“Well, I read it in town in the melancholy news… The front page story is our love is through.”
Hey there friends, let’s mellow out. It’s time to put on our captains hats, put an extra splash of rum in our pina coladas, and catch a deep breath of that salty sea air, as the Dial brings you an overlooked single from the patron saint of “Yacht Rock”, Texas native Christopher Cross and his 1983 near-hit “No Time For Talk”!
Cross
smoothly sailed into pop music stardom with his Grammy
winning self-titled
album in
late 1979.
Blending
a
foundation of soft rock with elements
of
smooth jazz and blue-eyed
soul,
the Christopher
Cross
LP helped popularize the introspective escapism of what was then
known as the West Coast Sound, but which
became known in later years as
Yacht Rock.
Best
remembered for sophisticated top 40 smashes like “Ride Like the
Wind” (a #2 hit in 1980), in addition to “Sailing”,
and “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” (chart
toppers in ‘80 and ‘81, respectively), “No Time For Talk” is
a rather atypical song from Cross, as it features a few musical ideas
that set it apart from the bulk of his oeuvre.
A
story of a romance on the decline, musically, “No
Time…” initially
seems
a little disjointed
and
experimental,
especially
when compared to Christopher’s
earlier hits. It opens
with
strong, slightly
ominous
tones
that
would not sound out of place on the score
of a
horror or science
fiction
film of
the era.
Then additional
keyboard
flourishes blend
in,
softening the vibe of the tune. Once Chris
starts singing, the verses and chorus sections fall in line with his
standard sound, and
images of
palm trees and his
trademark pink
flamingos will undoubtedly pop to
mind.
There’s
also a rather interesting bridge
section that leads
off with a jazzy
piano and saxophone melody, and
wraps up with an almost
new-age-derived
keyboard
passage. Following this, “No
Time…” returns to Cross’ signature soft
rock stylings. The
tune is a veritable
hodge-podge, a gumbo, if you will, of musical elements. But
that’s exactly
why I find it interesting, and
unique among his discography.
Like
much of Christopher’s hits, “No Time…” features frequent
collaborator
and Doobie Brother Michael
McDonald on backing vocals. Mike and Jeff Porcaro of Toto contribute
to bass
and drums, and Tom Scott of the Blues Brothers band provides
that sweet
sax
solo.
Peaking
at US #33, the
lowest showing of all his top 40 entries, “No
Time…” was the second single pulled from his 1983
LP Another
Page,
following
the lead single, the
#12 hit "All
Right",
an upbeat pop/rock
number.
“No
Time…” was
followed
in
turn by the
#9 "Think
of Laura"
- a heartfelt
ballad tribute
to his friend Laura Carter who
was killed accidentally during gang violence.
This was to
be Christopher’s final
top 40 hit.
Despite
his star falling rather quickly due
to rapidly changing
musical
trends,
and the difficulty in marketing Cross to the MTV generation, the
smooth Texan has
continued to release albums
and
tour throughout the decades.
His smash
hits have
been mainstays of adult contemporary stations since their release,
but “No Time…” has been largely abandoned since
it’s original chart run.
In
current times, Christopher has unfortunately been one of a number of
celebrities that was
stricken
with the
Covid-19 virus. As I write this, May 19, 2020, Chris
did not suffer any respiratory complications, but battling the virus
left him
temporarily
paralyzed in
his legs.
Still, it is reported that the icon of soft rock is optimistic, and doctors expect him to make a full recovery, at which point he plans to embark on his 40th anniversary tour, celebrating the very album that launched his career. I wonder if he will dust off “No Time for Talk” for the set list? I hope he makes a stop in Columbus Ohio, I’d love to check him out.
Still, it is reported that the icon of soft rock is optimistic, and doctors expect him to make a full recovery, at which point he plans to embark on his 40th anniversary tour, celebrating the very album that launched his career. I wonder if he will dust off “No Time for Talk” for the set list? I hope he makes a stop in Columbus Ohio, I’d love to check him out.
So
won’t you make time for “No Time”? Click the link below, and
listen to this overlooked almost hit from an icon of early 80s pop.
Do you think “No Time” deserved to be a bigger hit? What are some
of your favorite songs of the yacht rock genre? Drop me a comment and
let’s chat!
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