The Very Best of Christopher Cross

by Christopher Cross

Overview

Christopher Cross had a long career, but he peaked early. His eponymous first album produced four Top 20 hits, highlighted by "Sailing," and won five Grammys -- a record at the time. His streak continued with "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)," a collaboration with Burt Bacharach, Peter Allen, and Carole Bayer Sager that served as the theme for Dudley Moore's smash Arthur. Cross delivered a second album, Another Page, that sounded similar to the first and sold respectably well until it generated a genuine hit with "Think of Laura," thanks to General Hospital adopting it as a love theme for their Luke and Laura plot line. After that, Cross slipped away, although he released another five albums between that record and 2002's compilation, The Very Best of Christopher Cross. The problem with this compilation is that it doesn't take into consideration that early peak -- it treats each album with equal respect, with as many songs taken from 1998's Walking in Avalon and Red Room as from 1983's Another Page. While this may satisfy the artist and the die-hards who have listened with dedication over the years, those who loved the warm soft rock of the albums -- either as a guilty pleasure or without shame -- will find this collection profoundly disappointing, since after the eighth track, the collection takes a sharp turn toward fussy, sterile adult contemporary production, and it's never as pleasing to the ear as those first eight songs. This is a problem, because the collection succeeds in one respect (providing a comprehensive history) while failing in another (being an enjoyable listen). Though some will undoubtedly like this approach to Cross' career, most will wish that the compilers took Cross' early peak into account, since this collection would have been much more enjoyable. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	03/05/2002
Label:	Rhino
UPC:	0081227833527

Tracks

1. Ride Like the Wind
2. Sailing
3. Never Be the Same
4. Say You'll Be Mine
5. Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)
6. All Right
7. Think of Laura
8. No Time for Talk
9. Every Turn of the World
10. I Will (Take You Forever)
11. A Chance for Heaven (Swimming Theme)
12. Swept Away
13. Loving Strangers (David's Theme)
14. Is There Something
15. Open Up My Window
16. Back of My Mind
17. Walking in Avalon
18. When She Smiles
19. Hunger

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Christopher Cross   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Soloist
Richard Marx   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Vesta Williams   Vocals (Background)
David Hungate   Bass
Eric Johnson   Guitar (Electric)
Frances Ruffelle   Vocals
Ernie Watts   Saxophone
Jay Gordon   Soloist,Guitar (Electric)
Jay Graydon   Soloist,Guitar (Electric)
Jeff Porcaro   Drums
Lenny Castro   Percussion
Myrna Matthews   Vocals (Background)
Jerry Hey   Trumpet
Rob Meurer   Keyboards,Synthesizer,Piano (Electric)
Patrick Leonard   Keyboards
Gary Grant   Trumpet
Tollak Ollestad   Harmonica
Alexandra Brown   Vocals (Background)
Gary Herbig   Saxophone
Khaliq Glover   Vocals (Background)
Robbie Buchanan   Keyboards,Synthesizer Bass
Michael Omartian   Piano,Keyboards,Synthesizer
Paulinho Da Costa   Congas,Percussion
Steve Gadd   Drums
Steve Lukather   Guitar,Soloist,Guitar (Electric)
Chuck Findley   Trumpet
Kim Hutchcroft   Saxophone
Jody Cortez   Drums
Curt Bisquera   Drum Overdubs
Claude Gaudette   Keyboards
Joe Chemay   Bass
John "J.R." Robinson   Drums
Andy Salmon   Bass
Khalig Glover   Vocals (Background)
Lynn Blythe Davis   Vocals (Background)
Rob Meuer   Keyboards,Synthesizer,Piano (Electric)
Judd Miller   Evi,Soloist
Marty McCall   Vocals (Background)
Nathan East   Bass
Portia Griffin   Vocals (Background)
Marty Walsh   Guitar
Nicolette Larson   Vocals (Background)
Michael Boddicker   Synthesizer
Michael McDonald   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Michael Thompson   Guitar
Mike Porcaro   Bass
Stormie Omartian   Vocals (Background)
Abraham Laboriel, Sr.   Bass
Tim Pierce   Soloist,Guitar (Electric)
Michael Baird   Drums
Tom Scott   Soloist,Saxophone
Tommy Taylor   Drums
Gigi Worth   Vocals
Victor Feldman   Percussion
Michael Hart Thompson   Guitar
Chris Ralles   Drums
Freddie Washington   Bass

Technical Credits

John Guess   Mixing,Engineer
Jay Graydon   Solo Instrumental
John Kurlander   String Engineer
Hugh Brown   Art Direction
Jeremy Lubbock   String Arrangements
Rob Meurer   Arranger,Composer,Production Assistant,Synthesizer Programming,Original Recording Producer
Mark Linett   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Patrick Leonard   Composer,Producer,Original Recording Producer
Shawn Amos   Liner Note Coordination
Brett Swain   Assistant Engineer,Mixing Assistant
Burt Bacharach   Composer
Daniel Protheroe   Engineer
Laura Livingston   Assistant Engineer
Steve Genewick   Assistant Engineer
Frank Wolf   Engineer
Carole Bayer Sager   Composer
Doug Rider   Mixing,Engineer
Gabe Veltri   Mixing,Engineer
John Bettis   Composer
David McLees   Compilation Producer
Lee Herschberg   Engineer
Dennis Lambert   Producer,Original Recording Producer
Michael Omartian   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements,Original Recording Producer
Paul Dieter   Engineer
Terry Christian   Mixing,Engineer
Steve Dorff   Composer,Producer,Original Recording Producer
Steve Lukather   Solo Instrumental
Steve Smith   Assistant Engineer
Bill Inglot   Producer,Remastering
Bill Johnson's Louisiana Jug Band   Engineer
Chet Himes   Mixing,Engineer
Claude Gaudette   Drum Programming
Christopher Cross   Arranger,Composer,Solo Instrumental,Compilation Producer,Original Recording Producer
Cynthia Weil   Composer
Leigh Hall   Project Assistant
Gladys Sanchez   Project Assistant
Marc Salata   Product Manager
E.V.I.   Performer
Amy Utstein   Project Assistant
Rob Meuer   Synthesizer Programming
Judd Miller   Solo Instrumental
Scott Frankfurt   Musician,Producer,Original Recording Producer
Peter Allen   Composer
Jeremy Smith   Mixing,Engineer
Richard Landers   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Richard Mullen   Engineer
Marty Walsh   Performer
Michael Vail Blum   Engineer
Michael Boddicker   Programming,Synthesizer Programming
Michael McDonald   Performer
Woody Woodruff   Assistant Engineer
Tom Leader   Assistant Engineer
Tom Scott   Solo Instrumental
Tommy Taylor   Performer
Michael Ostin   Production Assistant
Marcus Ryle   Synthesizer Programming
Gary Peterson   Discographical Annotation
Mark Casselman   Engineer,Remixing
Jo Motta   Project Coordinator
Ginger Dettman   Project Assistant
Randy Perry   Project Assistant
Tony Phillips   Engineer
Margaret Gwynne   Assistant Engineer
Squeak Stone   Mixing Assistant
Jerry Jey   Performer
Nancy Hopkins   Design
Tom Fouce   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Jeffrey Shannon   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Daniel Hersch   Remastering
Doug Carleton   Assistant Engineer
D.A.C.   Performer