Farewell Chris Rea on your last drive home for Christmas
Hello hello silver bloggers, music lovers and Hello hivers!
One of if not my favourite Christmas songs is Driving Home for Christmas. So when Mrs T came home last night from work and said had I heard Chris Rea had passed away, I must admit I was a bit taken aback.
Chris Rea was from Middlesbrough in the North East of England and was a proud Smoggie.
I had quite a few friends up that way and they were proud of punch his achievements.
It's a sad day and yet another musical icon taking their last drive home for Christmas.
It is Tuesday and that of course means that it's #ttt or #threetunetuesday and so it's time to share some tunes with you!
@ablaze started #ttt 239 weeks ago! Go check out what it is all about on his last post Uplifting Tunes for Three Tune Tuesday - Week 239 - win some HBI
Do go support @ablaze as without him we would not have this mental fun musical activity that you can win HSBI from! I am happy to be one of the SIX sponsors and it is kinda fun checking out music from all over this global village of ours!
Long live #ttt 😁🎼 and #threetunetuesday
It’s a bittersweet Tuesday today as more and more people heard of tte news of Chris Rea’s passing yesterday. He was a true Middlesbrough legend who battled through so much health-wise but never lost his passion for the blues. For this week’s #TTT, I’ve picked three tracks that show the range of the man—from the snowy motorways to the summer sands.
Tune 1 - Chris Rea - Driving Home for Christmas
My absolute favourite Christmas song. It just doesn't feel like December until those first few piano notes hit. Chris wrote this back in 1978 while stuck in his wife Joan's Austin Mini, wondering if they’d make it home for the holidays. It captures that specific feeling of relief and anticipation better than any other song.
Release Date: 1986
Album: New Light Through Old Windows
I have heard him interviewed so many times over the years about the story behind the song.
this is the last time we saw on 3rd December 2023
Tune 2 - Chris Rea - The Blue Cafe
It was the title track of his 1998 album and has that moody, late-night blues feel that Chris did better than anyone. It’s one of those songs that makes you want to find a quiet corner, pour a drink, and just toast his last journey home for Christmas.
Album: The Blue Cafe
Released: 1998
Tune 3 - Chris Rea - Josephine
He was a big family man and this was one of his most tender songs, written for his eldest daughter, Josephine. Over the years, he recorded many versions of this track (including a disco-inflected one!), but the soulful 1985 original from Shamrock Diaries is the one that truly captures the heart. It’s a beautiful example of how he weaved his family life into his music.
Album: Shamrock Diaries
Released: 1985
So there you have it — 3 Chris Rea songs this week as a tribute to him.
Which was your favourite tune? Or have you never heard of them?
Note: The 3 YouTube videos that I have shared are not owned by me, I am simply spreading great music on Hive.
I wish that you all have a brilliant happy fun and terrific Tuesday until we meet again enjoy your tunes 🎶🎵🎶
Thanks for visiting!
The images were taken by the author and ramblings are also from me with some assistance from gemini, the mad Scotsman TengoLoTodo unless otherwise stated.
@tengolotodo December 23rd 2025
DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND DO IT OFTEN
HASTE YE BACK
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What a great loss. I can't remember listening to any of his songs but now that I did, his songs are really iconic, especially "Driving home to Christmas."
Merry Christmas Tengo.
I haven't been seeing you around threads, hope it's all cool?
!BBH
Merry Christmas luchyl
Yes "Driving home to Christmas" really is iconic and I have been playing it daily over this week. Such a great loss but it happens daily now, must be getting old!
I hope you have been having a great time and getting spoilt hehe!
Merry Christmas, Tengo. Hope you had a great celebration.
Having a great time? Well Yes. Getting spoilt? No, didn't get any gifts to unbox. 😢 But I'm still hopeful.
!BBH
You got no gifts to unwrap ..... Abeg tell me it's not true! In the meantime you can unbox this 😘
It's true Tengo. 😅
!BBH
Hola, Super Ed. How are you?
I've never heard Chris Rea before, can you believe it?
I loved the song Driving Home for Christmas.
I did a little search and saw that he had participated in the recording of the song Do They Know It's Christmas?, which of course I remember ;) How sad that he passed away :(
I wish you and Mrs. T a Merry Christmas 🎄✨️💙
He was big here, and refused to go to America as he was a big family man. Driving Home for Christmas is huge here especially amongst people our age etc.
Merry Christmas and I hope you have been a great time Super Eli 💙💙💙
You have been manual curated and upvoted by @ecency
Nice to know about Chris Rhea through this article. Few of them definitely are family oriented by mixing passion with family ties. A definite appreciation for these people. Wishing you and family members Merry 🎄 🇨🇽 🤶 in advance.
He really was a very big family man. Merry Christmas
👍
I've gotta be honest, never heard any of them before today.
Yeah he did have one hit in the US but was a family guy and would not tour over your way. Glad he stayed put and did what he wanted.
Wow, that is such a sad loss... I always loved "Josephine," as such a low key and soulful break in the 1980s New Wave sound.
Of course, can't think about Chris without a mention of "On the Beach" and what became a strangely iconic song for me — because I lived there — "Texas."
Yeah I would have included On the Beach, but seckorama had already posted his ttt and included it. Such a loss though, Driving Home from Christmas is probably the UKs favourite Christmas song, especially from the non kids generations!
Merry Christmas
My favourite song from Chris is On The Beach.
I'm also thinking of those magical (made-up) moments when he performed with Mark Knopfler in Dire Rea.
!BBH
On the Beach was a big one, but seckorama played it in this ttt to Chris Rea
Hmmm, some more Christmas songs that are always played when Christmas approaches 😌.
Hehe I think I like Christmas songs now at any time of the year 🤣
Hi @tengolotodo.
Beautiful songs, without a doubt. Wow… there's so much I don't know! His passing is regrettable, but how can we cut short our journey through life? At least he left us his art. You know, my friend, I'm left wanting more of his music.
Rest in peace, Chris Rea.
He had such a recognisable voice. He was a family guy and refused to do the touring in America when he had his first hit so that was that, and he never got noticed over the water. I hope you like some more Jana.
Merry Christmas.
https://x.com/i/status/2004063799012479263
#hive #posh
Such a great loss, Ed. I had never heard this singer before, but I'm grateful you introduced me to him. He really had a beautiful, melancholic voice. I liked all three songs, but if I had to choose one, it would be The Blue Cafe. Hugs 🪷