Texas

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some righteous vibes as we spin "Texas" by Chris Rea from his iconic album The Road to Hell here at THE ZOO! This track, the fourth single from the 1989 album, is a mellow gem that paints a dreamy yet gritty picture of the Lone Star State. In a 1999 interview for the Classic Albums book, Rea shared that the song was inspired by a chat with his neighbor about Texas, a place Rea had never visited at the time. His neighbor hyped up the state’s open roads and lack of traffic, sparking Rea’s imagination. But here’s the twist: Rea saw through the rose-tinted glasses, noting that the character in the song is chasing a fantasy of “large, cheap steaks” and trouble-free living, only to hint that Texas might be “three times more violent” than expected. The song’s laid-back Fender Rhodes piano vibe lulls you into that dream before Rea’s slide guitar cuts through with a bluesy reality check.

Here’s a wild tidbit for the Zoo Crew to share: the music video for "Texas" was a blast to make! In a 2019 chat with Peter Doggett, Rea recalled filming at an American army camp in Berlin for three days, soaking up the fun and chaos of the shoot. But there’s a modern hiccup that’s got fans buzzing on Reddit. Some streaming platforms like Apple Music and Amazon Music have been playing the wrong "Texas" — swapping the The Road to Hell version for an earlier, totally different track from Rea’s 1983 album Water Sign. Fans on r/Chris_Rea are frustrated, with one user, nickjhowe, calling it “driving me crazy” and reaching out to Rea’s team on X and Facebook to no avail. Apple support even admitted it’s a publisher’s error. So, Zoo Freaks, if you’re streaming, double-check you’re grooving to the right tune!

Now, let’s rewind to how Chris Rea kicked off his journey. Born on March 4, 1951, in Middlesbrough, England, to Irish and Italian parents, Rea grew up in a working-class family, helping out at his dad’s ice cream factory. His first dream wasn’t music — he wanted to be a journalist, but a college teacher trashed his essay, pushing him to pivot. Music called when he bought a second-hand Höfner guitar, though he didn’t start playing slide guitar, his signature style, until he was 22. Rea’s early days saw him gigging with local bands like Magdalene (where he briefly played alongside future Whitesnake star David Coverdale) and Beautiful Losers before landing a solo deal with Magnet Records. His 1978 debut, Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?, produced the Top 20 hit “Fool (If You Think It’s Over),” earning him a Grammy nod for Best New Artist. Despite early struggles, his 1985 album Shamrock Diaries, inspired by his Irish roots, marked a turning point, leading to the massive success of The Road to Hell.

Zoo Freaks, you can keep up with Chris Rea on his official website and connect with his vibe on social media. Check out his Facebook for updates, drool over his guitar licks on Instagram, and catch his latest thoughts on X. Want to join the fan frenzy? Head to the Chris Rea Fans Facebook group to swap stories with fellow devotees or dive into discussions on the r/Chris_Rea Reddit community. There’s also a fan-run site, ChrisRea.nl, packed with discography and news for diehards. Keep it groovy, Zoo Freaks, and let’s keep spinning those records!

```