"Across the River" is a song by American musical group Bruce Hornsby and the Range. The song was co-written by Bruce Hornsby and his brother John and was the first single released from the band's studio album, A Night on the Town. The single charted in several countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, and Germany.
Background Jerry Garcia, a member of The Grateful Dead had contributed lead guitar to the song. Hornsby began playing with the band in 1988 and later accumulated around 100 performances with them. "Across the River" was one of two songs Garcia played on that reached the US top 40, with the other being "Touch of Grey". Hornsby discussed "Across the River" in an interview published in Musician magazine.
"Across the River" was the highest debuting song on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian RPM 100 singles chart for the week ending June 23, 1990, where it entered at number 63 and number 51 respectively. It later peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Hornsby's final top twenty hit on that chart. "Across the River" also reached number one on Canada's RPM 100 Singles chart and topped the US Album Rock Tracks chart.
Critical reception Billboard said that "Across the River" had a "harder rock edge than in the past" and was "sure to be a multiformat success." RPM magazine called "Across the River" "a powerful track destined to be a hit".
Writing for Entertainment Weekly, Greg Sandow referred to "Across the River" as the "most satisfying song on the album", A Night on the Town. Jon Smith of Musician magazine identified "Across the River" as one of the songs on A Night on the Town that "depict quieter desperation, namely, the struggle to reconcile callow dreams and adult disappointments."
Track listings 7-inch and cassette single "Across the River" (single edit) – 4:43 "Fire on the Cross" – 4:38
12-inch and CD single "Across the River" (single edit) – 4:43 "Fire on the Cross" – 4:38 "Mandolin Rain" (live version) – 6:31
Japanese mini-CD single "Across the River" – 5:13 "Fire on the Cross" – 4:37
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1990) PeakpositionEuropean Airplay (Music & Media)7Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)17US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard)1
Year-end charts Chart (1990) PositionCanada Top Singles (RPM)14Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)28US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard)15
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesJune 1990RCAAustraliaJuly 2, 1990JapanJuly 4, 1990Mini-CDUnited KingdomJuly 9, 1990AustraliaJuly 30, 1990CD
References
External links Bruce Hornsby Artist Biography