Christopher Cross - Christopher Cross

Christopher Cross' debut was a huge hit and widely acclaimed, at least among industry professionals (critics didn't give it a second listen), leading to multi-platinum success and Grammys. In retrospect, it might seem like the kind of success that's disproportional to the record itself, especially to hipper-than-thou younger generations, but in truth, Christopher Cross was a hell of a record -- it just was a hell of a soft rock record, something that doesn't carry a lot of weight among most audiences. That doesn't erase Cross' considerable gifts as a craftsman. Yes, he does favor sentimentality and can be very sweet on the ballads, but his melodicism is rich and construction tight, so there's a sturdy foundation for the classy professional gloss provided by his studio pros and friends, including indelible backing vocals by Michael McDonald. And while the hits like the dreamy "Sailing" and the surging "Ride Like the Wind" deserved all the attention, they're hardly the only highlights here -- to borrow a sports metaphor, this has a deep bench, and there's not a weak moment here. In fact, soft rock albums hardly ever came better than this, and it remains one of the best mainstream albums of its time. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Andy Salmon Bass Assa Drori Concert Master Bobby Hata Mastering Chet Himes Mixing, Engineer Christopher Cross Arranger, Soloist, Vocals, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Vocals (Background) Chuck Findley Flugelhorn, Trumpet, Horn Don Henley Vocals, Vocals (Background) Don Roberts Saxophone Eric Johnson Guitar, Soloist Flournoy Holmes Artwork J.D. Souther Vocals, Vocals (Background) Jackie Kelso Saxophone James Flournoy Holmes Design Jay Graydon Guitar Jim Horn Saxophone Jimmy Newhouse Concept Larry Carlton Guitar Lenny Castro Percussion Lew McCreary Trombone Marti McCall Vocals Marty McCall Vocals (Background) Michael McDonald Vocals, Vocals (Background) Michael Omartian Arranger, Producer, Vocals (Background), Keyboards, Synthesizer, Piano, Vocals, Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements Michael Ostin Production Assistant Myrna Matthews Vocals, Vocals (Background) Nicolette Larson Vocals (Background), Vocals Rob Meurer Organ, Piano, Synthesizer, Celeste, Keyboards, Piano (Electric), Arranger Stormie Omartian Vocals (Background), Vocals Stuart Gitlin Engineer Tomás Ramírez Saxophone, Soloist Tommy Taylor Drums Valerie Carter Vocals (Background), Vocals Victor Feldman Vibraphone, Percussion