Rick Beato I would love to hear you do a whole show on AI and what musicians are saying about it and if they are concerned that AI fraudsters could reproduce their music so completely that their fans would never know it was not them performing?
Rick, it's kinda crazy that he never really gave this solo that much thought. It kinda reminds me of an interview that Larry Carlton did in MIX decades ago where the interviewer asked him about the Kid Charlemagne / Steely Dan solo he did. He basically gave the same answer- he was doing a ton of studio work back then, driving from studio to studio in L.A. and didn't really think much about it.
I met Christopher Cross before he was famous, back when he and his band were making their bones playing the fraternity party circuit in Austin in the late 1970s. It seemed like I saw them at least once a weekend as I was making my bones as a photographer shooting the same parties. Chris and the rest of the band were always super nice guys. Nice to see him pop up on the channel.
What a great interview. I wish the original was 4 hours long. Christopher is still so passionate about music. He may not have been on the charts with his later work, but it's amazing how intertwined he still is with the fabric of cuture and music when his name is brought up with anyone. Pure legend.
This video reminded me about Christopher Cross, whom I honestly haven't listened to since the 80's. He's an amazing constructor of song - the whole package, really. His humility in this video is refreshing.
My brother in law was in a band with Christopher and I went to see them a few times. Christopher's guitar playing blew me away each time I went to see them.
Wonderful video. What a songwriter Chris has been throughout his long career. He's so much more than just those first two albums that were really popular.
What fascinated me was the story of ray Henning guitar shop that Stevie ray Vaughan would always go hang out in before he was famous, before he was known as srv, he was little Stevie Vaughan, he went in Ray's and asked if there was anything new in, and he said just those and pointed to some beat up guitars, so srv went and picked up a strat that looked like it it had been played on the road for 20 years, he couldn't afford it, but he traded his other guitar and some hundred bucks and got it, Ray said that Christopher Cross had came in and traded it for a new one. So point is this became Stevies famous number one strat, the 59 burst, was actually crosses first. That's how small the Austin Dallas music scene was in the early 70s
Ray from Henning's Heart of Texas Music was such a cool guy with a heart of gold, and also a very accomplished musician as well back in the day-when I first moved to Austin in 1999, he told me that same story along with so many other cool ones about Stevie and all the well known legends that frequented his shop... I miss that place. @@shable1436
Can't lie. I was never a fan of Cross' music back in the day. I didn't hate it, just did not make my definition of "rock". I came across Rick's original video on Ride Like the Wind, and a short time later was fortunate enough to see Chris in a mini Concert at Epcot. It was fantastic (even though he was a bit pissed there was some technical issues at the beginning with the sound). Seeing this video is really cool. His connection with Zappa and others was something I never knew about.
Christopher has always been humble in my opinion, hanging out on the playground early years it wasn't until Highschool I learned of his guitar playing. And still doing it very well
At Reading Rock Festival in the UK, 1979, I went to the T-Shirt printing tent and got them to print "aja....Steely Dan", just like Christopher Cross is wearing! It is the greatest album!
When I was in HS, in Corpus Christi, we’d go to this hipster bar, Cooper’s Alley, along Santa Fe Street…HS classmates and I, saw Christopher Cross, Joe King Carasco, LouAnn & the Catfish, and Fabulous Thunderbirds…Cooper’s Alley was the place!
Chris and my best friend Roy are almost identical twins. Not only in appearance, but in talent and humility! I am a lucky man to have him as my closest friend.
By the time when Christopher Cross was hitting Big back then I was only a toddler at the time but I wasn't ready for his music until 2020 of January when I first heard ride like the wind I was hooked I listen to all his music now. Christopher Cross is magical in his music and I will always listen to him till I die he can go from hardcore with ride like the wind to soft and calm like sailing and it's awesome.
Christopher Cross was the first CD I ever purchased. I bought it with the Hitachi CD-1 CD Player. I purchased at the Electronics Store outside Gate 7 of Misawa AF, Japan. Pony's was the name of the store.
