Dancing with Strangers

Dancing With Strangers
Dancing With Strangers
Studio album by Chris Rea
Released	14 September 1987
Studio	Mountain Studios (Montreux, Switzerland); Studio Miraval (Le Val, France); Hartmann Digital (Bavaria, Germany);
Genre	Album-oriented rock
Length	49.16 (58:54 on cd with bonus tracks)
Label	Magnet; Motown (US)
Producer	Chris Rea
Chris Rea chronology
Singles from Dancing with Strangers
	"Let's Dance"; Released: 18 May 1987; "Loving You Again"; Released: 17 August 1987; "Joys of Christmas"; Released: 23 November 1987;

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Record Mirror	^[4]
Smash Hits	7/10^[5]

Dancing with Strangers is the ninth studio album by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, released in 1987. It became Rea's first major success in the UK, peaking at No. 2 behind Michael Jackson's Bad, and spent 46 weeks in the charts before going platinum.^[6] The album entered the Top 10 in six other European countries, and topped the chart in New Zealand.^[7]

"Let's Dance" was released as the first single and peaked at No. 12 in the UK, and climbed to No. 2 in New Zealand.^[8] It was followed by "Loving You Again", "Joys of Christmas" and "Que Sera". The album features renowned Irish piper Davy Spillane.

Production

Rea had put a multi-track recording desk in his garage, and "made the whole album with three microphones. Nobody heard it, nobody witnessed it", he said. "It was just me having fun."^[9] It was "the first time Rea had demoed and partly recorded the album at home", which "gave him more control and helped cement his vision".^[10]

Despite the lead single's success, subsequent singles fared relatively poorly in the UK charts, with "Loving You Again" reaching No. 47, "Joys of Christmas" making it to No. 67 and "Que Sera" reaching No. 73. The latter shares a verse taken from an earlier song from the eponymous Chris Rea, called "When You Know Your Love Has Died."

Dancing With Strangers, along with four other albums from Rea's commercial peak, was remastered and reissued as a double album, with the first disc consisting of the original LP, and the second containing bonus material including singles, along with alternative and live versions.^[11]

Track listing

All songs by Chris Rea.

"Joys of Christmas" – 5:15
"I Can't Dance to That" – 4:19
"Windy Town" – 4:25
"Gonna Buy a Hat" – 4:25
"Curse of the Traveller" – 6:26
"Let's Dance" – 4:07
"Que Sera" – 5:23
"Josie's Tune" – 2:19
"Loving You Again" – 5:40
"That Girl of Mine" – 3:41
"September Blue" – 3:09
"I Don't Care Any More" – 2:10
"Donahue's Broken Wheel" – 3:02
"Danielle's Breakfast" – 4:33

Note

Tracks 12–14 are bonus tracks not available on the initial LP release.

Personnel

Musicians

Chris Rea – vocals, guitar (1, 2, 6), accordion (1, 4, 10), harmonica (1, 2, 7), brass (1, 4, 6, 7, 9), acoustic guitar (3), rhythm guitar (3), banjo (3), slide guitar (4, 10), all other guitars (5, 7), keyboards (6, 7), acoustic piano (7), all other instruments (8), all guitars (9), strings (9), lead guitar (10), all instruments (11–14)
Kevin Leach – acoustic piano (2, 3, 5, 9, 10), organ (2, 5, 7), Hammond organ (4)
Jerry Donahue – lead guitar (3, 4, 7), acoustic guitar (3), rhythm guitar (5, 10)
Eoghan O'Neill – bass (1–7, 9, 10), drums (1), percussion (1)
Martin Ditcham – drums (2–7, 9, 10), percussion (2, 3, 5–7, 9, 10)
Davy Spillane – Uilleann pipes (3, 5, 8, 10), low whistle (3, 5, 8, 10)

Production

Chris Rea – producer, mixing
Stewart Eales – engineer
Jean Jacques Lemoine – engineer
Justin Shirley-Smith – engineer
Jon Kelly – mixing
Willie Grimston – coordination
Mark Entwistle – cover illustration
Shoot That Tiger! – sleeve design
Jim Beach – management
Paul Lilly – management

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1987–88)	Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)^[12]	7
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[13]	13
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[14]	7
European Albums (Music & Media)^[15]	8
French Albums (IFOP)^[16]	14
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[17]	5
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[18]	1
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)^[19]	6
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[20]	7
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[21]	7
UK Albums (OCC)^[22]	2

