Rhino / Warner Special Products are releasing an expanded edition of CHRISTOPHER CROSS classic debut album “Christopher Cross“, in its wonderful recent remastered version plus a lot of bonuses including early song versions, the original Japanese edition bonus track, and an unreleased song.


Produced by guru Michael Omartian and recorded in mid-1979, ”CHRISTOPHER CROSS Expanded Edition remastered” was one of the first digitally recorded, and still is a staple in Classic FM radio.
Without a doubt, “Christopher Cross” is one of the most influential Soft Rock / Westcoast / FM rock&pop albums of the late 1970s and early 1980s, and a success – won five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist, with Cross becoming the first artist to win the four major categories in the same year — a feat not replicated until Billie Eilish in 2020.
Yes, it’s soft rock, but impeccably done: Cross not only is a great songwriter and vocalist, but also a skillful guitarist & arranger. He’s helped by big names from the industry such as top class guitarists Jay Graydon, Larry Carlton and Eric Johnson, percussionist Lenny Castro, vocalists Nicolette Larson, Michael McDonald, Valerie Carter, Don Henley, and many more.
All songs are rich in melodicism and construction tight, a sturdy foundation for the classy professional gloss provided by his studio pros and friends, plus Omartian’s crisp production.

It’s curious, but while this album is pure mainstream, commercial Soft Rock / Westcoast, I always heard “Christopher Cross” from a different angle. I mean, this is smooth rock&pop, but has some kind of a ‘bite’.
This LP is not ‘wimp’ as other Westcoast albums. Cross hired himself some bona fide guitar slingers (in the form of L.A. sessions guys Larry Carlton, Eric Johnson, and Jay Graydon) to add some muscle, and boy does he lay into his vocals on “Ride Like the Wind.” Cross has a gun in his hand, he’s heading for Mexico, and he sounds like a true American outlaw. Soft Rock love lyrics? Not at all.

”Christopher Cross” isn’t just a good Soft Rock record – it’s among the best Soft Rock / FM albums ever made.
And it’s not great only because Omartian superb production or Cross was some kind of super-unique genius songwriter. No, it’s great because he was a sponge. He absorbed the sounds around him and pureed them into a mellifluous ‘New Thing’.
We hear Fleetwood Mac (“Say You’ll Be Mine”), later Steely Dan (in several of the songs), later Doobie Brothers (check out “I Really Don’t Know Anymore, which comes complete with Michael McDonald), Carole King (“Spinning”), Boz Scaggs (“Never Be the Same”), and more… but it sounds fresh, it sounds Christopher Cross.

A Classic.

Tracklist:
Disc 1 (77:34)
1. Say You'll Be Mine (2019 Remaster) (2:55)
2. I Really Don't Know Anymore (2019 Remaster) (3:49)
3. Spinning (2019 Remaster) (4:00)
4. Never Be the Same (2019 Remaster) (4:41)
5. Poor Shirley (2019 Remaster) (4:21)
6. Ride Like the Wind (2019 Remaster) (4:30)
7. The Light Is On (2019 Remaster) (4:08)
8. Sailing (2019 Remaster) (4:16)
9. Minstrel Gigolo (2019 Remaster) (5:56)
10. Mary Ann (2:54)
11. Say You'll Be Mine (Demo) (3:12)
12. I Really Don't Know Anymore (Demo) (3:22)
13. Parade (Demo) (4:01)
14. Smiles of Angels (Demo) (2:51)
15. What Am I Supposed to Believe (Demo) (3:10)
16. Ride Like the Wind (Demo) (3:58)
17. The Light is On (Demo) (3:27)
18. Passengers (Demo) (4:56)
19. Say Goodbye to Mary Ann (Demo) (2:54)
20. Sailing (Demo) (4:05)

turbo

mirror link on file:
Christopher Cross – Christopher Cross (Expanded Edition) (2025)
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