Release date: 21-02-2008

2008 limited (3CDs +2 x 10" Vinyl )set edioion -Following the manner of Chris Rea's successful Blue Guitars, this release is presented as an 80-page book, incorporating CDs and telling the story of a fictional Sixties Brit-blues group's transition from Fifties pop instrumentalists to something heavier and hairier. Which is fine as far as it goes, despite the anachronistic digs at Bush and Blair in "Speak of God (Act Like the Devil)" and "Legacy Blues", respectively.  Stickered & Sealed.

Disc: 1  (The same 16 tracks appear on the 2 x 10" vinyl records)
01. Dirty New Town - Delmonts 
02. 008 Jimmy Bond - Delmonts 
03. India Arab - Delmonts 
04. BB Was A Comanche - Delmonts 
05. Theme From The Pink Guitar - Delmonts 
06. Russian Roulette - Delmonts 
07. Black Wave Hero's - Delmonts 
08. Andorra Star Blues - Delmonts 
09. Gippo Euro - Delmonts 
10. Power Of Love - Delmonts 
11. Big Storm Coming - Delmonts 
12. Race Fever Blues - Delmonts 
13. It's Behind You - Delmonts 
14. French Football - Delmonts 
15. Green Shirt Blues (For George Russell) - Delmonts 
16. Blue Miles - Delmonts 
Disc: 2 
01. I Can't Wait For Love - Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes 
02. Big Wave - Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes 
03. Don't Give Your Ace Away - Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes 
04. Renaissance Blues - Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes 
05. Let's Get Carried Away - Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes 
06. Legacy Blues - Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes 
07. Don't Tell Me About The Blues - Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes 
08. If I Keep My Faith In You - Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes 
09. Shadow Of A Fool - Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes 
10. Rock 'n' Roll Tonight - Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes 
11. I Will Be With You - Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes 
Disc: 3 
01. Twister - Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes 
02. When The Truth Comes Out - Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes 
03. Because It's You - Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes 
04. Looking Glass Blues - Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes 
05. Blues For Janice - Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes 
06. Till The End Of Time - Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes 
07. Skylark Blues - Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes 
08. Which Part Of The Painting Made - Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes 
09. Days I Spent With You (Song For Bella) - Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes 
10. Yes I Do - Fabulous Hofner Blue Notes 

At first it didn't seem possible that Chris Rea could follow on from Blue Guitars with anything as good or original - but he has. The Return of the Hofner Bluenotes see's Chris Rea create the perfect vehicle for his unique style of blues. There's something for everyone. For starters the book is well crafted containig some teriffic photographs and striking artwork. The pictures and narratives weave together to tell a story of a group of young men who form a band (The Delmonts - Disc 1)who break onto the scene with a Shadowesque brand of music. It's young, fresh, vibrant and well received. But the band quickly mature and split and from the ashes comes The Return of the Hofner Bluenotes (Disc 2 and 3). Here the music has changed, it's soulful, bluesey and trademark Chris Rea - fantastic slide guitar, stirring melodies and, of course, that incredible voice taylor made for the blues! Fans of Rea will detect faint echoes of Espresso Logic, Blue Cafe and Blue Guitars - it's all there in the mix and held together with Rea's intuitive picture-painting lyrics. Chris Rea is an extraordinary talent and this wonderful piece of work comes highly recommended. If your into blues - buy it. If you're not - buy it anyway - you will be afterwards! -amazon