The Greatest Guitar Solo You Can’t HEAR! 

Watching Rick play air guitar with a guitar in his hands is the best thing ever.

For many years I made my living as a sound engineer. I did monitors for some of your favorites bands and guitar players. During that time I got up close and intimate with their guitar rigs, mic’d them up and got to solo them I’m my head phones. The best guitar tone I ever heard was Christopher Cross, and he lived up to it with his playing…and I am a guitar player myself. Christopher Cross is criminally under rated as a guitar player

Who else is back here after watching the Chris Cross interview all the way through? I love the lead isolated, on a 59 LP no less. What a treasure. Dam thats good.

All that Yacht Rock stuff is top tier musicianship. Even if you don’t dig it you have to admit they are some highly competent professionals.

Christopher Cross wrote and played some of the most beautiful and peaceful music ever. "Sailing" is such a masterpiece of a song

Rick, tonight we saw Christopher Cross at Epcot and he ended with this song - of course. And yes, the guitar solo was definitely up in the mix. So I stopped by the tech guys and spoke with Dave Swanson, who was on the mixing board. I asked him if he was aware of this video...and he was! He said he DEFINITELY keeps Christopher's solo up at the end of this song...and I told him we came specifically to see that solo...we had a good laugh. You're doing great work on your channel...and the WORK you put in is obvious. This is not happening by accident. Nice job!

That is a blistering solo! I had no idea that was Christopher Cross himself playing it! My utmost respect to the man 44 years later!

Rick's enthusiasm when someone is ripping it up is always so infectious! Cross was gettin' it!

I never knew that Christopher Cross was a guitarist of any note. I thought he was a singer songwriter who just strummed an acoustic. You learn something new every day. Well, you do on Rick's channel anyway.

Former radio station Program Director here... my speculation is the track was intended for the "Adult Contemporary" format. Intense guitar solos could keep a song off the air, or day-parted till after 8 PM. Christopher Cross' successes like "Sailing", "Arthur's Theme", "Laura", etc. were all right in the pocket for the A/C era. I'm stunned he can play guitar at that level. Michael Omartian, as producer, possibly made the decision a Christopher Cross voice was the unique instrument vs trying to launch another guitar player.

Dude, THANK YOU. I was a teen when Ride Like the Wind came out. I would obsess over that solo and I've played it hundreds of times always aching to hear it properly. What a treat, can't thank you enough.

Yacht rock is making a comeback, people are just now understanding this great slew of ultra-smooth records from the late 70’s and 80’s and they really pop up against the rest.

The year is 2022 and we JUST found out that Christopher Cross could shred

I used to work with a guy who toured with Christopher Cross in the sound crew. He always spoke highly of Mr. Cross, and said he was very pleasant. It's nice when talented people turn out to be good people as well... :)

I love watching the interview with Christopher Cross today. He's part of my musical foundation that can never be taken away!

Wow, wow, wow. Not only because of the Chris Cross solo but your having given it the attention it deserves. Love this episode, Mr. Beato.

The entire debut album of Christopher Cross is one of the greatest albums of that time period. Every track fantastic!

Can we say Christopher Cross is one of thee most underrated guitarists ever? That is indeed a killer solo.

Just finished watching ur Cristopher Cross interview - wow, what an amazing guy! He was ideally positioned in a time/history to have toured with Zeppelin, filled in for Deep Purple guitarist, knew and grew up with Eric Johnson, knew and played/recorded with Toto and Larry Carlton, was best friends with amp builder Howard Dumble of Dumble Amps, knew Billy Gibbons personally, knew Joni Mitchell personally and Bonnie Raitt. Met Stevie and Played SRV guitar But still humble.

Eric’s tone, his attack, those delicious legato runs are instantly recognizable. There is some killer guitar playing on Christopher’s debut album. Larry and Eric, and yet I didn’t have any idea that Christopher played this lead. I’ve always liked his music, but now I have to pick up this debut album. You cost me so much money, Rick! And I know I’m not the only one.

