Ride Like The Wind

Album: Christopher Cross (1980)
Charted: 69 2
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Songfacts®:

  • This soft rock classic tells the story of a condemned man on the run to Mexico. The storyline is one not often heard on Adult Contemporary radio, but the precise instrumentation and soaring background vocals, which were provided by Michael McDonald, helped make the song a big hit.

    What you probably didn't know about the song: Christopher Cross was on acid when he wrote the lyrics. "We were living in Houston at the time, and on the way down to Austin to record the songs, it was just a beautiful Texas day," he told Songfacts. "I took acid. So I wrote the words on the way down from Houston to Austin on acid."
  • Speaking about his inspiration for the outlaw theme in this song, Cross told us: "I grew up with a lot of cowboy movies. Serials and stuff, like The Lone Ranger and these cowboy serials where they were always chasing the bad guy. And I lived in San Antonio near Mexico, so there was always this anarchistic allure about if you could get to Mexico, you could escape the authority. Also, Mexico was a place where you could go down there and drink and do all this debauchery that as a kid, you think sounds really cool. So getting to the border in Mexico was a fascinating thing to me."
  • This song originated out of live performances by Christopher Cross and his band when they would play a 1973 Paul McCartney & Wings song called "Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five." They would jam on the song, and in the middle section, Cross would do the "ba da da da, da da, da da" part, which became the centerpiece of "Ride Like The Wind."
  • A track from Christopher Cross' first album, this was released as his first single. His record company, Warner, wanted "Say You'll Be Mine" to be the first single, but Cross' producer Michael Omartian convinced them that "Ride Like The Wind" was the best choice. The song went all the way to #2 in America, but the next release was even bigger: "Sailing" was a #1 hit and won Grammy awards for Song Of The Year and Record Of The Year.
  • On the album inner sleeve, Christopher Cross dedicated this song to Lowell George, formerly of the band Little Feat, who died in 1979. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Brittany - Calgary, Canada
  • The Michael McDonald connection came courtesy of Cross' producer Michael Omartian - they knew each other from working with Steely Dan. McDonald offered to do some background vocals, so they put him to work on the song "I Really Don't Know Anymore." A few weeks later when Cross and Omartian were working on "Ride Like The Wind," they realized they needed another voice for the answer vocals, so they called McDonald back to do it.

    The album had some impressive credits, as Don Henley also contributed some vocals. The big names helped it earn credibility and airplay, making it a wildly successful debut for Cross.
  • A group called East Side Beat recorded a dance version of this song in 1991 that was popular in Europe, making #3 in the UK. The jazz trumpet player Freddie Hubbard included it on his 1982 album that was titled after the song, and the metal band Saxon released a cover in 1988. Cross says he likes the East Side Beat version, as he prefers covers that put a different spin on the song.
  • In 1999, the satirical newspaper The Onion published a story with the headline, "Christopher Cross Finally Reaches Mexican Border," a reference to this song. Cross appreciated the honor.
  • In 2005, a web series called Yacht Rock debuted, poking fun at artists like Christopher Cross and Michael McDonald in their depictions of what went on behind the scenes of songs like this one. Cross and McDonald saw the humor, and even performed this song in 2009 on the "Yacht Rock Party" episode of Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.

Comments: 13

  • Mark from CaliforniaBlondie's "Call Me" was at #1 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart during the four weeks that "Ride Like the Wind" was at #2.
  • Ben G from Swedesboro Nj U.s.I was 12 when this song was brand new!
    A song of energy and persistence. The wind sound in the intro just expresses the energy coming throughout the entire song. One of my favorite artists of the 80's. Hats off to the persons who spent hours getting this to perfection. Just purchased my 2nd vinyl 45 copy as my original from 1980 has worn itself.
  • Jim from MaineTo the overthinkers about the geography of Texas .... it's figurative speech to say you went "down to" or "over to" or "up to" someplace ... relax.
  • Mystery from MassachusettsFunny how much I loved this song when I was twelve. I heard it on the radio this morning and was compelled to learn more about the song. It is striking. 7 years my ex husband did something terrible and illegal, and drove like the wind from the police. They shot him 100 times.
  • D.g. from San Antonio Hey Dean D: a quick study of a Texas map would show you that Austin is in fact not north of Houston, but DUE WEST of it (or just ever so slightly north of due west of it, anyway).
  • D. Dean from Houston, TexasChristopher Cross must really have been hammered if he said, "We were living in Houston at the time, and on the way down to Austin to record the songs, it was just a beautiful Texas day. I took acid. So I wrote the words on the way down from Houston to Austin on acid." Austin is "north" of Houston by about 180 miles so I doubt he would have gone "down" to Austin from Houston, unless he didn't no north from south.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 10th 1980, "Ride Like The Wind" by Christopher Cross entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #61; and on April 20th it peaked at #2 (for 4 weeks) and spent 21 weeks on the Top 100 (and for 9 of those 21 weeks it was on the Top 10)...
    It reached #3 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart...
    Was track six from his self-titled debut album, 'Christopher Cross', the album reached #6 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart...
    Three other tracks from the album also made the Top 100; "Sailing" (at #1 for 4 weeks), "Never Be The Same" (at #15), and "Say You'll Be Mine" (at #20)...
    R.I.P. Mr. Cross, born Christopher Charles Geppert, will celebrate his 63rd birthday in three months on May 3rd (2014).
  • Kenneth William from Nashville , TnI remember this song when I broke up with a girl in 1980, and flying from L.A. to NYC...
  • Roman from Barrie, Onrecently on a late night talk show Mr. Cross was pleasantly shocked (judging by the expression on his face) when he heard/saw Michael McDonald accompanying him singing and on the keyboards while performing this song. Bet you don't see this priceless mix of talent at a concert too often.
  • Bill from Laguna Beach, AustraliaThis is my friend Gary's favorite song.
  • Jay from Toronto, OnIt's hard to hear this song and not think about the old SCTV bit with Rick Moranis playing Gerry Tod the VJ andthen Michael McDoanld in the video for this song. I can watch it a hundred times and it still makes me laugh. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDojwQ8cJC4
  • Jane from Austin, Txi used to think it was a song about him racing home to see his father. i thought the lyrics were "it is the night. my father's weak"
  • Guy from Woodinville, WaGreat song! So easy to get swept up and feel like a modern cowboy, ridin' for the border.
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