“Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” is a song performed and co-written by American singer-songwriter Christopher Cross as the main theme for the 1981 film ARTHUR starring Dudley Moore and Liza Minelli.
It was recognized as the year’s Best Original Song at both the 54th Academy Awards and 39th Golden Globe Awards.
A commercial success in the United States, it reached the top of both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Adult Contemporary charts in October 1981, remaining at the top of the Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks.
The song topped the VG-lista chart in Norway, and was a top-ten hit in several other countries.
The song ranked No. 79 among the AFI’s 100 Years .. 100 Songs survey in 2004.
BACKGROUND
The song was written in collaboration between (Christopher) Cross, pop music composer Burt Bacharach, and Bacharach’s frequent writing partner and then-wife Carole Bayer Sager.
A fourth writing credit went to actress Liza Minnelli’s ex-husband, Australian songwriter Peter Allen, a frequent collaborator with Bayer Sager.
The line in the chorus “When you get caught between the moon and New York City”, was taken from an unreleased song written by Allen and Bayer Sager. Allen came up with the line while his plane was in a holding pattern during a night arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
RELEASE
The song “Minstrel Gigolo” served as the record’s B-side having previously backed Cross’s debut single, “Ride Like the Wind”.
Cross included “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” as a bonus track exclusive to cassette and CD versions of his 1983 album Another Page!
Music Video
The music video consists of two acts, which are edited together in fade outs. In one, Christopher Cross performs the song with musicians in a recording studio, and the other is the story the song illustrates.
THE BAND IN ARTHUR’S THEME ALBUM
Christopher Cross (lead and backing vocals, and guitar), Steve Lukather and Marty Walsh (guitars), David Hungate (bass), Jeff Porcaro (drums), Paulinho da Costa (percussion), and Ernie Watts (tenor saxophone).
CHARTS
The song topped the VG-lista chart in Norway, and was a top-ten hit in several other countries.
The song ranked No. 79 among the AFI’s 100 Years .. 100 Songs survey in 2004.
An endless Super Hit since 1981 in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, the UK (The British Archipelago), the US and Cuba.