Rick, you should get Christopher on and discuss this. I'd love hear his thoughts on how this came about. Definitely one of my favorite albums of all-time.

I love the entire "yacht rock" genre for two reasons. 1) it reminds me of being in my parents car listening to AM radio in the late 70s and 2) if you really listen to many of these bands they contain some of the jazziest-rock guitar work of all time. Really prog stuff blended with balls-out rock. Very seldom do you hear anything like that now.

I heard Ride Like The Wind, on a Huffy bicycle commercial on TV. Fell in love with the song instantly. And my dad bought me a Huffy Pro Thunder BMX, great times!

Rick figured out a clever way to get Christopher to come on his show 🤪

I really hope Chris sees this and gets the appreciation he deserves. Sounds great at the proper level! LOVE this tune and "Yacht Rock"! No shame about that here.

Christopher Cross, Ride Like the Wind. Oh man, I didn’t even know it had a guitar solo in it all these decades! 😲

I had the good fortune of seeing Mr. Cross’ 40th Anniversary concert tour of his first album 2 nights ago in NH. It was everything I hoped it would be and more. His last song before the encore was Ride Like the Wind. Everyone was on their feet and loving it, but unfortunately, the solo was was not at the level Rick would recommend. Armed with the knowledge of this video, I knew what to listen for and everyone else must have also seen this video, because as soon as he started in on it, it went nuts in the audience! His encore song was “Laura” and he sang it almost a cappella. Slight accompaniment from the pianist. Sublime! His singers and band mates were also superb. Long winded, I know.

The first time I ever heard this tune that guitar solo immediately stood out to me, and I could never understand why it was hidden behind everything else. I tried for years to get my friends to listen to it and they wouldn't simply because it was Christopher Cross and he was too mellow, or cheesy, or whatever they thought. Now all these years later you have given me proof Rick Beato, and I'm directing all those same people to this video.

You know when you get the Rick Beato "Wooooo" during a piece of music you're really on to something good 🤘🏻🤘🏻

Christopher Cross once filled in for Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple for one gig in 1970, the guy can play for sure.

Back in the day I BURNED THRU THREE LPs trying to learn that solo and NEVER quite got it. Thank you Rick for allowing the world to FINALLY hear what a KILLER Guitarist Chris is.

I will admit that yes it is hard to hear the solo but I have always heard it. It is one of the huge factors in why I love the song so much. The entire song it's just like a wave of sound, it creates an atmosphere that only few other songs can compare.

Holy crap... I almost went my whole life without knowing this. When you put the lead at the proper volume it was fantastic.

I've always appreciated Ride Like The Wind as a great song and loved that outro solo but would've NEVER guessed it to be Christopher Cross himself, but always assumed it was just some uncredited studio player. Amazing playing if you ask me. I've got a newfound respect for Cross.

A true gift to humanity in this video. Thank you for your service, Rick.

Most people loved Christopher's Cross voice and missed his strings talent, so amazing and double guitar. Badass all the way, freaking awesome. 👌👌👌🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼💖💖💖 Always loved his super awesome guitar strings, he floated with his fingers, beautiful 👌👌💜💜💜💜

Your facial expressions are gold.

Rick has an amazing way of commenting on things, like he's with a group of friends drinking beer. He is magnificently entertaining, believable, and friendly to anyone who listens.

That song was in the top 40 for about a year when I was in high school. You couldn't go anywhere without hearing that song. Great stuff.

I was playing in a local band and about to graduate High School when this song came out. Our bass player walks up to me one day during lunch in the cafeteria and asked if i'd heard the "Criss Cross" song and we both commented at the same time --- why on the earth is the guitar solo buried under everything at the end??? KILLER SOLO!!!

Holy crap! THAT solo was hidden in that song??!! How did we miss that? This song really needs to be rereleased with that solo at proper volume. It completely takes it to the next level. Are there any other similarly hidden gems out there?

