Whatever Happened to Benny Santini

FINALLY! The Original LP version of "FOOL, (If You Think it's Over)" is now available. Years ago, around 1988, I bought an English import of "Whatever Happened..." and the quality was pretty bad. "Fool, If you Think it's Over" was one of my all-time favorite hits of the late seventies and I wanted the original album version, (4:48). When the record companies started to release some "Best of..." collections. I would buy them just hoping the original version would be on those cds with a much better quality than the old import. However, every last one of these "Best of Collections" had a re-recorded version of "Fool"!!! It was infuriating! Finally, ERIC records released a single version on one of their "Hard to Find 45's Collections and the quality was excellent! (But, it was the 3:36 single version) This was a minor victory.NOW, it is finally here and the sound quality is great! (all 4:48 of it!)And, there are some excellent album cuts on this CD too. "Bows and Bangles" is a beautiful melancholy piece with some excellent harmonies. "Because of You" is also a harmony-filled love song in a typical 70's style. "Standing in Your Doorway" is a medium beat, pop-rock tune that stands out as another favorite. If you are a Chris Rea fan, this remastered CD is a must. Don't miss out! It may not be available very long.

A FEW good songs: here's the deal. Unlike the Cd 'On The Beach" also available and the recipient of som erave reviews that I feel are completely undeserved MOSTLY because, MOST likely the version of the title track of THAT CD IS again MOST likely NOT the version that I would DEFINITELY say 'Southern Californians' are most familiar with. Let's say, you were in L.A. in the late 80's early 90's and listened to KTWV the WAVE. On the Beach was in a good amount of rotation; it's NOT the version on the 'On The Beach' CD which I think is awful filler from start to finish.WITH THAT, if you are familiar with the radio version of "Fool If You Think It's Over" in rotation beginning in the late 70's ... then THIS is the version you are MOST likely looking for. Personally, in contrast to quite a few reviews, I found 3 songs that didn't sound like filler to me. 1. "Fool..." 2. "Just One of Those Days" which has a bit of a country twang to it and 3. "Fires of Spring."PUT IT THIS WAY: since I was very young I wanted to be a DJ. (We're talking since the early 60's ala Cousin Bruce on WABC NY; later WPLJ NY; KLOS, Los Angeles later 97.1 KLSX AND ever since as far as I'm concerned, since that 'genre' of On Air Personality is as dead and gone the, uh, mmm: it's just not the same. The POINT is that had I been a "DJ" in that era when the stations trusted the DJ's to pick out the music --- the 3 songs I mentioned I would have put out on the air.So, if you've been searching high and low for 'Fool If You Think It's Over," you have MOST MOST likely found what you were looking for. If you go on to try and find 'On The Beach', mmmmmmmmmmm, I think you'll be disappointed with the version available here on the CD "On The Beach." I'll go so far as to say that IN MY OPINION, it, uhhhhhh, starts with the letter 's' uh, it's not that good as far as I'm concerned, okay?wfn

G-d bless those fine folks at Culture Factory! A great album that has always sounded poor on CD, now has the brilliance it so deserves. Originally on United Artists as an LP and later on Magnet in CD format, Chris Rea's "Whatever Happened to Benny Santini showed the early talents of a man with wisdom well beyond his years and an energy from the depths of the ordinary only to be swallowed up in poor mastering and clouded sonic cloudiness. For the material of Chris' fans this is a very commercial / pop album but not to be taken lately. Though not as provocative as his later albums in subject matter nor as daring in it's musical structure, this is an album that never gets tired with strong themes and melodic fluidity.Now you can hear this exceptional freshman endeavor with clarity. An essential must buy. - Limited Edition Culture Factory

I first bought this in 1978 and have always loved it, from the beautiful timeless ballad "Fool (If You Think It's Over)" to the gently rocking title track and the soothing "Bows and Bangles", this album was a great introduction to the future superstar to come. For me, he never did anything better, although obviously he made lots of other great records.I loved hearing it again.

So the song-writing was in it’s early stages and apparently Chris hated the 'kitchen sink' production, which does now sound very dated, but ‘Whatever Happened to Benny Santini’ is a good album. ‘Fool If You Think It’s Over’ is the best song here, but the driving title track with its (at that time obligatory) sax break still raises a smile. Best of all the remastering is fantastic!

Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? is the debut album by Chris Rea, released in 19781."Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?" – 4:222."The Closer You Get" – 3:313."Because of You..." – 3:574."Dancing with Charlie" – 3:525."Bows and Bangles" – 3:586."Fool (If You Think It's Over)" – 4:477."Three Angels" – 3:268."Just One of Those Days" – 2:409."Standing in Your Doorway" – 3:5310."Fires of Spring" – 3:54

It must be 30 years or more since I last heard this when my cassette broke. Only just got around to replacing it. It's even better than I remembered and what a debut album. Can't believe the comment about Dancing With Charlie being the worst track on the album and being a filler. Well everyone has a right to an opinion.It still sounds as fresh as when released and if you like Chris Rea - well you will love this one. Buy it at the bargain prices on Amazon and you will be delighted that you have.

I had been waiting for this to be re-issued for a very long time. The music is absolutely great. Packaging though is really poor and the lyrics on the inner sleeve totally illegible, even with a magnifying glass. When are the record labels going to provide decent jewel cases again which at least gave protection to the CD and the album leaflet.