''The Crossing'' is the fifth studio

album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...

by English singer

Paul Young Paul Antony Young (born 17 January 1956) is an English musician, singer and songwriter. Formerly the frontman of the short-lived bands Kat Kool & the Kool Cats, Streetband and Q-Tips, he became a teen idol with his solo success in the 1980s. H ...

. Released in 1993, the album peaked at No. 27 on the

UK Albums Chart The Official Albums Chart is the United Kingdom's industry-recognised national record chart for album, albums. Entries are ranked by sales and audio streaming. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the O ...

. The album contains three UK singles: " Now I Know What Made Otis Blue" (UK No. 14), "Hope in a Hopeless World" (UK No. 42), and "It Will Be You" (UK No. 34). The album was dedicated to the memory of

Jeff Porcaro Jeffrey Thomas Porcaro (April 1, 1954 – August 5, 1992) was an American drummer. He is best known for being the co-founder and drummer of the rock band Toto, but is also one of the most recorded session musicians in history, working on hundr ...

, having appeared on 6 out of 11 pieces, who died in August 1992. Its liner notes by Paul Young describe the sessions for the album

Critical reaction

Aaron Badgley of

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

writes that ''The Crossing'' is a "very consistent, smooth, well-produced album ... "Now I Know What Made Otis Blue" is worth the price of the CD alone, but the other songs are top-notch as well."

Track listing

Personnel

* Paul Young – lead vocals, backing vocals (6) * Roy Hay – keyboards (1), guitar (1) * Bob Thiele Jr. – keyboards (1), backing vocals (1) *

Billy Preston William Everett Preston (September 2, 1946 – June 6, 2006) was an American keyboardist, singer, and songwriter whose work encompassed R&B, rock, soul, funk, and gospel. Preston was a top session keyboardist in the 1960s, backing Little Richa ...

–

Hammond B3 organ The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond and John M. Hanert, first manufactured in 1935. Multiple models have been produced, most of which use sliding #Drawbars, drawbars to vary sounds. Until 1975, sound was created ...

(1) * Peter Vale – keyboards (2), programming (2), guitar (2), bass (2), backing vocals (2) * Adrian Lee – keyboards (3), bass (3) * Louis Biancaniello – keyboards (4, 8), Fairlight programming (4), synth bass (4), drum programming (4),

sequencing In genetics and biochemistry, sequencing means to determine the primary structure (sometimes incorrectly called the primary sequence) of an unbranched biopolymer. Sequencing results in a symbolic linear depiction known as a sequence which succ ...

(4), arrangements (4, 8), programming (8) *

Jamie Muhoberac Benjamin Edward "Jamie" Muhoberac (born September 11, 1965) is an American session keyboardist with numerous credits. He is best known for his work with Seal and Was (Not Was). He is a touring member of New Jersey rock band My Chemical Romance. ...

– additional keyboards (4) *

Larry Knechtel Lawrence William Knechtel (August 4, 1940 – August 20, 2009) was an American keyboard player and bassist who was a member of the Wrecking Crew, a collection of Los Angeles–based session musicians who worked with such renowned artists as Sim ...

– acoustic piano (5, 7, 9, 10) *

Benmont Tench Benjamin Montmorency "Benmont" Tench III (born September 7, 1953) is an American musician and singer, and a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Early years Tench was born in Gainesville, Florida, the second child of Benjamin M ...

– Hammond B3 organ (5, 7, 9, 10) *

Don Was Don Edward Fagenson (born September 13, 1952), known professionally as Don Was (), is an American musician, record producer, music director, film composer, documentary filmmaker and radio host. Since 2011, he has also served as president of the ...

–

Mellotron The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical musical instrument developed in Birmingham, England, in 1963. It is played by pressing its keys, each of which causes a length of magnetic tape to contact a Capstan (tape recorder), capstan, which pulls i ...

(5),

vibraphone The vibraphone (also called the vibraharp) is a percussion instrument in the metallophone family. It consists of tuned metal bars and is typically played by using Percussion mallet, mallets to strike the bars. A person who plays the vibraphone ...

(8) *

Martin Page Martin George Page (born 23 September 1959) is an English singer-songwriter and bassist. Page has collaborated with artists such as Paul Young, Starship, Robbie Robertson, Earth, Wind & Fire, Heart (band), Heart, Robbie Williams and Go West (b ...

