Chris Rea - New Light Through Old Windows

New Light Through Old Windows is the first compilation album by British guitarist and singer songwriter Chris Rea, originally released in October 1988 via Magnet.

Back on vinyl for the first time since its original release in 1988, Chris Rea's first ever compilation ‘New Light Through Old Windows’ has been remastered onto double 2LP recycled vinyl.

On its original release, Rea re-recorded a number of tracks from his earlier albums especially for ‘New Light Through Old Windows’ and it also included a brand new track ‘Working On It’.

The album proved to be a huge hit breaking into the UK Top 5 and staying in the charts for over a year. It also found chart success around the world including singles ‘Working On It’ topping the US Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and ‘On The Beach’ breaking into the Top 10 of the US Adult Contemporary Singles chart. The album has been certified triple-platinum in the UK and contains some of Rea’s best known tracks including ‘Fool (If You Think It's Over)’ and ‘Driving Home For Christmas’, the latter of which is the now famed version that dominates Christmas seasonal songs played on the radio every year.

This was Rea’s tenth album (although it is not often listed in his discography as an album with it being a compilation) and his tenth album in as many years. It was an incredibly prolific decade for him with his debut album ‘Whatever Happened To Benny Santini’ being released in 1978 his non-stop touring and recording schedule had seen his unique guitar playing and voice make him a major star throughout Europe.

‘New Light Through Old Windows’ became the precursor to his biggest selling album to date ‘Road To Hell’ in 1989 which catapulted his reputation in the US.

This double album 2LP record set is a 2025 reissue on recycled black vinyl housed in a single pocket sleeve with printed inner sleeves and remastered audio, pressed in Germany via Magnet.