Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?

Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? is the debut album by the British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, released in 1978.

Summary
The title of the album is a reference to a name Rea's UK record label (Magnet) had considered christening him with to make him sound more attractive commercially. The album peaked at number 49 on the Billboard 200, and charted for 12 weeks. It was certified a Gold album by RIAA on October 26, 1978.

The first single lifted from the album, "Fool (If You Think It's Over)", remains his biggest hit in the United States, peaking at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, charted for 15 weeks, and reaching number one on the Adult Contemporary Singles chart, and charting for 18 weeks. "Fool" was not a great success on the UK Singles Chart, failing to chart on its first release and only reaching number 30 when re-released later in 1978 to capitalise on its US success. This success was also helped by being played extensively by Radio Caroline, as it was dedicated to the British Home Office, who were trying to put the station off the air. The following single "Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?" peaked at number 71 on the Hot 100 chart, and charted for four weeks.

Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? was produced by Gus Dudgeon, who also produced most of Elton John's albums in the 1970s. Rea was reportedly dissatisfied with the final mix of the album; he later went some way to rectify this to his satisfaction starting with 1988's greatest hits compilation New Light Through Old Windows, where "Fool" was presented in a newly recorded version. Dudgeon went on to produce Rea's next effort, Deltics.

Track listing
All songs by Chris Rea.
 * 1) "Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?" – 4:22
 * 2) "The Closer You Get" – 3:31
 * 3) "Because of You..." – 3:57
 * 4) "Dancing with Charlie" – 3:52
 * 5) "Bows and Bangles" – 3:58
 * 6) "Fool (If You Think It's Over)" – 4:47
 * 7) "Three Angels" – 3:26
 * 8) "Just One of Those Days" – 2:40
 * 9) "Standing in Your Doorway" – 3:53
 * 10) "Fires of Spring" – 3:54

Singles

 * 1) "Fool (If You Think It's Over)" b/w "Midnight Love"
 * 2) "Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?" b/w "Three Angels"

Personnel

 * Chris Rea – vocals, acoustic, electric and slide guitar, piano, synthesizer, Wurlitzer organ, backing vocals
 * Robert Ahwai – guitar
 * Eddie Guy – acoustic and electric guitar
 * Paul Keogh – acoustic, rhythm and electric guitar
 * Phil Curtis – bass
 * Pat Donaldson – bass
 * Dave Markee – bass
 * Eoghan O'Neill – bass
 * Rod Argent - electric piano on "Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?", synthesizer on "Because of You"
 * Kevin Leach – keyboards
 * Max Middleton – keyboards
 * Pete Wingfield – piano, electric piano, organ, harpsichord
 * Steve Gregory – soprano saxophone on "Fool (If You Think It's Over)", saxophone on "Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?"
 * Dave Mattacks – drums
 * Norman Nosebait – drums on "Three Angels"
 * Adrian Rea – drums
 * Martin Ditcham – percussion
 * Gus Dudgeon – percussion, tambourine, producer
 * Frank Ricotti – congas, shaker, tabla, vibraphone, tambourine, temple block, cabasa
 * George Woodhead – percussion on "Fires of Spring"
 * Doreen Chanter – backing vocals
 * Irene Chanter – backing vocals
 * Stuart Epps – backing vocals
 * Pete Stanley – banjo on "Three Angels"
 * Richard Hewson – orchestra arranger and conductor on "Fool (If You Think It's Over)"

Technical
 * Phil Dunne – engineer
 * Stuart Epps – assistant engineer
 * Han-Chew Tham – cover photography