– keyboards (6), acoustic piano (6), programming (6), backing vocals (6) * Robbie Buchanan – keyboards (9, 10) *

Greg Phillinganes Gregory Arthur Phillinganes (born May 12, 1956) is an American keyboardist, vocalist, and arranger. A session musician, Phillinganes has contributed to numerous albums over a broad array of artists and genres. He has toured with artists includin ...

– acoustic piano (11) * Jim Cox –

organ Organ and organs may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a group of tissues organized to serve a common function * Organ system, a collection of organs that function together to carry out specific functions within the body. Musical instruments ...

(11) *

Paul Jackson Jr. Paul Milton Jackson Jr. (born December 30, 1959) is an American Jazz fusion, fusion/urban jazz composer, arranger, producer and guitarist. In addition to being a recording artist in his own right, Jackson is also a session player, with a career ...

– electric guitar (1, 4), guitars (11) * Phil Roy – guitar (1), backing vocals (1) * Neil Hubbard – rhythm guitar (2) *

Tim Renwick Timothy John Pearson Renwick (born 7 August 1949) is an English guitarist. He is best known for his association with Al Stewart in his early career and for his long-standing role as lead guitarist for the Sutherland Brothers & Quiver. His single ...

– guitars (3) *

Dean Parks Weldon Dean Parks (born December 6, 1946) is an American session guitarist and record producer from Fort Worth, Texas. Parks has one Grammy nomination. Albums Parks was member of the North Texas State One O'clock Lab Band before moving to Los A ...

– acoustic guitar (5, 7, 9, 10),

slide guitar Slide guitar is a technique for playing the guitar that is often used in blues music. It involves playing a guitar while holding a hard object (a slide) against the strings, creating the opportunity for glissando effects and deep vibratos that ...

(7), guitar solo (7), electric guitar (8) *

Reggie Young Reggie Grimes Young Jr. (December 12, 1936 – January 17, 2019) was an American musician who was lead guitarist in the American Sound Studio house band, The Memphis Boys, and was a leading session musician. He played on various recordings with ...

– electric guitar (5, 7, 9, 10) *

Mark Goldenberg Mark Goldenberg (born October 2, 1952) is an American guitarist and songwriter, noted for his session work and composition of successful songs for Linda Ronstadt, the Pointer Sisters, and others. Biography Early career Raised in Chicago, Illi ...

– guitars (6) * Davey Faragher – bass (1) * James "Hutch" Hutchinson – bass (5, 9) *

Pino Palladino Giuseppe Henry "Pino" Palladino (born 17 October 1957) is a Welsh musician, songwriter, and record producer. A session bassist, he has played bass for a number of acts such as the Who, the John Mayer Trio, Gary Numan, Paul Young, Don Henle ...

– bass (6, 7, 10) * Ken Wild – bass (10) * Freddie Washington – bass (11) *

– drums (1, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10) *

Peter Van Hooke Peter Van Hooke (born 6 April 1950) is an English rock drummer and producer with over 350 credits to his name. He was the drummer for the English band Mike + The Mechanics (from 1985 to 1995) and also drummed for Van Morrison's band, Headston ...

– drums (3) * Ed Greene – drums (11) *

Lenny Castro Lenny Castro (born September 19, 1956) is an American percussionist from the Los Angeles area. He is one of the most prolific percussionists of all time, appearing on hundreds of albums, including those by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Adele, Maroon ...

– percussion (1, 5-10) *

Luis Conte Luis Conte (born 16 November 1954) is a Cuban percussionist best known for his performances in the bands of artists including James Taylor, Madonna, Pat Metheny Group, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Phil Collins, Rod Stewart and Shakira. He began ...

– tambourine (1), congas (4), shaker (4),

timbales Timbales () or pailas are shallow single-headed drums with metal casing. They are shallower than single-headed tom-toms and usually tuned much higher, especially for their size.Orovio, Helio 1981. ''Diccionario de la música cubana: biográfic ...

(4) * Alan Estes – vibraphone (11) * Mark Feltham –

harmonica The harmonica, also known as a French harp or mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used worldwide in many musical genres, notably in blues, American folk music, classical music, jazz, country, and rock. The many types of harmonica incl ...

(2) *

Tommy Morgan Thomas Morgan Edwards (December 4, 1932 – June 23, 2022) was an American harmonicist and session musician, who had been active since the 1950s. He was considered one of the most heard harmonica players in the world, playing in over 500 fea ...