Year-end charts

Chart (1987)	Position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[23]	85
European Albums (Music & Media)^[24]	68
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[25]	27
Chart (1988)	Position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[26]	68

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia	—	75,000^[27]
France (SNEP)^[28]	Gold	100,000^*
Germany (BVMI)^[29]	Gold	250,000^{^}
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[30]	Gold	7,500^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[31]	Platinum	300,000^{^}
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ "Tom Odell, Magnetised, Single - The BPI". Bpi.co.uk. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
^ "New Singles". Music Week. 16 May 1987. p. 27.
^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 19.
^ Morton, Roger (3 October 1987). "Albums". Record Mirror. p. 21. ISSN 0144-5804.
^ Cranna, Ian (7–20 October 1987). "Albums: Chris Rea — Dancing with Strangers (Magnet)" (PDF). Smash Hits. Vol. 9, no. 19. Peterborough: EMAP National Publications, Ltd. p. 60. ISSN 0260-3004. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 August 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2023 – via World Radio History. Alt URL
^ 1987-09-26 Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive, Officialcharts.com, Retrieved July 9, 2013
^ Chris Rea - Dancing With Strangers, swisscharts.com, Retrieved July 9, 2013
^ Chris Rea - Let's Dance, swisscharts.com, Retrieved July 9, 2013
^ "Chris Rea on "Dancing with Strangers" | The Story Behind". Chris Rea Official channel (YouTube.com). Retrieved 7 November 2022.
^ McCann, Ian (1 September 2021). "Dancing With Strangers: How Chris Rea Whirled His Way To The Top". This is Dig.com. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
^ Wade, Ian (16 August 2019). "Chris Rea / The Rea-issues". Super Deluxe Edition. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 246. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "Austriancharts.at – Chris Rea – Dancing with Strangers" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Chris Rea – Dancing with Strangers" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
^ "European Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 44. 7 November 1987. p. 24. OCLC 29800226. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2022 – via World Radio History.
^ "InfoDisc : Les Tubes de chaque Artiste commençant par R". Infodisc.fr. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Chris Rea – Dancing with Strangers" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
^ "Charts.nz – Chris Rea – Dancing with Strangers". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Chris Rea – Dancing with Strangers". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
^ "Swedishcharts.com – Chris Rea – Dancing with Strangers". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
^ "Swisscharts.com – Chris Rea – Dancing with Strangers". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1987" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
^ "European Chart of the Year 1987" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 51/52. 26 December 1987. p. 35. OCLC 29800226. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2022 – via World Radio History.
^ "Top Selling Albums of 1987 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
^ "The Majors" (PDF). Billboard. 30 January 1988. p. A-22. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
^ "French album certifications – Chris Rea – Dancing with Strangers" (in French). InfoDisc. Select CHRIS REA and click OK.
^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Chris Rea; 'Dancing with Strangers')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
^ "New Zealand album certifications – Chris Rea – Dancing with Strangers". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
^ "British album certifications – Chris Rea – Dancing with Strangers". British Phonographic Industry.

[1] "Tom Odell, Magnetised, Single - The BPI". Bpi.co.uk. Retrieved 3 June 2025.

[2] "New Singles". Music Week. 16 May 1987. p. 27.

[3] "Music Week" (PDF). p. 19.

[4] Morton, Roger (3 October 1987). "Albums". Record Mirror. p. 21. ISSN 0144-5804.

[5] Cranna, Ian (7–20 October 1987). "Albums: Chris Rea — Dancing with Strangers (Magnet)" (PDF). Smash Hits. Vol. 9, no. 19. Peterborough: EMAP National Publications, Ltd. p. 60. ISSN 0260-3004. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 August 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2023 – via World Radio History. Alt URL

[6] 1987-09-26 Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive, Officialcharts.com, Retrieved July 9, 2013

[7] Chris Rea - Dancing With Strangers, swisscharts.com, Retrieved July 9, 2013

[8] Chris Rea - Let's Dance, swisscharts.com, Retrieved July 9, 2013

[9] "Chris Rea on "Dancing with Strangers" | The Story Behind". Chris Rea Official channel (YouTube.com). Retrieved 7 November 2022.

[10] McCann, Ian (1 September 2021). "Dancing With Strangers: How Chris Rea Whirled His Way To The Top". This is Dig.com. Retrieved 7 November 2022.

[11] Wade, Ian (16 August 2019). "Chris Rea / The Rea-issues". Super Deluxe Edition. Retrieved 7 November 2022.

[aus-12] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 246. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[ac_Austria_Chris_Rea-13] "Austriancharts.at – Chris Rea – Dancing with Strangers" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.

[ac_Netherlands_Chris_Rea-14] "Dutchcharts.nl – Chris Rea – Dancing with Strangers" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.

[15] "European Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 44. 7 November 1987. p. 24. OCLC 29800226. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2022 – via World Radio History.

[16] "InfoDisc : Les Tubes de chaque Artiste commençant par R". Infodisc.fr. Retrieved 5 February 2022.

[ac_Germany_Chris_Rea-17] "Offiziellecharts.de – Chris Rea – Dancing with Strangers" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 5 February 2022.

[ac_New_Zealand_Chris_Rea-18] "Charts.nz – Chris Rea – Dancing with Strangers". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.

[ac_Norway_Chris_Rea-19] "Norwegiancharts.com – Chris Rea – Dancing with Strangers". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.

[ac_Sweden_Chris_Rea-20] "Swedishcharts.com – Chris Rea – Dancing with Strangers". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.

[ac_Switzerland_Chris_Rea-21] "Swisscharts.com – Chris Rea – Dancing with Strangers". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.

[ac_UK2_-22] "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 February 2022.

[23] "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1987" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 5 February 2022.

[24] "European Chart of the Year 1987" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 51/52. 26 December 1987. p. 35. OCLC 29800226. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2022 – via World Radio History.

[25] "Top Selling Albums of 1987 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 5 February 2022.

[26] "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 5 February 2022.

[27] "The Majors" (PDF). Billboard. 30 January 1988. p. A-22. Retrieved 14 December 2020.

[FranceChris_ReaDancing_with_StrangersalbumCertRef-28] "French album certifications – Chris Rea – Dancing with Strangers" (in French). InfoDisc. Select CHRIS REA and click OK.

[GermanyChris_ReaDancing_with_StrangersalbumCertRef-29] "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Chris Rea; 'Dancing with Strangers')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.

[New_ZealandChris_ReaDancing_with_StrangersalbumCertRef-30] "New Zealand album certifications – Chris Rea – Dancing with Strangers". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.

[United_KingdomChris_ReaDancing_with_StrangersalbumCertRef-31] "British album certifications – Chris Rea – Dancing with Strangers". British Phonographic Industry.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

v t e Chris Rea
Studio releases	Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? Deltics Tennis Chris Rea Water Sign Wired to the Moon Shamrock Diaries On the Beach Dancing with Strangers The Road to Hell Auberge God's Great Banana Skin Espresso Logic The Blue Cafe The Road to Hell: Part 2 King of the Beach Dancing Down the Stony Road / Stony Road Hofner Blue Notes The Blue Jukebox Blue Guitars The Return of the Fabulous Hofner Bluenotes Santo Spirito Blues Road Songs for Lovers One Fine Day
Compilation releases	New Light Through Old Windows The Best of Chris Rea The Very Best of Chris Rea Heartbeats The Ultimate Collection Still So Far to Go: The Best of Chris Rea The Journey 1978–2009
Singles	"Fool (If You Think It's Over)" "Loving You" "Every Beat of My Heart" "Let It Loose" "I Can Hear Your Heartbeat" "I Don't Know What It Is But I Love It" "Bombollini" "Ace of Hearts" "Stainsby Girls" "Josephine" "It's All Gone" "On the Beach" "Hello Friend" "Let's Dance" "Loving You Again" "Joys of Christmas" "Driving Home for Christmas" "Working on It" "The Road to Hell" "That's What They Always Say" "Tell Me There's a Heaven" "Texas" "Auberge" "Heaven" "Looking for the Summer" "Winter Song" "Nothing to Fear" "God's Great Banana Skin" "Soft Top, Hard Shoulder" "Julia" "'Disco' La Passione"
Related articles	Discography La Passione

Dancing with Strangers

Hub talks

Dancing with Strangers

Dancing with Strangers

Dancing with Strangers

Hub overview

Add your contribution

Inside this hub

Media Collections

Timelines

Articles

Notes collections

Notes

Days in Chronicle

Root Wikipedia Article

Dancing with Strangers

Production

Track listing

Personnel

Musicians

Production

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

Add your contribution

Related Hubs

Dancing with Strangers

Hub talks

Welcome to #editors!