This was excellent. Totally missed the solo in this song. Christopher Cross, if you're reading this, please have Rick go back and remix this.

Hey man - love your channel. I thankfully knew Chet Himes who engineered this record and he told me the story about the Ride Like the Wind solo. They thought a jamming solo was perfect for the end of the song. They had Eric Johnson take a few passes. They told Eric to rip out, but for whatever reason, Eric wasn't quite on the same page and they didn't really get the solo they wanted. So, Chet told Christopher to go in and play a solo like they had in mind. So that's Christopher Cross basically off the cuff I guess kind of trying to describe to EJ exactly what they had in mind, and it was so good! One of those beautiful studio moments that just happens. Kind of a neat side story was that Chet told me that the studio was dark when he took the solo, and all he could see was Christopher Cross' boots. Which, being it's Ride Like the Wind, just seeing his boots while he's ripping this solo out - that's pretty cool in its own right. Again, love all that you do but, as for "proper volume" -- Chet was an absolutely incredible engineer. Impeccable. And a very humble, sweet guy. You know that there were different formats - that was likely mixed for the AM radio format at the time. So the guitar was going to be lower. When you listen closely, you can tell pushes the fader up at least 3 db (maybe even more) after Chris says "Gonna Ride like the Wind" at about the 3:38 mark for about 10 seconds. Again, I'm a huge fan of yours, but you surely know that there are hundreds of ways to mix a song, and the label was probably targeting this for AM radio to compete for that airtime rather than FM for Kiss and Journey. So the guitar solo wasn't the A#1 thing they were trying to get across, as awesome as it was. The record as a whole sounds incredible.

Had to come back and watch this video after watching the Christopher Cross interview video. The interview is an amazing video. Christopher for being 72 tells amazing stories. What a humble appreciative guy. Sad that the music business no longer operates like it did back then.

Love Jamel's channel. Glad that even Rick Beato can be inspired to check out a tune after seeing one of his reactions.

I was thinking, "I can hear the solo", but when you turned it up I could really hear what I was missing! It almost becomes like a completely different song. More rockin!!!

The solo on Minstrel Gigilo is simply amazing. I never knew Christopher Cross could play lead so shreddingly and passionately. The guy is in every sense of the phrase a musical genius.

I've ALWAYS thought that there was an amazing guitar solo buried in there. The vocals are pushed way in front during that part. This is awesome. I'm going to listen to this over and over again!

Saw Christopher Cross do an extended version of this solo live with his full band back in the mid 1980s, one of my very favorite guitar solos...

Only Rick Beato could play the correct notes while playing "air guitar" along with the song. Then nails the fretted solo along with the recording playing.

OK you took the words right out of my mouth. I was saying THESE EXACT WORDS to my husband not very long ago. I told him, just listen to this solo - really listen to it. It's unbelievably good, I don't even have the words to describe how perfect it is. What a massive talent... Thank you for putting this out there!

This is one of my very favorite songs . Thank you for this . I could always hear it . He is magical . His ability to play like this and his ability to sing like that is amazing . These guitar players never were given the credit that they deserve . I remember all these pieces . Amazing !!!Thank you for pointing it out. They made history and rightly so! They should never be forgotten.

I'm a big fan of this channel. It so great to see a CC piece like this. Having been one of Christopher's engineers for many years I have to say there is so much amazing guitar work on all the albums in the catalog. For pure melody I'm really fond of the solo on "Curled Around the World" from Walking In Avalon. I also love Chris' meticulous acoustic fingerpicking work on the Christmas album and others. Also, I texted CC about this video so he has seen it.

I think there is a new series here, Rick goes back and fixes the mixes on classic songs.

It's so cool to watch a highly skilled musician such as yourself doing air-guitar to a song. You can never take the teenager out of man when it comes to rock n roll.