– bass harmonica (10) * Kirk Whalum – saxophone (4, 5) * Jon Clarke – woodwind (5, 7, 10) * Andrew Love – saxophone (7) * Steve Kujala –

flute The flute is a member of a family of musical instruments in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, producing sound with a vibrating column of air. Flutes produce sound when the player's air flows across an opening. In th ...

(9) * Gary Herbig – saxophone solo (11) * Wayne Jackson – trombone (7), trumpet (7) *

Mark Isham Mark Ware Isham (born September 7, 1951) is an American musician and composer. A trumpeter and keyboardist, Isham works in a variety of genres, including jazz and electronic music, electronic. He is also a prolific and acclaimed composer of Film ...

– trumpet (8) * David Campbell – string arrangements (5, 7, 10, 11), conductor (11) * Larry Corbett – cello (5, 7, 10) * Suzie Katayama – cello (5, 7, 10) * Novi Novog – viola (5, 7, 10) * Charlie Bisharat – violin (5, 7, 10) * Ron Clark – violin (5, 7, 10) * Lee Thornberg – horn arrangements (11) * Angel Rogers – backing vocals (1) * Billy Valentine – backing vocals (1) * Sylvia Mason-James – backing vocals (2) * Beverley Skeete – backing vocals (2) * Pam Sheyne – backing vocals (3) * Linda Taylor – backing vocals (3) * Willie Greene Jr. – backing vocals (5, 7, 9, 10) * Arno Lucas – backing vocals (5, 9) * Leslie Smith – backing vocals (5, 9) * Everette Drake – backing vocals (7, 10) * Wayne Murry – backing vocals (7, 10) * Francine Reed – backing vocals (7, 10) * Delta Dickerson – backing vocals (8) * Portia Griffin – backing vocals (8) * Anita Sherman – backing vocals (8) * Myrna Smith – backing vocals (8) * Jessica Williams – backing vocals (8) *

Kathleen Turner Mary Kathleen Turner (born June 19, 1954) is an American actress. Known for her distinctive deep husky voice, she is the recipient of two Golden Globes, as well as nominations for an Academy Award, a Grammy, and two Tony Awards. After debuting ...

– special guest vocal appearance (8) * Patty Smith – backing vocals (10) * Kevin Dorsey – backing vocals (11) *

Jim Gilstrap James Gilstrap is an American singer and session musician. He is best known for his 1975 solo hit single " Swing Your Daddy", as well as singing co-lead to the theme from the TV series ''Good Times''. Career Gilstrap was born November 10, 1946 ...

– backing vocals (11) * Dorian Holley – backing vocals (11) * Darryl Phinnessee – backing vocals (11)

Production

* Paul Young – executive producer * Don Was – producer (1, 4-10) * Peter Vale – producer (2) * Christopher Neil – producer (3), mixing (3) * Steve Lindsey – producer (11) * Rik Pekkonen – recording (1, 4-10), mixing (9, 10) * Richard Whaley – engineer (2) * Simon Hurrell – engineer (3) * Gabe Veltri – engineer (11), recording (11) *

Bob Clearmountain Bob Clearmountain (born Chiaramonte, January 15, 1953) is an American mixing engineer and record producer, best known for his work with major acts, including Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Roxy Music, Pretenders, and Bryan A ...

– mixing (1) * Laurie Latham – mixing (2), additional vocal mixing (4), additional recording production (5) * Ken Kessie – mixing (4, 8) * George Massenburg – mixing (5) *

Chris Lord-Alge Chris Lord-Alge is an American mix engineer. He is the brother of both Tom Lord-Alge and Jeff Lord-Alge, both of whom are also audio engineers. Chris and Tom are known for their abundant use of dynamic range compression for molding mixes that ...

– mixing (6) * Ed Cherney – mixing (7) *

Bill Schnee William S. Schnee (born July 4, 1947) is an American musician, music producer, and audio engineer. Schnee has been nominated 11 times for the Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical Grammy Award and worked on a multitude of other Grammy nominated ...

– mixing (11) * Dan Bosworth – recording assistant (1, 4-10), mix assistant (4, 9, 10) * Alex Reed – mix assistant (1) * Randy Wine – mix assistant (1) * Paul Mortimer – assistant engineer (3) * Marnie Riley – mix assistant (5, 7) * Talley Sherwood – mix assistant (6) * Danny Alonso – mix assistant (8) * Noel Hazen – recording assistant (11) * Vince Frost – art direction, design * Douglas Brothers – photography

Charts

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Crossing 1993 albums Paul Young albums Albums produced by Don Was Columbia Records albums