Search - Crusaders :: The Crusaders Gold

At Last! The Crusaders Jazz-Funk Masterpieces Of The 70's/80

Mark Barry at Reckless Records, Lon | UK | 04/06/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"(Formerly known as The Jazz Crusaders) THE CRUSADERS are:

JOE SAMPLE - Keyboards

WILTON FELDER - Tenor Saxophone

WAYNE HENDERSON - Trombone

NESBERT "STIX" HOOPER - Drums & Percussion



They've used many session men throughout the years, but two stick out as practically the fifth and sixth member of the band - they are LARRY CARLTON on Guitar with ROBERT "POPS" POPWELL on Bass. It should also be noted that both ARTHUR ADAMS and DEAN PARKS have contributed superb guitar work too - they're featured a lot in the highly creative late 70's period.



There's no info on the back sleeve for prospective buyers, so here's the breakdown:



DISC 1 (79:54 minutes):

Track 1: Freedom Sound (a Joe Sample song from "Unsung Heroes", 1973 on Blue Thumb)

Track 2: Young Rabbits - '71-'72 (a Wayne Henderson song from "Pass The Plate", 1971 on Chisa, credited as The Jazz Crusaders)

Track 3: Way Back Home (a Wilton Felder song from "Old Socks, New Shoes...New Socks, Old Shoes", 1970 on Chisa)

Track 4: Put It Where You Want It (a Joe Sample song from "Crusaders 1", a 2LP set, 1972 on Blue Thumb)

Track 5: So Far Away (Single Version) (a cover of a song from Carole King's "Tapestry" album, on "Crusaders 1", a 2LP set, 1972 on Blue Thumb)

Track 6: Tough Talk (a Joe Sample/Wayne Henderson song from "The 2nd Crusade", a 2LP set, 1973 on Blue Thumb)

Track 7: Don't Let It Get You Down (a Joe Sample song from "The 2nd Crusade", a 2LP set, 1973 on Blue Thumb)

Track 8: Scratch (a Wayne Henderson song)

Track 9: Hard Times (written by Paul F. Mitchell, it was a hit for David Newman in 1960; 8 and 9 are from "Scratch: Recorded Live At The Roxy", a 2LP set, 1974 on Blue Thumb)

Track 10: Stomp & Buck Dance (a Wayne Henderson song)

Track 11: Lillies Of The Nile (a Wilton Felder song)

Track 12: Double Bubble (a Joe Sample song)

Track 13: A Ballad For Joe (Louis) (a Joe Sample song, 10 to 13 are from "Southern Comfort", 1974 on Blue Thumb)

Track 14: I Felt The Love (a Stix Hooper song)

Track 15: Creole (a Wilton Felder song)

Track 16: Chain Reaction (a Joe Sample song, 14 to 16 from "Chain Reaction", 1975 on Blue Thumb)





DISC 2 (79:53 minutes):

Track 1: Spiral (a Joe Sample song)

Track 2: Keep That Same Old Feeling (a Wayne Henderson song, 1 and 2 are from "Those Southern Knights", 1976 on Blue Thumb)

Track 3: Free as The Wind (a Joe Sample song)

Track 4: Nite Crawler (a Larry Carlton song)

Track 5: Sweet `N Sour (a Joe Sample song)

Track 6: It Happens Everyday (a Joe Sample song)

Track 7: Feel It (Stix Hooper, Wilton Felder, Larry Carlton, Robert Popwell and Lamont Dozier song, 3 to 7 from "Free As The Wind", 1977 on Blue Thumb)

Track 8: Snowflake (a Joe Sample song)

Track 9: Fairy Tales (a Joe Sample song, 8 and 9 from "Images", 1978 on Blue Thumb)

Track 10: Street Life (Promotional 12" Single Version) (a Joe Sample/Will Jennings song) (guest vocals by RANDY CRAWFORD) (the full album version is on "Street Life", 1979 on MCA)

Track 11: Soul Shadows (Edited Album Version) (guest vocals by BILL WITHERS) (a Joe Sample/Will Jennings song)

Track 12: Last Call (a Joe Sample song) (11 and 12 are from "Rhapsody & Blues", 1980 on MCA)

Track 13: I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here Today (guest vocals by JOE COCKER) (a Joe Sample/Will Jennings song) (from "Standing Tall", 1981 on MCA)

Track 14: Hold On (Live) (guest vocals by B.B. KING (a Joe Sample/Will Jennings song, from "The Crusaders with B.B. King and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Royal Jam", 1982 on MCA)



