", adding that the original version was "the most evocative, a little slower and more meditative than [the] others." He recommended the song further by selecting it as an AMG Pick Track.^[3] Mike DeGagne, in an AllMusic review of New Light Through Old Windows commented that the song, along with "Let's Dance", "represent a lean toward a more commercial sound."^[4]

Track listing

Original release 7-inch single "On the Beach (Special Remix)" – 4:20 "If Anybody Asks You" – 5:00 7-inch single (alternative release) "On the Beach" – 5:03 "On the Beach (Special Remix)" – 4:20 2x 7-inch single (UK limited edition release) "On the Beach (Special Remix)" – 4:20 "If Anybody Asks You" – 5:00 "Chris Rea Live" – 3:37 Live at the Hammersmith Odeon - London 2 May 1986 "Chris Rea Live" – 4:31 Live at the Hammersmith Odeon - London 2 May 1986 7-inch single (US release) "On the Beach (Edit)" – 3:47 "Se Sequi" – 5:03 7-inch single (US promo) "On the Beach (Edit)" – 3:47 "On the Beach (Edit)" – 3:47 12-inch single "On the Beach (Special Extended Remix)" – 6:02 "If Anybody Asks You" – 5:00 "On the Beach (Special Remix)" – 4:20 12-inch single (Italian promo) "On the Beach (Special Remix)" – 4:20 "If Anybody Asks You" – 5:00 "One Golden Rule" – 4:45 "Midnight Blue" – 6:28

1988 release 7-inch single "On the Beach Summer '88" – 3:45 "I'm Taking the Day Out" – 3:25 12-inch single "On the Beach Summer '88" – 6:50 "I'm Taking the Day Out" – 3:25 "It's All Gone (Live in Montreux)" – 8:10 CD single "On the Beach Summer '88" – 3:44 "I'm Taking the Day Out" – 3:23 "It's All Gone (Live in Montreux)" – 8:11 "September Blue" – 3:06 CD single (US promo) "On the Beach (Edit)" – 3:47 "On the Beach (LP Version)" – 6:50

Personnel

1986 version Chris Rea - vocals, instruments, producer David Richards - producer, mixing on "On the Beach" David Scavenger - mixing on "If Anybody Asks You" Ekkeheart Gurlitt - photography

1988 version Chris Rea - vocals, instruments, producer Jon Kelly - producer, engineer Justin Shirley-Smith - assistant engineer

Charts

1986 release Chart (1986–1987) Peak position France (SNEP)[6] 48 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[7] 33 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] 34 UK Singles (OCC)[9] 57 Chart (2024) Peak position Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[10] 20

1988 release Chart (1988–1989) Peak position Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[11] 40 Ireland (IRMA)[12] 18 UK Singles (OCC)[9] 12 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[13] 9

York version

"O.T.B. (On the Beach)"
German maxi-single cover artwork
Single by York
from the album Experience
Released	1999 (1999)
Genre	Trance
Length	3:36 (radio mix)
Label	Adrenalin
Songwriter(s)	Chris Rea
Producer(s)	CRW
York singles chronology
"Jastamba" (1998) "O.T.B. (On the Beach)" (1999) "The Fields of Love" (2000)

In 1999, German dance music group York sampled the guitar riff for their track "O.T.B. (On the Beach)". In June 2000, it debuted and peaked at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks and sold over 200,000 copies to earn a silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Rea played guitar with York for their performance of the track on Top of the Pops. He also stated on British radio that he had intended to go to Ibiza with York for live promotions but was unable due to a recent heart attack.^{[citation needed]}

Track listings

German maxi-CD single^[14]

