Category: Christopher Cross

Christopher Cross – Window (1994)

posted by record facts

Christopher Cross made a belated comeback in 1995 with Window. Cross hadn’t made any great changes to his adult contemporary ballad stylings, although the record certainly bears the stamp of mid-’90s production techniques.
Perhaps he would have been able to re-enter the charts if he had been able to come up with a selection of material that was melodically engaging, but most of the record is devoid of anything resembling hooks; instead, it relies on its production to make an impact.
As a result, Window is a bland collection of faceless, mellow pop that works only as background music.

This is Christopher Cross at his mellowest. It is an album that has to grow on you and will be enjoyed by fans of mellow singer/songwriter music. If you don’t like playing albums many times to absorb them and find the hooks then pick up his debut. That one is instantly accessible and a classic album in general. This one finds Cross at his most average. Choose his Greatest hits instead if you are just a casual fan.

Three years after a beautiful Rendezvous, Chris returns with Window, a much more intimate album, less sophisticated, rougher, basically. But still so beautiful.
The album opens with “Been There Done That” (the Bissonette brothers as the rhythm section), in which Chris tells us that, although he succeeded, he was just as pissed off, but he is always up. The tone is set.
“Wishing Well” (with Valerie Carter on backing vocals and the great Mike Finnegan on Hammond organ) is just as catchy, a real gem. Chris also pulls out of his hat a cover of Spirit, “Nature’s Way” (which he played regularly on stage in the early 90s) and which is absolutely magnificent. Randy California’s version of the group was already of a very high level, but there, for yours truly, the cover buries the original.
Oh yes. And, as if that weren’t enough, he continues on “Uncharted Hearts”, of stunning beauty. These two titles alone are a good reason to acquire Window.
For the rest, they are ballads, very refined, without frills, without honey, and very pretty. I want proof of this “Open Up My Window” that Chris sings in duet with the sublime Gigi Worth, who will be found on the Evening With of 1998, on percussion, backing vocals and guitar. Just that ! And besides, she is beautiful as anything.
And then it would be stupid not to talk about “Before I Go”, in which Chris wonders if he will have time to enjoy his children before he dies.
We are in 2019, he is still there, and without wanting to say bullshit (I am not very “people”), it seems to me that he is a grandfather.
Chris will be entitled to a rare promotional moment, when he will be invited to the radio, at Howard Stern on April 4, 1995. Well, we know Stern, it’s always below the belt, but Chris plays the game and at the Stern’s request, gratifies us with a little “Sailing” on the acoustic guitar. He even gives us the meaning of the lyrics. When he was little, he went fishing on a boat with his stepfather, moments he has always cherished.
Short. Window is a very beautiful album, not to be put in the Top 3 of Cross’ albums, but once again, for “Nature’s Way”, “Uncharted Hearts”, “Been There Done That” and “Wishing Well”, it is well worth it. ‘purchase. Or at least listening.

 

  1. Been There Done That - 4:35
    Backing Vocals – Beth Anderson, Gigi Worth, Jean McClain
    Bass – Matt Bissonette
    Drums – Greg Bissonette
  2. Wild Wild West - 3:36
    Guitar [Steel] – Jaydee Maness
  3. Wishing Well - 5:55
    Backing Vocals – Gigi Worth, Valerie Carter
    Harmonica – Kim Wilson
    Organ [Hammond B3] – Mike Finnegan
  4. Thinkin Bout You - 5:16
    Arranged By [Strings] – Rob Meurer
    Arranged By [Strings], Accordion – Suzie Katayama
    Arranged By [Strings], Cello – Stefanie Fife
    Arranged By [Strings], Viola – Novi Novog
    Arranged By [Strings], Violin – Don Palmer, Joel Derouin
  5. Jan's Tune - 3:14
    Arranged By [Strings] – Rob Meurer
    Cello – Stefanie Fife
    Double Bass – Larry Tuttle
    Viola, Viola [Solo] – Novi Novog
    Violin – Don Palmer, Joel Derouin
  6. Open Up My Window - 4:09
    Guitar – Michael Thompson
    Keyboards – Claude Gaudette
    Guitar – Michael Thompson
  7. Nature's Way - 3:15
  8. Uncharted Hearts - 4:39
    Synthesizer [E. V. I. Pad And Solo] – Judd Miller
  9. Before I Go - 4:36
  10. Love Is Calling - 6:44
    Bassoon [Solo Bassoon] – Ray Pizzi

 

Companies, etc.