The original master tapes were researched by RANDY ARONSON and mastered for CD by GAVIN LURSSEN at Lurrsen Mastering in Hollywood, CA. The first few tracks do have some hiss on them that's noticeable, but it's nothing too bad to detract. From about 1972 onwards, that earlier hiss all but disappears and into the late 70's and onwards, the production values are fantastic. Most of the albums featured on this set were put out by Blue Thumb Records in the USA (ABC in the UK on the later issues) until they moved to MCA in 1979. And as you can see, each CD is stretched to the maximum playing time thereby provided the best value for money. But better than all that is the STUNNING SOUND QUALITY - it literally explodes out the speakers on every track - especially the rhythm section of Hooper and Popwell. I mention the sound quality because having been hugely disappointed by the half-assed sound presented on the 1980's initial CD releases and then the 4CD Box Set "Way Back Home" from 1996, which was only mildly better in my opinion, it's a genuine blast to announce that at last, Universal has gotten its act together and given the public the mastering of this great band's catalogue they have long deserved. The sound quality is NOTICABLY BETTER than all preceding issues



My first introduction to The Crusaders was "Free As The Wind" from 1977 and it's thrilling to see 5 of its 8 tracks represented here in astonishingly clear sound - I've played this funky soulful masterpiece to death for over 30 years now. What strikes you most as you listen to the songs is the rhythm section - both Hooper and Popwell as tight as a nun's knickers in the Vatican. The blissfully slinky "Nite Crawler" is a highlight too, but best of all is the near 9 minute funky workout that is "Sweet `N Sour" - astonishing stuff. Towards the end of Disc 2 we get the duet vocals, the only clinker being the truly awful "I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here" with Will Jennings' worst lyrics ever (among many). A nice touch is the inclusion of the 12" promotional version of "Street Life" which is shorter than the near 12 minute album version, but longer than the 4 minutes single edit - I think this is a first for this version on any CD anywhere. There are so many highlights on here...I'll leave them for you to discover...



This 2007 re-issue is a US-ONLY import for the moment, so it's price as a hard copy for UK and Eurpean customers in a Megastore ranges between £14 and £18. You can get it cheaper. I picked up my copy online for under £10 included P&P from the USA. As yet it's NOT available as an iTunes download.



This is the 5th "Gold" 2CD compilation that I've bought (Steppenwolf, Buddy Holly, Squeeze and The Temptations are the others) and they've all been a revelation with regard to sound quality and choice of tracks - superlative on all counts.



A great re-issue then - buy it with confidence. And roll on the solo stuff on another 2CD set.



PS: For those interested in the "Gold" series in general, see my separate review of "Steppenwolf Gold".



Also, for those wishing to explore more of the Crusaders, I cannot recommend enough the first solo album by Joe Sample "Rainbow Seeker" (from 1978). There's a Blue Thumb/GRP CD of it issued in 1996 with very nice sound. "Rainbow Seeker" features Stix Hooper on Drums, Dean Parks and Ray Parker on Guitars with Pops Popwell on Bass. It's an absolute peach of a piano-based jazz funk record - well worth your seeking out.



The Joe Jackson 2CD "Gold" set is due at the end of April 2008 and there's hardly a bad song on it too..."

Jazz, R&B, Soul, Funk...

B. P. Rucker | Des Plaines,IL. | 07/16/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A nice, solid job of documenting the crusaders through the 70's and early 80's. Very good sound for the time, nice remastering job, so you can appreciate how "tight" these guys are. Supplement with your favorite albums."

One for the Collection

Damian Matthew Mousley | Australia | 06/19/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Greetings from Down Under !

Let me quite simply state this this is a fantastic compilation. As one of the previous reviewers states (Which prompted me to buy this CD), a fantastic job has been done to remaster the sound. (I had previously bought a couple of Albums, to which the sound is a lot duller than this compilation) . This Album cronicles some great moments in the genre, and even though I am in my early 30's, there are some distinct electro funk/jazzy sounds (on disc 2) - which will appeal to those listeners who like Jamariquoi are similar sounds to those films with solid 1970s American Black Jazz/Funk sound (eg JackieBrown/Charlies Angels/American Gangstar/Studio 54 sound..). For the first time I heard fantastic pieces such as Free as the Wind+Sweet & Sour, examples which are absolute musical masterpieces with rich orchestral, drum, bass, guitar and brass overtones (Which I originally heard off You-tube), I knew I had to get this CD !!

This band is surely talented as you will find and is totally worthy of your collection. For those of you who dont go for populist, processed and mass produced rubbish, you will surely get down on it with this CD!!

Crank it up and enjoy"