Driving Home for Christmas

Being stuck in traffic while driving an Austin Mini was what inspired Rea to write this song! in an interview with BBC Radio 4, Rea said that he wrote ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ years before he recorded it. Rea’s wife drove to London all the away from his hometown Middlesbrough to drive him back because it was cheaper than travelling by Train. Rea said: “Driving Home for Christmas is a “car version of carol” his wife, as they were both stuck in heavy traffic out of London. what an inspiration!

Release Date: 1986

Songwriter/s: Chris Rea

Label: Magnet

Chart Rankings:
UK – 29
Ireland – 28
Germany – 23
The song peaked at number 29 on the UK Singles Charts and sold over 200.000 copies. The British Phonographic Industry certified it Silver, it re-entered the UK charts in 2007 at number 33 and in 2015 as well reaching number 29. In Australia, the single peaked at number 35, In Germany in reached number 23 on the Media Control Charts and in Norway it peaked at number 2 on the VG-Lista charts. ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ was certified Gold in Denmark and didn’t enter the charts in the US.

Artist’s age on Release Date: Christopher Anton Rea was 35 years old when he released this song.

Cover Versions: Stacey Solomon – The Bachelors – Michael Ball – Joe McElderry – Saint Etienne – The High Kinds – Lucy Rose – Casanovas – Gavin James – Amateur artists covered this song on Youtube.