Customer Reviews

Rhapsody & Blues

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sweet Gentle Love is my favorite song of all songs. The Crusaders are my number one group. All others (Spyro Gyra, Rippingtons, Yellowjackets, etc) follow the Crusaders. I bought the cassette "Free as the Wind" thirty years ago and was forever hooked. I would give my left arm to see Joe, Wayne, Wilton and Stix play together again.

I remember that when I reviewed the Crusaders' 1979 CD Street Life last December, I said it was possibly one of their best. I still believe that but this 1980 follow-up is not far behind. Actually, think I recommended it at the time.

They've gone for an opening vocal performance again and this time, have opted for soul legend Bill Withers, who sings the Joe Sample & Will Jennings tune "Soul Shadows". The song is available in a number of other places; Bill Withers' Bill Withers - Greatest Hits, The Crusaders' Best of the Crusaders and their Vocal Album but I'm unsure as to whethr the versions there are the original 8min 15sec full-length version here. At any rate, I'm a purist in some respects and I usually like to have these kinds of songs on the original album they came from (and with no bonus tunes or remixes).

Besides, as good as the song is, this album is about much more than "Soul Shadows". Wilton Felder, Joe Sample and Stix Hooper have cooked up another soulful mix of classic jazz-fusion. Other favourite tracks include "Elegant Evening", written by drummer Hooper and featuring a beautiful alto sax performance by Felder, the long-winding and funky title tune, written by Joe Sample and on which the man gives us a sound solo on electric piano, and the heart-rending closer, "Sweet Gentle Love" on which Felder again plays alto sax. (He plays soprano and tenor, and as does Sample play acoustic piano amd synthesizer, elsewhere on the album).

Bass is provided by Abraham Laboriel & Alphonso Johnson, percussion by Paulinho da Costa and Sheila E and Ralph Rickert plays trumpet on "Soul Shadows". Also must-mention, are guitarists Dean Parks, Roland Bautista and Phil Upchurch, who all give great performances and Bob Mann, who provides all the great guitar solos.

All in all, another great classic album by The Crusaders and another one in a long line that has made the transition in my collection, from vinyl to CD. Again, it was an expensive Japanese import but I just had to have it!

The boys are at their absolute best on this album. The session guitarists do a fantastic job, for one thing. Stix is dead-on, every lick. Great drummer. Joe provides the most beautiful framework for the band. To my ear though, Wilton Felder just shines on this album. I think he's the most underrated Sax player of all time. His sound is incredible. Not just the style, but the quality of the sound he gets from his horn. The Great Wilton Felder! If you don't have this, why not?

This has long been a Favorite CRUSADER Album of mine, so much so I re-order it from time to time to give as a Gift and it is always a Hit with the recipient.

The cd took a little while to arrive but the sender did say it would. It arrived in perfect condition and it is really nice having an album that is hard to find on cd format.

I'm a big Crusaders fan&this Set adds to there rich legacy leaps&bounds.a strong collection of Songs&solid Arrngements to match Joe Samples touch on the Keys.Wyane,Wilton&Stix add there usual touch on this set.still feeling this Set.

Out of all the Crusaders albums I have this is my favourite.
Have had it on vinyl since it originally came out, and am delighted that it's finally available on CD.
I could give lots of reasons for buying this CD but am only going to give one,
And it's called "Sweet Gentle Love" it's without a doubt the greatest Crusaders track EVER!

Have this on vinyl and is a treasure.Some of the best written and arranged songs by Sample and the gang. Vocalist Bill Whithers does a nice job on the upbeat Soul Shadows. Beautiful ballards Sweet And Gentle Love and Elegant Evening,and Last Call....well DO YOURSELF A FAVOR and listen for yourself.

This is the ultimate is contemporary jazz.. I had this on vinyl and could not wait for the CD to arrive to play it. This is classic piano playing by Joe Sample and the most mellow jazz music.