Christopher Cross
Doctor Faith
Eagle Records
www.eaglerockent.com
By George W. Harris

If you were alive in the 80s, you probably heard Christopher Cross’s “Sailing” at least 150 billion times, as it WAS the sound and song of the decade. What happened to him after that? Well, as they say in the movie That Thing You Do…”It’s a very common tale.” Essentially a one hit wonder, but here he is, 20 years later, and this disc is REALLY good!

His voice has aged really well, a bit more leathery, and his attitude has been weathered by being around the blocks a few times. The music is in direct contrast to today’s “indie” bands; nothing fancy, nihilistic or navel gazing here, just a straight ahead direction of the music. Steady as she goes, Scotty. The songs are sort of a musical Ecclesiastes; a guy telling you the wisdom that he’s picked up over the years, and wants to pass on to another generation. Tunes like “Hey Kid” and “I’m Too Old For This” are reflections of a life lived, and contemplated about, while “Help Me Cry” and the title track emote desires for something else in life. It’s been awhile since a song made me think about the lyrics, and not in the sense that I felt bombarded. Nice to be reunited with an old friend.