New Light Through Old Windows is the first compilation album by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, released in October 1988. The album consists primarily of re-recordings of songs from Rea's earlier albums, as well as the new track "Working on It", which peaked at No. 73 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and was Rea's only No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. "On the Beach" peaked at No. 9 on the US Adult Contemporary singles chart, and No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart. The album reached number five on the UK Albums Chart, charted for over a year, and was certified 3× Platinum by BPI until 1992. It charted in the Top 10 in New Zealand, Austria and West Germany.
Track listing All tracks written by Chris Rea. "Let's Dance" (from Dancing with Strangers) – 4:14 "Working on It" (previously unreleased) – 4:24 "Ace of Hearts" (from Wired to the Moon)– 4:52 "Josephine" (from Shamrock Diaries) – 4:33 "Candles" (from Water Sign) – 4:44 "On the Beach" (from On the Beach) – 6:51 "Fool (If You Think It's Over)" (from Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?) – 4:03 "I Can Hear Your Heartbeat" from Water Sign) – 3:23 "Shamrock Diaries" (from Shamrock Diaries) – 4:12 "Stainsby Girls" (from Shamrock Diaries) – 4:06 "Windy Town" (from Dancing with Strangers) – 4:05 "Driving Home for Christmas" (new version; original on New Light Through Old Windows) – 4:00 "Steel River" (from Shamrock Diaries) – 6:48
The US release featured different cover artwork and an altered track listing, shown below:
"Let's Dance" – 4:16 "Working on It" – 4:25 "I Can Hear Your Heartbeat" – 3:24 "Windy Town" – 4:06 "On the Beach" – 6:53 "Steel River" – 6:48 "Stainsby Girls" – 4:08 "Ace of Hearts" – 4:52 "Josephine" – 4:17 (different version than international release) "Candles" – 4:42
Personnel Chris Rea – vocals, keyboards, guitars Max Middleton – keyboards Robert Ahwai – guitars Eoghan O'Neill – bass Martin Ditcham – drums, percussion Steve Gregory – soprano saxophone Carol Kenyon – backing vocals Katie Kissoon – backing vocals
Production Chris Rea – producer Jon Kelly – producer Justin Shirley-Smith – engineer Ronald Bos – art direction Hotline – design Jim Beach – management Paul Lilly – management John McCoy – title
Charts + Chart performance for New Light Through Old Windows Chart (1988–2025) Peakposition
Certifications
References