Christopher Cross - Albums Collection 1979-2011 (11CD)

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Christopher Cross - Albums Collection 1979-2011 (11CD)

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Christopher Cross was far and away the biggest new star of 1980, virtually defining adult contemporary radio with a series of smoothly sophisticated ballads including the chart-topping "Sailing"; seemingly as quickly as he shot to fame, however, his star descended, although he continued recording and touring for years to come. Born Christopher Geppert in San Antonio, TX on May 3, 1951, Cross first surfaced in the Austin-based cover band Flash before signing a solo contract with Warner Bros. in the autumn of 1978. His self-titled debut LP appeared two years later, with the lead single "Ride Like the Wind" rocketing to the number two spot; the massive success of the second single, "Sailing," made Cross a superstar, and in the wake of two more Top 20 hits, "Never Be the Same" and "Say You'll Be Mine," he walked off with a record-setting five Grammys in 1981, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year for "Sailing." He soon scored a second number one as well as an Academy Award with "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)," which he co-wrote with Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, and Peter Allen for the smash Dudley Moore film comedy Arthur.

Cross' much-anticipated sophomore effort, Another Page, arrived in 1983, but except for the Top Ten entry "Think of Laura" (popularized through its constant presence on the daytime soap phenomenon General Hospital), the album failed to repeat the success of its predecessor, and somewhat amazingly, he never returned to the Top 40 again. Every Turn of the World appeared to little notice in 1985, and when 1988's Back of My Mind failed to chart altogether, Cross was dropped by Warner. His next album, Rendezvous, did not appear until five years later on BMG. Window followed in 1995, and in 1998 he signed to CMC International for Walking in Avalon, a two-disc effort split between new studio material and live recordings of his past hits. Cross returned in the spring of 2000 with The Red Room. Two years later, Rhino released the comprehensive hit collection The Very Best of Christopher Cross. Cross closed out the decade with a Christmas album in 2007 and an acoustic album called The Cafe Carlyle Sessions in 2008. Dr. Faith, his first collection of new songs in ten years, appeared in the fall of 2010.

Biography by Jason Ankeny, Allmusic.com

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Christopher Cross - Albums Collection 1979-2011 (11CD)

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Christopher Cross - Albums Collection 1979-2011 (11CD)

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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.

Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Allmusic.com

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Christopher Cross - Albums Collection 1979-2011 (11CD)

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Christopher Cross had a lot to live up to following his self-titled debut album, which had sold a million copies (now up to four million), spawned four Top 40 hits, including the number one hit, "Sailing," and won him five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year (the last two for "Sailing"), and Best New Artist. So, he took three years to make Another Page, which, unsurprisingly, sounded a lot like its predecessor. Cross concentrated on smooth pop arrangements, over which be sang greeting-card romantic sentiments in an innocent, Brian Wilson-like tenor. No one would confuse the result with anything truly heartfelt, or with real rock & roll, but Cross' soothing approach was still good enough to put two of his songs, "All Right" and "No Time for Talk," into the Top 40 and earn a gold record certification. Then, nearly a year after the album's release, TV soap opera General Hospital began featuring the maudlin ballad "Think of Laura," and Another Page suddenly had a third single, this one a Top Ten hit.

Review by William Ruhlmann, Allmusic.com

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Christopher Cross - Albums Collection 1979-2011 (11CD)

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A transitional work in the truest sense, this fascinating fourth album finds Christopher straddling the brightest pop work of his past and the soul-searching writing that was to dominate his albums to come. Songs such as "Swept Away," written with John Bettis and Steve Dorff for a special episode of the hit TV series Growing Pains, and "Never Stop Believing," with a fine vocal turn by Fleetwood Mac veteran Christine McVie, sparkle with the soaring excellence of Cross' earlier successes. But a new writing collaboration with long-time cohort Rob Meurer produces a handful of songs bursting with the promise of things to come - contemplative, engaging works such as "Alibi" and the haunting title tune, an approach to music which Christopher would make his own on future albums. Back of My Mind also features "I Will (Take You Forever)," a duet with Frances Ruffelle of Les Miserables fame. Another Michael Omartian production.

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Christopher Cross - Albums Collection 1979-2011 (11CD)

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Although it went ignored at the time, Rendezvous was Christopher Cross' best album in ten years. It wasn't because he changed his style – he remained an MOR balladeer with a fondness for slick productions and sentimental melodies – but there's a little bit of an edge to his writing, and his songs are uniformly memorable. It may be a minor victory, but it's a victory nonetheless, and it's one that makes Rendezvous welcome to many fans of his first two albums.

Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Allmusic.com

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Christopher Cross - Albums Collection 1979-2011 (11CD)

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At this writing Christopher's latest release, and surely his most personal. Once again co-written mainly with Rob Meurer, the concerns of the songs run the gamut from the vital support of a loved one to the peculiarities of life in Southern California, from the process of mending a relationship to a look at one's mortality, from the questionable "values" of popular culture to a chilling story of two lost souls, from thoughts of an old lover to Christopher's own Warholian fame. The sparse production gives a deep sense of thematic definition to the songs, and Cross has never been in finer voice. The performances are based around the solid work of the current touring band of Meurer, Chas Thompson, and Jody Cortez, with guests including Mike Finnegan, Ray Pizzi, and Kim Wilson of The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Features the hit duet with Gigi Worth, "Open Up My Window," and a modern reworking of the old Spirit chestnut, "Nature's Way." Produced by Christopher Cross and Rob Meurer.

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Christopher Cross - Albums Collection 1979-2011 (11CD)

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Christopher Cross - Albums Collection 1979-2011 (11CD)

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The concept for this album came out of my shows in April of 2008 in the legendary Café Carlyle at the Carlyle Hotel in New York. Given the intimacy of the room – eighty seats – I presented the music in a more free, jazz-inflected style quite different from my traditional pop rhythm section format. It is that style which we have tried to recreate for you here.

My old friend and arranger, Chris Walden, has been wanting to produce an album for me in this manner for some time. Chris introduced me to these amazing musicians and the recording sessions were nothing short of magical.

I'm very pleased and excited with this approach to my work; I feel it presents the music with a freshness and honesty that lets the songs speak for themselves, while giving each player ample opportunity to bring his unique talent to the journey.

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Christopher Cross - Albums Collection 1979-2011 (11CD)

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Christmas Time is Here album by Christopher Cross was released Nov 30, 2010 on the Ear label. .2010 holiday release from the Soft Rock veteran. This is an album that goes back to the old tradition of Christmas music, capturing the richness of the melodies and the emotional feeling of such standards as 'Silent Night' and many others performed and arranged by Cross in a way that only top stars can offer.

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Christopher Cross - Albums Collection 1979-2011 (11CD)

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Christopher Cross - Albums Collection 1979-2011 (11CD)

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2011 two CD collection from the Soft Rock singer/songwriter. Christopher Cross took 1980 by storm, with a multi-million selling debut album, bristling with smash hits such as `Ride Like The Wind', `Never Be The Same' and `Sailing', eventually going on to win an unprecedented Five Grammy Awards. Cross could craft a winning melody and heartfelt, romantic lyric like no other. This top value double CD contains the hits, as well as `Arthur's Theme (The Best That You Can Do)' and choice album tracks from Cross' excellent back catalog.