"No Time for Talk" by Christopher Cross

Song#:  1445
Date:  05/07/1983
Debut:  59
Peak:  33
Weeks:  10
Genre:  Soft Rock



Pop Bits:  Cross' second album, "Another Page," was having a rough start. The LP's first single, "All Right," did...well...alright. It peaked at #12 on the pop chart while reaching #3 at AC. It was a disappointing result following his Grammy-winning platinum self-titled debut album and his #1 Oscar winning soundtrack song "Arthur's Theme." This second single fared even worse and fell short of the Pop Top 30. Again, AC supported Cross' soft rock sound and the song made it to #10 on that chart.

ReduxReview:  This song started off well with an intense opening that reminded me of "Ride Like the Wind," but unlike that hit, this one changes tone quickly and by the chorus it seemed like a completely different song. Overall the tune is okay, however I would never peg it as single-worthy. After listening to the album, I soon realized it was pretty much the only choice for a follow-up. The LP was lacking the hit material that made his debut album soar. However, I can't really fault Cross for that. Although his debut album was definitely good, it was one that turned into an unexpected mega hit. Those are so hard to follow-up to begin with, but Cross had the extra burden in that his style of soft rock had fallen out of favor in the three years since his debut album. Instead of trying to specifically update his sound and create hits on his own or with collaborators that could help, Cross just simply wrote songs and put them out. Those who liked his songs and style would stay and listen. The rest would just move on (as I did). However, I would think that Cross is not terribly sad about the outcome. I'm sure he is still happily cashing his royalty checks.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Although it did not appear on the soundtrack album, an instrumental version of this song was used in the 1986 film "American Anthem." The film starred 1984 Olympic gold medal gymnast Mitch Gaylord. His pin-up good looks were perfect for commercials and print ads, so why not a movie? It didn't work. The film, about a football player becoming an Olympic gymnast, was hated by critics and it was a bomb at the box office. Gaylord was even nominated for a Razzie for Worst New Star. The soundtrack album did better than the film reaching #91 thanks to a single by Duran Duran's Andy Taylor, the #24 "Take It Easy."

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