Don't Cross the River

"Don't Cross the River"
German single cover, photo is also used on the parent album front cover.
Single by America
from the album Homecoming
B-side	"To Each His Own"
Released	January 1973
Studio	The Record Plant, Los Angeles [1]
Genre	Country [2] [3]
Length	2:30
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter	Dan Peek
Producer	America
America singles chronology
"Ventura Highway" (1972) "Don't Cross the River" (1973) "Only in Your Heart" (1973)

"Don't Cross the River" is a song written by Dan Peek of the American rock band America, released as the second of three singles from their 1972 album Homecoming .

Release and reception

Record World stated that it is a "more countrified cut complete with banjos and all", ending that they believed it would be as successful as "Ventura Highway". ^[4] Cashbox magazine stated that following "In the footsteps of 'Ventura Highway'" is a "relatively easy task for America when you consider that each and every one of their singles is stronger than the last", ending that "This one looks and feels just right". ^[2]

The song has been included on compilations such as History: America's Greatest Hits , The Definitive America and The Complete Greatest Hits . ^{[5] [6]}

Track listing

1. "Don't Cross the River" – 2:30
2. "To Each His Own" – 3:13

Personnel

Original version

Adapted from the digital liner notes: ^[7]

America

• Dan Peek – guitar, vocals, songwriting
• Gerry Beckley – keyboards, vocals
• Dewey Bunnell – guitar, vocals,

Additional musicians

• Joe Osborn – bass guitar
• Hal Blaine – drums, percussion
• Henry Diltz – banjo

Technical

• Chuck Leary – assistant engineer
• Bill Halverson – engineer
• Mike Stone – engineer
• George Martin – mixing engineer

2007 re-recording

Adapted from the digital liner notes: ^[8]

America

• Gerry Beckley – vocals, guitar
• Dewey Bunnell – vocals, guitar
• Rich Campbell – vocals, bass guitar
• Willie Leacox – drums
• Michael Woods – vocals, piano
• Dan Peek – songwriter

Technical

• George Marino – mastering engineer
• Michael Taylor – engineer
• Jeff Worrell – engineer
• John Holbrook – mixing engineer

Charts

Chart (1973)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [9]	94
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [10]	49
Canada Adult Contemporary ( RPM ) [11]	21
US Billboard Hot 100 [12]	35
US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [13]	23

References

1. "Album Information - Highway: 30 Years of America".
2. "Cash Box: Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cashbox . January 20, 1973. p. 22.
3. Cleary, David. Homecoming Review by David Cleary at AllMusic. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
4. "Record World Single Picks" (PDF). Record World . January 20, 1973. p. 16.
5. Don't Cross the River - America | AllMusic , retrieved 2025-08-24
6. Definitive America - America | Album | AllMusic , retrieved 2025-08-24
7. "Don't Cross the River by America on Apple Music". Apple Music . 1972-01-01. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
8. Don't Cross the River by America on Apple Music, 2007-01-09, retrieved 2025-08-24
9. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992.
10. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4789." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
11. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4838." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
12. "America Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
13. "America Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2025.