Rick! YOU are incredible! Thank YOU for your educational videos - they bring JOY to my musical life!! 🙌💙🙏🌻

Finally! Someone's finally talking about how great this solo is. By the way, the whole album is killer. I've been a great Christopher Cross fan since I was a kid.

Cross didn't fill in for Ritchie Blackmore with Deep Purple on some gigs for nothing

This Rick is really adding value in widening one’s musical ear and horizon. Brilliant Rick

I listened to almost everything with headphones. Was around 12/13 years old when this song was pop. I'd just close my eyes and listen to these "FM tunes" and just submerge myself in music. The guitar solo stood out even back then. Many artists around that time did it in a similar way. Just the most amazing time in music. Thank you for helping others hear what I've known all along.

They should release Rick's version. Hearing "ride like the wind" in the background during the solo is badass

Playing "air guitar" while holding an actual real guitar. Gotta love Rick's enthusiasm! (lol) So many of these hit songs during the mid to late seventies and into the early 80's were made during the era of the LA session musician. Guys like Lukather, Carlton, Robben Ford, Jay Graydon, etc. became the hottest commodities in studio production, so it wouldn't be unusual to have these poppy songs with ripping guitar solos that, like this one, might get overlooked if you weren't paying attention. But I had no idea Cross was playing this one himself! It's a really interesting period for music.

This was a great video. I absolutely love how you revealed this insane guitar part. A local musician years ahead of me I used to work with on the music circuit briefly owned a Les Paul that once belonged to Christopher. This was years ago and I only somewhat recently became aware of Cross being such a monster player.....

Rick...your passion for music makes me so happy. I don't know really anything about music theory and have only recently picked up guitar again after a loooong time and your videos just really make me appreciate music on such a deeper level. I don't listen to anything the way I used to. Thank you so much for what you do and for sharing. I've turned a lot of my guitar playing friends onto your stuff....they love it!!!!

I've seen Christopher play this solo and many of the others described here live and I was totally stunned. No doubt an incredibly underrated guitarist who got far more notoriety because of his amazing vocals.

I've always been mesmerized by Christopher Cross. A guy that used to look like a defensive tackle for the Raiders, had such a soft, melodic style at times, then a real shredder at times. Such a cool cat!!!

You can actually watch him tear it up on his Midnight Special video from this song. He flat tears it up!

I’ve always loved that solo!!! It fills in those emotional spots. Didn’t need to hear it out front but it is a solo. Love love love this song!

Man that is almost criminal to bury that solo did he not like his own playing cause wow that is a great piece of guitar work!

I've read many years ago in an interview with C. Cross, that he always thought, he was not a very good guitar player. Because he had less self-confidence at that time. So he asked Steve Lukather to play the solo in this track too. But Steve recognized early, how good Christopher really was. And so he encouraged him to play the solo by himself. And as we all hear...he was sooo right. Christopher ist so damned good and so underrated for his guitar playing. He should do more this way...

Good grief what immense talent this man has. Figuring out a complex solo just like that. I am so in awe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great stuff, Rick. Ironically, I saw him in concert in a small venue right around the time you made this video a year ago - I'd stumbled into great seats on the 2nd row. I was shocked at what a great guitar player he is. It was a fantastic show.

Watching your videos makes the casual listener a smarter listener. Its like watching a sports event with a great color commentator. I learn a ton from your videos!

I’ve always loved this solo but could never really hear it. Rick you’re spot on for shining a light on the greatness of this work of art.

I so appreciate you breaking this down Rick. I was a teenager and budding guitarist when this song came out and when I heard that solo hidden in the background I tried in vein to boost the treble on my stereo to hear it. It just blew me away and I thought it was a travesty it was mixed the way it was. Awesome video as usual!

I could always hear this back in the day with my killer headphones....Chris Cross was talented... I loved skating to his music...

Only Rick Beato could air-guitar while holding a guitar!