Christopher Cross has always been amazing. I was born in the late 80’s and grew up listening to him. I think the way he had the guitar solo low in “Ride Like the Wind” was a boss move. The back up vocals were really key which I why I think they were louder than the solo. And in a really abstract way… the song is a journey of some sort of a man on the run. So it is almost (in my take on this) the back up vocals by the great Michael McDonald really puts you in the man’s mind and body. Almost as if the vocals are the heart of the man beating and the guitar solo is like the vehicle he is on. Idk just such a great song but thats why I think the solo is lower than the vocals because he puts you more in the mind and body of the man running away.
I love when these videos come out about some of my favourite songs. I am sure some of you must relate, its not super easy sharing your love of certain types of music with your peers. At least I know I listen good music.
Well, never saw Chris live but I was at the Rirz in NYC when Zappa played Run Like the Wind. It was a throwaway version. His roadie sang lead. Zappa and Dimeola did not play guitar together at this set FYI. Al played through zappas monitor. In any event seeing Zappa and Al on the same stage was plenty crazy.
In 2004 I saw him live at the SoHo in Santa Barbara. It was a dinner and he walked around talking to people at different tables and after he did the show. I always felt he was a great guitarist and have loved his music since I was a kid in the 80s
YES! Chris is incredible. He's been at the forefront of music for a long time. All those Burts. The (First?) Dumbles. The first Fender Custom Shop guitars. The first Fender double neck. He probably doesn't give it a 2nd thought but guitar players everywhere understand.
Hey Rick, how about getting Jamel on for an interview? It would be cool to see you talk to a ‘non-music’ person who is reacting to all this great music we grew up with! Clearly he is worthy of you viewing his channel & he is picking up on the subtleties that you are wanting to show us from a technical perspective but he is FEELING IT! I subscribe and watch both your channels because I love watching the passion you both have because I feel it too!
One of the sound guys that I've toured with used Hey Nineteen to tune his P.A. at every venue. I can't hear that song without being transported back in time. Such a tight, dry drum sound on that track!
So good! I really like when you have celebrities on ike this and you discuss other people's music as well. Would love to see Christopher Cross join you for a what makes this song great, but make it a song by some other artist. Just cool to see artists geek out about other artists they like.
Great interview Rick and new subscriber to this and your other channel. Rick, we only got to hear what Chris' top three Steely Dan songs were. What about number four and five?
Christopher Cross made a great album. That solo was really good in that song - unfortunate that it was hidden and literally overpowered by the other instruments. I always loved that part.
I loved Christopher Cross's Sailing and Ride like the Wind. Rick, thank you for bringing Christopher on and also highlighting his wonderful guitar solo on Ride like the Wind. God bless you both.
I read in a comment somewhere, that Christopher Cross traded his Stratocaster for a Les Paul, at a guitar shop in Austin, TX. Stevie Ray Vaughan bought that Strat. It's the famous one with SRV on the pick guard. Can anybody else confirm this?
I recently heard Saxon’s cover of Ride like the wind. They released it back in 1988. And I’ve got to say it’s pretty amazing and definitely worth a listen! I’m curious what Christopher Cross thinks of it.
ah, ok. listened to the song, watched the live version, yes, i can hear an amazing solo, and the live performance confirmed, he's a monster player with really sweet feel and very interesting solo timing. that was a cool lesson on guitar history
I have personally met and know lots of "Movie Villains". Almost to a man they are nice and even humble off camera. This guy reminds me of that. Super talented but so normal guy and humble...
Oh neat! I didn't realize Eric Johnson played and sang on Cross's albums. That explains Christopher Cross singing backup on Johnson's tune "When the sun meets the sky" on Venus Isle. They've long been friends! I had no idea.
In December, my wife and I were in San Diego at The Music Box for the semi-annual show by Steely Jazz. If you are not familiar, half the band is made up of SD studio and concert veterans, the likes of Tom Scott, Keith Carlock, Drew Zingg, Mike Stern and yes Skunk, himself, and San Diego locals who are wonderful musicians, singers and fans of the music. The perform twice each year and I cant recommend it enough. Well worth the plane and the scalping. The venue is wonderful and three hours of Steely Dan less Donald, Walter and Larry.