Credits

Notes
Release Date: March 21, 1995
Recording Location: O’Henry Studios, Burbank, CA Zoo, Encino, CA
Genre: Soft Rock
Styles: Adult Contemporary
Duration: 49:21

Label – BMG/Ariola Records

Christopher Cross – Secret Ladder (2014)

posted  by albums-update

Cross is a fine tunesmith and as this collection of thirteen new songs shows, he’s versatile too; the album has a range of styles and a variety of material on offer. ‘Reverend Blowhard’, a delicious “pop” at TV evangelists, opens as a sparse Blues offering but builds. The chorus has a Steely Dan feel and the instrumental sections are dominated by a brass section.

I Don’t See It Your Way’ is a lilting number that has something of a Toto ballad about it, albeit the bridge and chorus aren’t exactly compelling. ‘The Times I Need You’ has become one of my favourite songs on the album with its fine vocal arrangement and jaunty refrain. A reasonable comparison would be the band Venice.

Island Of Anger’ has a terrific chorus while various sections of ‘V’ are drenched in an orchestral arrangement that will make it hard to take for some Fireworks readers. ‘Experiment’ also features the orchestra but they’re not as cloying; the song is driven along on the back of a nice acoustic guitar. ‘Simple’ is a piano ballad with an overly repetitive chorus and I’d have expected something better from Cross. A Beach Boys style vocal break almost saves it, but not quite.

Wonderland’ reminds me of The Cars and Jon Mellencamp, it’s one of the Rockier tracks and therefore another highlight. ‘Light The World’ has an African feel and at times makes me think of the cartoon movie ‘The Lion King’, not least due to the chorus which is sung in a foreign tongue. It’s a duet with whom I don’t know but it works rather well.

With Me Now’ is a laid back song that is delightfully melodic with a great chorus whilst ‘Got To Be A Better Way’ is in that West Coast style with some particularly nice guitar work. Again, it’s one of the heavier tracks and therefore stands out. As the title might suggest the lyrical content of ‘A Letter To My Children’ is cringe-worthy, which is a shame as the tune is decent.
Certainly an album with some merit, but one that will appeal to those with a MOR palette.

 

Tracklist

1.  Reverend Blowhand – 4:23
2.  I Don’t See It Your Way – 4:23
3.  The Times I Needed You – 3:11
4.  Island Of Anger – 3:46
5.  “V” – 3:50
6.  Experiment – 5:14
7.  Light The World   (Vocals – Michael McDonald) – 3:53
8.  Simple – 3:55
9.  Wonderland – 4:24
10.  We Will Remember You – 3:58
11.  With Me Now – 4:38
12.  Got To Be A Better Way – 5:28
13.  A Letter To My Children – 3:52

 

Companies, etc.

Credits

Notes
Released:  2014
Recording Location:
Avatar, New York, NY
Blue Rock Ranch & Studio, Wimberley, TX
Saturn Sound, Studio, City, CA
The Hall Of Supreme Harmony, Los Angeles, CA
The Red Room, Austin, TX

Genre:  Soft Rock
Duration:  50:50

Label – Christopher Cross Records

Christopher Cross – Greatest Hits Live (1999)

posted by albums-update

Christopher Cross sadly became a trivial pursuit joke shortly after the breakout success of his debut release “Christopher Cross” back in 1980. He was richly rewarded at the following Grammy Awards where he won BIG — nabbing Grammys for Record, Song, Album and New Artist, mostly for his single “Sailing”. His big night at the Grammys had many folks scratching their heads wondering who the hell was this newcomer?

Not blessed with “rock star” good looks nor with a persona that gets noticed, Cross became a trivial pursuit punchline joke and sometimes the laughing stock of the music industry as the Eighties wore on. His low key persona and ordinary looks did not gel well with the music industry, who wanted their male singers to resemble rock stars with a “bad boy” image. So much for the next David Lee Roth.

This is a man who went on to win an Oscar for “Best Song” in 1981 after he co-wrote “Arthur’s Theme” with Burt Bacharach, following his breakout year in 1980. Yet why no respect? Cross became the “Rodney Dangerfield” of the music biz. Thanks for the soap opera “General Hospital”, Chris’s penned theme “Think of Laura” became another smash on the radio airwaves. But time has not been too kind to Chris Cross as he became an after-thought after the Eighties.

But time has also shown Chris Cross’s blessed voice to age extremely well with this unexpectedly wonderful live CD that recaptures his biggest hits and some surprisingly great new songs as well. Christopher Cross has also shown depth and growth as an artist judging by his performance on this CD. Of course after the 1980’s he practically fell off the music radar save for a special musical appearance here or there. He couldn’t even get invited back to the Grammy Awards, the place of his greatest critical triumph. The shabby treatment from the Grammy folks was in stark contrast to the critical laurels after he carted off a load of Grammy hardware. So much for respect.