I'm also a fan of Jamal's reactions. Great solo from Christopher Cross. Assumed it was a session player until I saw a live recording.

Rick, your enthusiasm is so infectious Mate! Thank you for your love of great music ! Cheers Dallas

Saw him live at the London Palladium in 1980 and his guitar work was phenomenal! Great underrated artist . . .

This is the kind of thing that keeps bringing me back to Rick's videos. He features the hidden gems in great songs that would otherwise be lost in the "noise" of history.

I've seen him live at least 8 times and when he plays this solo, I'm always blown away. Like everyone else, I never heard the solo on the record. When he does it live it's even better than what he did on the record. He never really got his due, but for some of us, we've been fans for years and love all of his albums. Check out his work with his band Freedonia. Sublime!

That bass behind it shouldn't be ignored either. All around, great stuff

I appreciate this great uncovering of a master guitarist. I never would have thought of Chris as a great player. What a solo!

It always makes me so happy to watch the pure enthusiasm Rick shows, as he both discovers the gems-within-a-gem, and then shares that discovery with all of us! Pure Joy, right there! Thank you, Rick!

THANK YOU for shining a light on this epic, underappreciated, incredible guitar solo that I used to crank up as far as the volume knob would go driving up California Interstate 5 in January 1980. Christopher Cross NEVER got the respect and admiration he deserved but a LOT of us knew how he could slay a fret board. Props to you, Rick, for recognizing that too.

Thank You Rick !!! A much needed video!

Great video, one of the best you have done, takes me back to high school and why i have always loved this song

Jamal’s channel is great. I don’t watch many “react videos” but his energy is infectious. Christopher Cross is from my hometown of San Antonio, Texas

Rick Beato is the music appreciation teacher I wish I had in school. I love discovering what makes all this great music so great, simplified so a non-musician can follow along.

Loved this video, great job Rick.

Just listened to this jam and of course this popped up in the feed. Thx Rick.

I had never heard the term Yacht Rock before but now that I look back it's fitting. I remember when this album came out, my mother played it all of the time. I always thought of it as a notch above what us kids were listening to at the time (Queen, Styx, Van Halen, AC/DC....) It just oozed with class.. Some of the other song I remember from this era are Steal Away and Hot Rod Hearts by Robbie Dupree, Let My Love Open the Door by Pete Townsend, The Tide is High by Blondie, Jane by Jefferson Starship, Romeo's Tune by Steve Forbet, Biggest Part of Me by Ambrosia... It was was a great time for top 40

Rick, you have completely unearthed a lost treasure! I've heard this song thousands of times since it's release--I grew up with it. Until now, that guitar solo was the most forgettable aspect of the song. You made it stand out as the highly memorable piece it truly is. Thank you!

I know the feeling, having played lead guitar solos that got lost in the mix on album cuts. Never stopped me from taking those recording dates. Life of a session player!

Ive been subscribed for a while but this really sold me on your channel. Great content!

This record was obviously produced as a dance/club track and a heavy guitar solo at full volume would have just cleared the floor. The hook is in those vocals and when faded out at the correct time (a lot sooner) it works with the solo in the background adding to the overall excitement. However, they should have also made a rock remix with the guitar up front and the full solo as an alternative. I did that with a dance track that I released for one of my artists a couple of years ago. The original mix they sent me was very retro disco, but I noted some good guitar work in it, so I released a rock alternative version with the guitar boosted and a new drum track. It actually went down better than the original version!

Funny enough I've actually known this for awhile lol. As a guitar player I heard that solo for the first time in "Ride Like The Wind" and immediately cranked it up to hear it better. Dude can shred for sure. Has an almost Steely Dan vibe to it.

Always a pleasure to follow you on youtube . I’m just a Music lover but I have learned a lot from you .Keep up the good work.

ever since i started driving i always listened to his songs and he has made the best songs to listen when it comes to an hour and a half long drive from home to college campus