Walking in Avalon

"Walking In Avalon", Christopher Cross’ seventh album release, is a double album package that contains Christopher's latest new studio album and Greatest Hits Live album together. In late 1999, CMC re-released the package as two single-album releases. The studio album is entitled "Red Room", and the hits live release is "Christopher Cross - Greatest Hits Live".

Writing and production

Written and produced with Rob Meurer, and featuring multi-instrumentalist/co-producer Scott Frankfurt, the two-CD set comprises popular music. CD one is a showcase for Cross’ vocal, instrumental, and compositional talents. This collection of songs explores celebration and aggravation, love and lust, focus and the lack thereof, the dreaded “R” word (relationships), the difficulty of hope, and some plain, good ol’ storytelling.

Cross’ music displays sophistication and his lyrics have pointed meaning, yet a great sense of fun permeates the entire work. Backing tracks created by Frankfurt and orchestral settings by Jeremy Lubbock help to showcase the Cross–Meurer songs as well as Christopher's guitar work.

The second album is a bonus for stalwart Cross fans, containing a 74-minute live concert recording in which Christopher performs virtually all of his earlier hits (including “Sailing,” “Ride Like the Wind,” “Arthur’s Theme,” and “Think of Laura”) as well as a generous offering of his lesser-known but excellent mid-period songs. Through a printing error, the band credits for this concert were omitted from the CD notes.

Besides Cross on vocals and guitar, featured are Rob Meurer (keyboards, dulcimer, vocals), Chas Thompson (bass, vocals), Gigi Worth (percussion, guitar, vocals), Kiki Ebsen (keyboards, vocals), and Jody Cortez (drums), with Joel Pe$kin on alto sax and a special guest appearance by Michael McDonald (singer).

Track listing

DISC 1

#In a Red Room
#Walking in Avalon
#Hunger
#When She Smiles
#It's Always Something
#Dream Too Loud
#I Know You Well
#Kind of I Love You
#Curled Around the World
#Rainy Day in Vancouver

DISC 2 (Live)

#Rendezvous
#Never be the Same
#Back of My Mind
#Sailing
#Every Turn of the World
#Deputy Dan
#In the Blink of an Eye
#Swept Away
#Think of Laura
#Minstrel Gigolo
#Open Up My Window
#Alibi
#Is There Something
#Arthur's Theme
#"Ride Like the Wind"
#"All Right"