But Chris Cross shows he is not one to be dismissed lightly. For his fans, this CD is the best revenge for his detractors and critics. The music and performance speak for themselves and this rare live recording shows Chris Cross will still be around for years to come no matter how much his critics try to write him off.

In 1979, Christopher Cross became an overnight star with the release of his self-titled debut album. The Texas-born singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist suddenly became a multi-platinum success as he helped re-define soft rock with a string of hit singles built around his catchy but easygoing melodies and evocative lyrics. 20 years after Cross‘ first album was released, he took a look back at the high points of his career on the 1999 album Greatest Hits Live, with Cross and his band re-creating his most popular tunes on-stage at Santa Ana, California’s Galaxy Theatre.

Former Doobie Brothers vocalist Michael McDonald guests, playing keyboards and performing his distinctive backing vocals on “Ride Like the Wind.” Other selections include “Sailing,” “Arthur’s Theme (The Best That You Can Do),” “Never Be the Same,” “Think of Laura,” and many more.

 

Tracklist

1.  Never Be The Same – 4:33
2.  Sailing – 4:13
3.  Every Turn Of The World – 3:57
4.  Swept Away – 4:00
5.  Think Of Laura – 3:00
6.  Open Up My Window – 4:22
7.  Is There Something – 5:13
8.  Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) – 3:43
9.  Ride Like The Wind – 5:10
10.  All Right – 4:09

       Bonus Studio Tracks 
11.  Walking In Avalon – 4:56
12.  Hunger – 3:35
13.  Alibi – 5:55

Tracks 1-10 recorded live at The Galaxy Theater, Santa Ana, California, March 10, 1998.
Tracks 11-12 are bonus studio tracks, recorded at Christopher’s Place, Santa Barbara, California.

Companies, etc.

Credits

Notes 
Released: 1999
Genre: Soft Rock
Length: 100:58

Label – CMC International Records

Christopher Cross – The Café Carlyle Sessions (2008)

by Record Facts

Initially I was a little skeptical that the re-arrangements would work. Although Chris’s guitar work has always been underrated, the keyboard work on those early records gave them a certain energy, courtesy of Michael Omartian; hence the worry that the spare instrumentation would leave the songs sounding rather tepid and flat. Not so! These are wonderful re-workings of some of Mr Cross’s finest. All the ‘hits’ are here and sound strong in their new incarnations, proving the point that a good song is a good song…

The players in this new ensemble play tight and loose at the same time – tight in the way they sound like they have played for ever; loose in the flow and space within the songs. No particular favorites but it’s nice to hear ‘Words of Wisdom’ and ‘Talking in my Sleep’ given some exposure.In April of 2008, Christopher Cross was booked into a rare month long appearance at the Carlyle Hotel in New York City… The room, an 88 seat cabaret venue that was the regular gig for the late jazz pianist Bobby Short, was something new for Cross and it created quite a challenge — To scale down the arrangements of his songs and present them backed only by piano & sax. The experience was such a positive one that Christopher went into the studio in an effort to document the new life these wonderful pop songs were given… The result is THE CAFE CARLYLE SESSIONS.

The presentation is simple… Christopher on acoustic guitar, accompanied by Andy Ezrin on piano & David Mann on sax from the original Carlyle engagement. Joining them for this recording are Kevin Axt on bass and CC band veteran Dave Beyer on drums/percussion. The acoustic jazz combo feel brings an honest, pure sound to the project while all the players are encouraged to stretch out on the solos. Christopher’s voice has retained it’s clear, melodic quality over the years and sounds fantastic.

Produced by Chris Walden, the new versions of classics like RIDE LIKE THE WIND, SAILING, ARTHUR’S THEME, NEVER BE THE SAME, THINK OF LAURA & more sound both old and new thru these great new jazz arrangements.

Tracklist

1.  Never Be The Same  – 4:59
2.  Deputy Dan  – 4:32
3.  Swept Away  – 4:48
4.  Walking In Avalon  – 5:22
5.  Arthur  – 4:00
6.  In The Blink Of An Eye  – 3:52
7.  Think Of Laura  – 3:24
8.  All Right  – 4:21
9.  Back Of My Mind  – 4:36
10.  Sailing  – 4:59
11.  Open Up My Window  – 4:45
12.  Drifting Away  – 4:52
13.  Words Of Wisdom  – 4:55
14.  Ride Like The Wind  – 4:49
15.  Talking In My Sleep  – 3:55

Companies, etc.

Notes

15 songs personally selected by Cross and completely re-recorded with a jazz quartet under the supervision of producer Chris Walden, Diana Krall, Paul Anka, Michael Bolton and many others.

Recorded at Conway Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA
Additional Recording at The Red Room Pacific Palisades, CA

Release: 2008
Genre: Pop
Style: Soft Rock
Length: 1:08:16

Label – Edel Records