Christopher Cross: A Golden Night at the Grammys and the Legacy of Arthur’s Theme
Christopher Cross’s golden era spanned from 1979 to 1985, during which he released his debut album and Arthur’s Theme, earning five Grammy Awards in one night.
That same year, he also took home an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award.
However, Cross’s career began to decline with the release of his third album, Every Turn of the World, in 1985, which failed to break into the Top 40.
Since then, Cross has released a few more albums that have received critical acclaim, and he continues to perform, averaging 100 shows per year.
His three biggest hits include Arthur’s Theme, Sailing, and Ride Like the Wind—all featured in the playlist above.
Arthur’s Theme was an attempt to craft “the best song in the world,” using the pocket symphony approach previously explored by the Beach Boys, The Beatles, Peter Gabriel, The Doobie Brothers, Toto, and Michael McDonald.
Some of these later bands have been categorised as part of the Yacht Rock genre, which Arthur’s Theme is also exclusively listed under on Wikipedia.
The massive production of Arthur’s Theme is a masterclass in blending instruments and should be studied by any aspiring producer. Notice how the counter-melodies constantly follow, replace, and double up, all while supporting the vocal line.
Spytunes asks the question: Does it work on just one acoustic guitar?
Christopher Cross Tunes | Related Pages
Arthur’s Theme | Chords + TAB
Learn how to play Arthur’s Theme by Christopher Cross using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, and a Spytunes video guitar lesson.
| Dm7 G | C Fmaj13 |
Once in your life you find her, someone that turns your heart around…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Arthur’s Theme (The Best That You Can Do) (Christopher Cross) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Christopher Cross on the web
