ARTHUR’S THEME
(BEST THAT YOU
CAN DO)
CHRISTOPHER CROSSGiven the relative ubiquity of
Christopher Cross on oldies
radio, it’s something of a
surprise when people fi nd out
for the fi rst time that he only
made the UK Top 40 once.
Still, if the song you’re best
known for is a million-selling
No.1 in the US which hit the
Top 10 everywhere else and
picked up an Oscar and a
Golden Globe along the way,
it’s no bad thing.
The distinctive, amplifi ed
comb‘n’paper vocal style that
made Cross a star in 1980 was
perfect for the mellow but
euphoric theme to the huge
1981 Hollywood blockbuster
Arthur, with Dudley Moore in
the title role. Four writers are
credited, including Cross and
Burt Bacharach, and
production relied heavily on
electric piano, jazz-tinged
percussion and subtle strings,
prior to a rip roaring sax solo
from R&B legend Ernie Watts,
in competition with Jeff
Porcaro’s drums.
In the UK, the track climbed
steadily to a peak position of
No.7, with Cross fi nally getting
noticed after radio staples Ride
Like The Wind and Sailing
missed out. The song was later
covered by Barry Manilow and
Ronan Keating, among many
others, and has been recorded
as an instrumental by numerous
bands and orchestras, while the
original is a regular on radio
and compilations. Cross is now
68 and has released 15 studio
albums to date.
Matthew Rudd is the host of
Forgotten 80s on Absolute 80s
EX-DURAN GUITARIST
ON COMEBACK TRAIL
Founding Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor is on the comeback trail with his fi rst new
album in two decades due next year. Taylor, who fi rst quit Duran during sessions for
1986’s Notorious LP, will showcase new material at an intimate 100 Club gig in London
on 27 November.
Taylor re-emerged from a 10-year Ibizan hiatus earlier this year to play gigs with
rockers Reef as a guest guitarist. Reef’s frontman Gary Stringer provides vocals on much
of Taylor’s new material and will perform with him at the London show.
Besides his work with Duran, Taylor was best known for his part in Duran splinter
group The Power Station which featured Robert Palmer. He became an in-demand
producer and performer in the late 80s for a variety of acts including Rod Stewart, Paul
Rodgers, Thunder and more.
In 2001, Taylor reunited with the other original members of Duran Duran to record the
Astronaut album and embarked on a hugely successful tour. However, he left the band
again in 2006.Anything Rick Astley can do, Squeeze can do
better. Foo Fighters mainman Dave Grohl
joined Chris Difford, Glenn Tilbrook and co on
drums to perform their evergreen classic, Black
Coffee In Bed at the Bourbon & Beyond festival
in Louisville, Kentucky, last month. Grohl, who
famously invited Rick Astley on stage with hisband at Reading Festival earlier this summer,
was also spotted dancing to Hall & Oates at
the same event – this is clearly a man who
needs a Classic Pop subscription.
Meanwhile, Squeeze’s Difford And
Tilbrook Songbook UK Tour continues until
22 November.GROHL TEMPTED BY SQUEEZE