"Stainsby Girls" is a song by British singer-songwriter

Chris Rea Christopher Anton Rea ( ; born 4 March 1951) is a British Rock music, rock and blues singer-songwriter and guitarist from Middlesbrough. Known for his distinctive voice and his slide guitar playing, Rea has recorded twenty-five studio albums, ...

, released in 1985 as the lead single from his seventh studio album ''

Shamrock Diaries ''Shamrock Diaries'' is the seventh studio album by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, released in 1985. This album represents the beginning of a creative and commercial zenith for Rea. ''Shamrock Diaries'' was a huge seller in Europe, reachin ...

''. It was written by Rea, and produced by Rea and

Dave Richards Sir David Gerald Richards (born 3 October 1943) is the former chairman of the FA Premier League, member of the Football Association's (FA) Board, chairman of the FA's international committee, president of the European Professional Football Lea ...

. "Stainsby Girls" reached No. 26 in the UK and remained in the charts for twelve weeks. "Stainsby Girls" was written by Rea as a tribute for his wife Joan, a former student of the Stainsby Secondary Modern School. The single's B-side, "And When She Smiles", is listed on the back sleeve as having been "recorded on eight track on a yacht in Ibiza harbour". Rea later re-recorded "Stainsby Girls" for his 1988 album '' New Light Through Old Windows''.

Critical reception

In a retrospective review of ''Shamrock Diaries'', Sharon Mawer of

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

described the song as "easily the most like

Bruce Springsteen Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American Rock music, rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Nicknamed "the Boss", Springsteen has released 21 studio albums spanning six decades; most of his albums feature th ...

that Rea had ever sounded". Colin Larkin, in his book ''The Encyclopedia of Popular Music'', noted the song was a "slice of nostalgia for the northern England of Rea's adolescence".

Track listing

;7" single # "Stainsby Girls" – 3:50 # "And When She Smiles" – 3:12 ;12" single (German release) # "Stainsby Girls (Sax-Mix)" – 4:20 # "September Blue" – 3:54

Chart performance

Personnel

- vocals, guitar, producer * Eoghan O'Neill - bass *

Mel Collins Melvyn Desmond Collins (born 5 September 1947, Isle of Man) is a British saxophonist, flautist and session musician. Collins has played in several progressive rock groups, having been a member of King Crimson on two occasions (the first from ...

- saxophone *

Dave Mattacks David James Mattacks (born 13 March 1948) is an English rock and folk drummer, best known for his work with British folk rock band Fairport Convention. Fairport Convention He replaced Martin Lamble, who had died on 12 May 1969 in a road ac ...

- drums *

- producer, engineer * Barry Hammond - engineer

References

{{Authority control 1985 songs 1985 singles Magnet Records singles Songs written by Chris Rea Chris Rea songs