Heaven (Chris Rea song)
{{Short description|1991 single by Chris Rea}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Heaven
| cover = Chris Rea Heaven 1991 single cover.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Chris Rea
| album = Auberge
| B-side = Theme from the Pantile Journals
| released = {{start date|1991|3|25|df=y}}{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=25|date=23 March 1991}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 4:14
| label = East West
| writer = Chris Rea
| producer = Jon Kelly
| prev_title = Auberge
| prev_year = 1991
| next_title = Looking for the Summer
| next_year = 1991
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|QaVc2CcmByU|"Heaven"}}}}
}}
"Heaven" is a song by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, released in March 1991 as the second single from his 11th studio album, Auberge (1991). It was written by Rea and produced by Jon Kelly.{{cite web|author=Johnny Loftus |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/auberge-mw0000263044 |title=Auberge - Chris Rea | Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=AllMusic |access-date=8 May 2020}} "Heaven" reached {{abbr|No.|Number}} 57 on the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for two weeks.
The song's music video was directed by Nigel Dick and produced by Lisa Hollingshead. It was shot in London and in Dick's garage in California.{{cite web|url=http://www.nigeldick.com/films/productions-1991/ |title=PRODUCTIONS 1991 - Nigel Dick - Director |publisher=Nigel Dick |access-date=8 May 2020}}
Critical reception
In a review of Auberge, Mike Daly of The Age described "Heaven" as "serene" with "gorgeous guitars by Rea and Drennan". He also noted the song as being one of a number of tracks on Auberge to be "strong on optimism" with "positive statements".{{cite news|last=Daly|first=Mike|date=18 April 1991|title=Recordings: Mitchell, mellow but unbowed|newspaper=The Age}} Deborah Hornblow of the Hartford Courant commented: "On the gentle, evocative "Heaven", the lines 'Happy, boy you bet I am; Holding onto this smile for just as long as I can' are enriched and counterpointed by the sound of Rea's low, heavily weathered rasp."{{cite news|last=Hornblow|first=Deborah|date=4 July 1991 |title=Processed Cher; Skid Row song; derivative Doobies |newspaper=The Hartford Courant}}
In a retrospective review, Johnny Loftus of AllMusic commented: "Auberge [contains] the thoughts and feelings of a man on a meandering road trip, thinking over the things he's said and done. "Heaven" seems to recall a time when the afterlife was in reach, but it could just as easily be the song of someone who's finally found his way."
Track listings
7-inch and cassette single
- "Heaven" – 4:14
- "Theme from the Pantile Journals" – 4:10
12-inch single
- "Heaven" – 4:14
- "Theme from the Pantile Journals" – 4:10
- "Teach Me to Dance" – 4:04
CD single
- "Heaven" – 4:14
- "Stainsby Girls" – 4:07
- "Josephine" – 4:34
- "Tell Me There's a Heaven" – 6:02
Personnel
Musicians
- Chris Rea – guitar, slide guitar, Hammond organ
- Anthony Drennan – acoustic guitar, dobro
- Robert Ahwai – bass
- Martin Ditcham – drums, percussion
Production
- Jon Kelly – producer (all tracks)
- Chris Rea – producer ("Stainsby Girls", "Josephine" and "Tell Me There's a Heaven"
- Justin Shirley-Smith – engineer on "Heaven"
- Russell Shaw – additional engineer on "Heaven"
Other
- Alan Fernley – illustration
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1991) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Germany|94|artist=Chris Rea|song=Heaven|songid=7957|rowheader=true|access-date=4 August 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Ireland2|30|artist=Chris Rea|rowheader=true|access-date=4 August 2022}} |
| {{single chart|UK|57|date=19910406|rowheader=true|access-date=4 August 2022}} |