1. "O.T.B. (On the Beach)" (Vocal Radio Mix) – 3:36
2. "O.T.B. (On the Beach)" (Magic Marc's Radiomix) – 3:41
3. "O.T.B. (On the Beach)" (Milk & Sugar Radio Version) – 3:40
4. "O.T.B. (On the Beach)" (Hitch Hiker & Dumondt Radio Version) – 3:30
5. "O.T.B. (On the Beach)" ([e-mail]) – 6:36
6. "O.T.B. (On the Beach)" (Milk & Sugar's "Munich Is Burning" Club Mix) – 8:07
7. "O.T.B. (On the Beach)" (Hitch Hiker & Dumondt Club Mix) – 8:10

Italian CD single^[15]

1. "O.T.B. (On the Beach)" (Basic Connection Edit) – 3:18
2. "O.T.B. (On the Beach)" (Basic Connection Mix) – 6:40
3. "O.T.B. (On the Beach)" (Hitch Hiker & Dumondt Club Mix) – 8:10
4. "O.T.B. (On the Beach)" ([e-mail]) – 6:33

Belgian 12-inch single^[16]

A1. "O.T.B. (On the Beach)" (Milk & Sugar Club Mix) – 8:07

A2. "O.T.B. (On the Beach)" (CRW Mix) – 6:52

B1. "O.T.B. (On the Beach)" (Original Mix) – 7:13

B2. "O.T.B. (On the Beach)" (Hitch Hiker & Dumondt Club Mix) – 8:10

US 12-inch single^[17]

A1. "O.T.B. (On the Beach)" (CRW Mix) – 6:40

A2. "O.T.B. (On the Beach)" – 8:07

B1. "O.T.B. (On the Beach)" (Eivissa@Night Mix) – 6:36

B2. "O.T.B. (On the Beach)" (Hitch Hiker & Dumondt Club Mix) – 8:10

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1999–2000) Peak position Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[18] 30 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[19] 18 Germany (GfK)[20] 70 Ireland (IRMA)[12] 10 Italy (FIMI)[21] 43 Scotland (OCC)[22] 3 UK Singles (OCC)[23] 4 UK Dance (OCC)[24] 1 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[25] 23

Year-end charts Chart (2000) Position Ireland (IRMA)[26] 67 UK Singles (OCC)[27] 74

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[28]	Silver	200,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Germany	1999 (1999)	CD	Adrenalin	[14]
United Kingdom	29 May 2000 (2000-05-29)		Manifesto	[29]

References

1. "Music Week" (PDF). p. 8.
2. "BLUESFEST: Chris Rea | Music in London". Time Out London.
3. Caldwell, Rob. "AllMusic Review by Rob Caldwell". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
4. DeGagne, Mike (17 October 1988). "AllMusic Review by Mike DeGagne". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
5. "Chris Rea : Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
6. "Chris Rea – On the Beach" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
7. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 33, 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
8. "Chris Rea – On the Beach" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
9. "Chris Rea: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
10. "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of August 7, 2024". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 7 August 2024.
11. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 36. 3 September 1988. p. 14. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
12. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – On the Beach". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
13. "Chris Rea Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
14. O.T.B. (On the Beach) (German maxi-CD single liner notes). York. Adrenalin Records. 1999. ADR 667469 2, 6674692000.
15. O.T.B. (On the Beach) (Italian CD single liner notes). York. No Colours Records. 2000. NC 22567-0095/2.
16. O.T.B. (On the Beach) (Belgian 12-inch single vinyl disc). York. Lightning Records. 2000. LR-2000-009.
17. O.T.B. (On the Beach) (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). York. Radikal Records. 2000. RAD99041-1.
18. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 7096." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
19. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 26. 24 June 2000. p. 11. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
20. "York – O.T.B. (On the Beach)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
21. "York – O.T.B. (On the Beach)". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
22. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
23. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
24. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
25. "York Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
26. "Top 100 of 2000". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Archived from the original on 2 June 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
27. "Best Sellers of 2000: Singles Top 100". Music Week. 20 January 2001. p. 25.
28. "British single certifications – York – On the Beach". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
29. "New Releases – For Week Starting May 29, 2000: Singles". Music Week. 27 May 2000. p. 25.