Ride Like the Wind

"Ride Like the Wind" is the debut single by American singer-songwriter Christopher Cross. It was released in February 1980 as the lead single from his Grammy-winning self-titled debut album. It reached number 2 on the US charts for four consecutive weeks. On the album's inner sleeve, Christopher Cross dedicated this song to Lowell George, formerly of the band Little Feat, who had died in 1979. It features backing vocals by Michael McDonald and a guitar solo by Cross.

"Ride Like the Wind"
Single by Christopher Cross
from the album Christopher Cross
B-side	"Minstrel Gigolo"
Released	February 15, 1980
Recorded	1979
Genre	Pop rock, post-disco
Length	4:30 (Album Version) 3:56 (Single Version)
Label	Warner Bros. Records
Songwriter(s)	Christopher Cross
Producer(s)	Michael Omartian
Christopher Cross singles chronology
"Ride Like the Wind" (1980) "Sailing" (1980)

History

The song tells the story of a condemned criminal on the run to Mexico. Told from a first-person point of view, it describes how an outlaw and convicted multiple murderer, on the run from a death-by-hanging sentence, has to "ride like the wind" to reach "the border of Mexico," where, presumably, the posse in pursuit of him will not be able to reach him.

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. I took acid. So I wrote the words on the way down from Houston to Austin."[1]

In 1999, the satirical newspaper The Onion published a story with the headline, "Christopher Cross Finally Reaches Mexican Border";[2] the headline was a reference to the song, and the three-sentence story made several specific allusions to the lyrics. Cross appreciated the honor.[1]

Chart history

Weekly charts Chart (1980) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report) 25 Canada Top Singles (RPM) 3 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[3] 31 UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) 69 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 2 U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary 24

Year-end charts Chart (1980) Rank Canada Top Singles[4] 21 US Billboard Hot 100[5] 17

East Side Beat version

"Ride Like the Wind"
Single by East Side Beat
Released	November 29, 1991
Recorded	1991
Genre	Dance, house
Label	FFRR Records
Songwriter(s)	Christopher Cross
Producer(s)	Dave Seaman, Phil Kelsey
East Side Beat singles chronology
"Ride Like the Wind" (1991) "Alive and Kicking" (1992)

In 1991, Italian dance music group East Side Beat remixed "Ride Like the Wind" in a style typical of early 1990s dance music. There are five remixes in total. Two versions are found on the 7" single and an additional three are on the CD single. The Factory Edit was included in FFRR Records' "Only for the Headstrong" compilation album released in 1992.[6]

Formats and track listings

7" single

1. "Ride Like the Wind" (Factory Edit) – 3:58
2. "Ride Like the Wind" (Subway Mix) – 4:09

CD single

1. "Ride Like the Wind" (Factory Edit) – 3:58
2. "Ride Like the Wind" (Factory Mix) – 5:51
3. "Ride Like the Wind" (piano version) – 5:32
4. "Ride Like the Wind" (Oceanic Remix) – 5:22
5. "Ride Like the Wind" (Subway Mix) – 4:00

Charts Chart (1991–1992) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[7] 29 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 4 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[9] 8 France (SNEP)[10] 12 Germany (Official German Charts)[11] 24 Ireland (IRMA)[12] 4 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13] 6 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] 6 Portugal (AFP)[15] 9 Spain (AFYVE)[16] 4 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 23 UK Singles (OCC)[18] 3

Year-end charts Chart (1992) Position Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[19] 37 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 65 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] 54

Laurent Wery version

"Ride Like the Wind"
Single by Laurent Wéry featuring Joss Mendosah
Released	March 30, 2013
Recorded	2012
Genre	Dance, house
Length	2:53
Label	La Musique du Beau Monde
Songwriter(s)	Christopher Cross
Producer(s)	Laurent Wéry
Laurent Wéry singles chronology
"I'm Going In" (2012) "Ride Like the Wind" (2013) "Up 2 the Sky" (2013)

Belgian DJ Laurent Wéry released a cover version of the song, which features vocals from Joss Mendosah. The song was produced by Laurent Wery. It was released in Belgium as a digital download on March 30, 2013. The song peaked at number 26 in Belgium.

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of "Ride Like the Wind" was first released on YouTube on April 8, 2013 at a total length of two minutes and fifty-four seconds.[22]

Track listing

Digital download

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Ride Like the Wind" (Original Extended) (feat. Joss Mendosah)	4:38
2.	"Ride Like the Wind" (Original Radio Mix) (feat. Joss Mendosah)	2:53

Chart performance

Chart (2013)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[23]	26

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
Belgium	March 30, 2013[24]	Digital download	La Musique du Beau Monde

Saxon version

English heavy metal band Saxon released a cover of "Ride Like the Wind" as the first track on their 1988 album Destiny.

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of "Ride Like the Wind" was first released on YouTube on August 7, 2013.[25]

References

1. Prato, Greg (2014). "Interview: Christopher Cross, Songwriter". Songfacts, LLC. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
2. "Christopher Cross Finally Reaches Mexican Border". The Onion. February 10, 1999. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
3. "Charts.nz – Christopher Cross – Ride Like the Wind". Top 40 Singles.
4. "Top 100 Singles (1980)". RPM. Archived from the original on 2016-04-25. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
5. "Pop Singles" Billboard December 20, 1980: TIA-10
6. "Various - Only For The Headstrong". Discogs.com. 2014-11-22. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
7. "Austriancharts.at – East Side Beat – Ride Like the Wind" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
8. "Ultratop.be – East Side Beat – Ride Like the Wind" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
9. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 50. December 14, 1991. p. 37. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
10. "Lescharts.com – East Side Beat – Ride Like the Wind" (in French). Les classement single.
11. "Offiziellecharts.de – East Side Beat – Ride Like the Wind". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
12. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Ride Like the Wind". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
13. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 5, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved September 24, 2018.
14. "Dutchcharts.nl – East Side Beat – Ride Like the Wind" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
15. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9 no. 10. March 7, 1992. p. 18. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
16. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
17. "Swisscharts.com – East Side Beat – Ride Like the Wind". Swiss Singles Chart.
18. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
19. "Jaaroverzichten 1992". Ultratop. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
20. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1992". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
21. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1992". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
22. Laurent Wery feat. Joss Mendosah - Ride Like the Wind (Official Video). YouTube
23. "Ultratop.be – Laurent Wery feat. Joss Mendosah – Ride Like The Wind" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
24. iTunes - Music - Ride Like the Wind (feat. Joss Mendosah) - Single by Laurent Wery
25. Saxon - Ride Like the Wind (Official Video). YouTube

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics