"Darkness, Darkness" by PHIL UPCHURCH - July 1972 US 2LP Studio Set on Blue Thumb Records (March 2008 Japan-Only Universal/Geffen SHM-CD Remaster in a Jewel Case) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Inner City Blues…"

Chicago-born session guitarist Phil Upchurch had put out two albums on Cadet Records - "Upchurch" in 1969 and "The Way I Feel" in 1970 - when he then signed to Tommy LiPuma's new label - Blue Thumb. "Darkness, Darkness" was his debut for that record label and is quite rightly considered by many to be a masterpiece of Jazz-Funk and Soul.

Produced by Phil Upchurch and Tommy LiPuma - it was originally issued as a 2LP set on Blue Thumb Records BTS 6005 in July 1972 in the USA and then subsequently on Island/Blue Thumb Records ILPS 9219 in the UK.

There are two variants of the Japanese CD. First up is a 27 June 2001 standard CD jewel case edition on MCA/Universal UICY-3308 (to locate it use Barcode 4988005272263). It is not a SHM-CD but was cut using the 'Rubidium Atomic Clock' Process and sounds beautiful too (I also have that issue). But what makes this 2008 reissue 'sing' is the new 24-bit remaster combined with the Super High Materials format on which it's pressed (a SHM-CD in industry lingo). The sound quality on this disc is superlative - a truly gorgeous Audio Transfer and a very real advert for what this 'best of the best' format can do. Here are the details for that issue...

Released 5 March 2008 in Japan – "Darkness, Darkness" by PHIL UPCHURCH on Universal/Geffen UICY-93418 (Barcode 4988005506979) also comes in a 5" Mini-LP card sleeve that reproduces the original gatefold artwork front and rear - and has an OBI (different to the 2001 issue) and outer cellophane protective wrap with the SHM-CD sticker. It breaks down as follows (67:06 minutes):

1. Darkness, Darkness [Youngbloods cover, Jesse Colin Young writer]

2. Fire & Rain [James Taylor cover]

3. What We Call The Blues [Phil Upchurch song]

4. Cold Sweat [James Brown cover]

5. Please Send Me Someone To Love [Percy Mayfield cover]

6. Inner City Blues [Marvin Gaye cover]

7. You've Got A Friend [James Taylor cover]

8. Love & Peace [Arthur Adams song]

9. Sweet Chariot [Traditional Song cover]

10. Sausalito Blues [Phil Upchurch song]

PHIL UPCHURCH - Lead Guitar

ARTHUR ADAMS - Rhythm Guitar

JOE SAMPLE of THE CRUSADERS - Keyboards on Tracks 1, 2

DONNY HATHAWAY - Keyboards on Tracks 3 and 10

BEN SIDRAN - Organ on Track 8

CHUCK RAINEY - Bass

HARVEY MASON - Drums On All [except DON SIMMONS on Track 4]

As you can see from the track list and musician credits above, it's heavy on cover versions of the time (the title track itself is written by Jesse Colin Young of The Youngbloods) and the sessions featured the cream of musicians in the field. It was also engineered by Bruce Botnick of Elektra Records production fames (The Doors, MC5 and Love).

Musically - if you were to give "Darkness, Darkness" a comparison - it's "Breezin'" by George Benson and "Free As The Wind" by The Crusaders (both from 1976) - only 5 years earlier. Each track is a jazz-guitar-driven instrumental with a very funky and soulful feel. The quality of songs is also uniformly excellent, even if "Fire & Rain" can sound at times a little like The Shadows doing a cheesy cover version. The two Upchurch originals are superb especially the slow BB King feel of "What We Call The Blues". The playing standard is exceptional - and the warmth of the remaster only accentuates that. It's a joy to listen to - it really is. The title track "Darkness, Darkness" was written by Jesse Colin Young of The Youngbloods and picked up before Upchurch had a go by English Rockers Mott The Hoople who did a cover of it on their "Brain Capers" LP on Island Records in 1971. You can so hear why both like it as a song - it swings and grooves. Other faves include a Jazz-mellow cover of the old Percy Mayfield classic "Please Send Me Someone To Love" and a neck-jerking Funk-guitar work out of Marvin Gaye's wonderful What's Going On album finisher "Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)". Ben Sidran slinks about on the Organ for the Arthur Adams cover of "Love & Peace" – another fab groove and something that sounds 2016 and not 1971.

On the SHM-CD format "Darkness, Darkness" is presently a Japan-only release - and is already deleted, so it will therefore cost you to acquire it - but it's so worth it if you can. If you want a less pricey but equally worthy variant - there is also a May 2014 Higher Plane CD Reissue of the album out of the States on Higher Plane HIPE5502.2 (search Barcode 0639857550224 for that release).

Any guitar player who was the principal sideman to such soul luminaries as Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield has got to be up there. Superb stuff and big time recommended...

PS: His second LP for Blue Thumb - "Lovin' Feeling" from 1973 - was also reissued in 2008 on the SHM-CD format on Geffen UICY-93419. 

And at a budget level on the 'Chess Best Collection' Standard CD Series out of Japan - 1969's "The Way I Feel" and 1969's "Upchurch" (with Charles Stepney and Donny Hathaway) were both reissued 27 August 2014 on Universal/Cadet UICY-76555 and Universal/Cadet UICY-76556 (Barcodes 4988005840202 and 4988005840219 respectively). Unfortunately neither is reported to have been remastered and present only so-so sound...

“Raw Silk / Now We May Begin” by RANDY CRAWFORD (with THE CRUSADERS) – A Review Of Her 1979 and 1980 Warner Brothers Albums - Now Reissued And Remastered Onto 2CDs By Edsel Of The UK In 2013…

This review is part of my "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters Soul, Funk & Jazz Fusion" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

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"…Tender Falls The Night…" – Raw Silk and Now We May Begin by RANDY CRAWFORD (featuring THE CRUSADERS)

When I worked for Reckless Records in Berwick Street in Central London – Randy Crawford albums were pretty much a no-no – they had little value – and few wanted them. But in the last decade or so - as Soul Boys of all colours have started to look back to those heady days of the late Seventies and early Eighties – albums by artists like Patrice Rushen and Candi Staton are getting revaluated all the time. Fans are veering away from the obvious hits and seeking out those tunes hidden in the grooves (both funk and ballad) - and Randy Crawford’s Warner Brothers output is the same.

For years her albums have languished unloved by digital reissue companies – well comes Edsel of the UK doing the job with real class and style. Here are the velveteen details For Edsel EDSK 7042 (released October 2013)…

Disc 1 (45:27 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 11 are her 3^rd solo album “Raw Silk” – released June 1979 on Warner Brothers BSK 3283 in the USA and on Warner Brothers K 56592 in the UK.

It peaked at 63 on the US R&B charts (not in the UK) and was reissued in May 1982 in the UK after the success of the “Secret Combination” album

Disc 2 (37:02 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 8 are her 4^th solo “Now We May Begin” – released May 1980 on Warner Brothers BSK 3421 in the USA and on Warner Brothers K 56791 in the UK. It peaked at 30 in the American R&B charts and became her first charted LP in the UK at Number 10.

The outer card wrap gives the whole reissue a quality feel – as does the 20-page booklet which pictures the albums, publicity photos, track by track recording info and exceptionally detailed liner notes by Soul Expert and long-time Edsel Associate TONY ROUNCE.

The remasters by PHIL KINRADE at Alchemy are exceptionally good – but then the original production values of Stephen Goldman for “Raw Silk” and The Crusaders for “Now We May Begin” were top notch anyway – uber high class and soulful. Superlative musicians abound - Leon Pendarvis and Don Grusin on Keyboards, Abraham Laboriel and Will Lee on Bass, John Tropea and Greg Poree on Guitars with Rick Marotta and Joe Pocarro on Drums and Percussion…and the fabulous Crusaders (Joe Sample, Wilton Felder and Stix Hooper) adding their stardust to all of “Now We May Begin”.

The Sound is gorgeous on both albums – giving the quieter tracks off “Raw Silk” like the beautiful cover of the Bert Williams Traditional “Nobody” and Allen Toussaint’s “Declaration Of Love” a clarity they never had before. It’s a patchy album for me – but having said that I’d forgotten how good her re-working of Marvin Gaye’s acidic love song is – “Just To Keep You Satisfied” – a top rediscovery.

Things went stellar with “Now We May Begin” because The Crusaders came on board after she guested on the huge “Street Life” track in 1979. In fact Warners pumped out no less than 5 of its 8 album cuts as singles (As & Bs) – and most charted too – “One Day I’ll Fly Away” becoming almost signature for her. But what I wanted this reissue for is the 7 Joe Sample/Will Jennings songs – the stunning strings and Dean Parks’ guitar slink of “Now We May Begin” – love it – love it (definitely a forgotten groove and nugget). But despite all that famous band overshadowing – the one song on here that always got me is her own lone composition “Tender Falls The Rain” which ended up being B-side material for three releases. It’s gorgeous Soul (lyrics from it title this review).  

She would go on to real album brilliance with “Secret Combination” – but here is where her success story really started. A sweet lady – take a punt on this classy reissue…

“Images” by THE CRUSADERS. A Review of Their 1978 LP now reissued on a 2009 Verve “Originals” CD Remaster.

The Crusaders are part of my "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters Soul, Funk & Jazz Fusion" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

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THE CRUSADERS line-up for "Images" was:
JOE SAMPLE - Keyboards
WILTON FELDER - Saxophones
BILLY ROGERS - Guitar
ROBERT "POPS " POPWELL - Bass
NESBERT "STIX" HOOPER - Drums & Percussion

Additional Guests were:
DEAN PARKS - Guitar (All Selections)
ROLAND BAUTISTA - Guitar (On "Fairy Tales", "Bayou Bottoms" and "Covert Action")
PAULINHO DaCOSTA - Percussion (All Selections)

"Images" was first issued in a single sleeve LP in July 1978 in the USA on Blue Thumb BA-6030 and on ABC Records ABCL 5250 in the UK. This CD reissue (June 2009 in the USA - September 2009 in the UK - Verve 0602517995710) is part of Universal's "Originals" series and is issued in a card digipak (no booklet unfortunately) at mid-price.

It breakdowns like this (39:46 minutes)

1. Fairy Tales (Joe Sample song)
2. Marcella's Dream (Nesbert "Stix" Hooper song)
3. Bayou Bottoms (Wilton Felder song)
4. Merry Go Round (Joe sample song)
[Tracks 1 to 4 made up Side 1 of the original LP]
5. Cosmic Reign (Robert "Pops" Popwell song)
6. Covert Action (Wilton Felder song)
7. Snowflake (Joe Sample song)
[Tracks 5 to 7 made up Side 2 of the original LP]

Possessing not the greatest album sleeve in history, "Images" was nonetheless a bit a of jazz-funk peach. Produced by "Stix" Hooper, Wilton Felder & Joe Sample for "Crusader Productions, Inc." and mastered by long-standing expert Bernie Grundman, it followed so much of their Seventies output - really well-produced instrumental funky tracks followed by mellow ones that filled both the floor and the heart at one and the same time.

Remastered from the original tapes by KEVIN REEVES at Universal Mastering in the States, it now sounds FABULOUS - really clear and defined - and virtually hiss-free.

With juts a poor-sounding 1990 US CD to go on - and only "Snowflake" and "Fairy Tales" on the superior sounding "Gold" 2CD set from 2007 (see separate review) - that means that 5 of these 7 tracks are only now getting the sonic upgrade they've deserved for so long. The funk bliss that is "Bayou Bottoms" now sounds stupendous and had me throwing some very embarrassing shapes on our living room carpet. Other tracks like "Cosmic Reign" and “Merry Go Round” are so "Aja" in their arrangements too - and to be compared with Steely Dan's 1977 masterpiece is the highest compliment really.

After a whole decade and umpteen albums of their particular type of funk & jazz, the same team that handled "Images" would finally hit paydirt a year later in 1979 with the global smash of "Street Life" and make Randy Crawford a star.

"Images" is a forgotten Crusaders album and one that now sounds as fresh as it did over 31 years ago - recommended.

PS: For those interested in delving a little deeper - I've posted a full list to October 2009 of the 120+ titles in the "ORIGINALS" CD series below

**** Universal's "ORIGINALS" CD Series ****
Reissue CDs in Gatefold Digipaks of Classic Albums covering the 1950's through to the 1990's
They cover many labels - Verve, Mercury, Fontana, A&M, Chisa, Blue Thumb, Kudu, ABC, Philips, Impulse etc
These titles started in 2007 and are on-going into 2009
This List is in Artist and Title Alphabetical Order (with Release Date)

Laurindo Almeida – see STAN GETZ
1. New Orleans Nights - LOUIS ARMSTRONG and the ALL STARS (1950)
2. Satchmo At Pasadena - LOUIS ARMSTRONG and the ALL STARS (1951)
Louis Armstrong – see also ELLA FITZGERALD
3. A Tear To A Smile - ROY AYERS UBIQUITY (1975)
4. Change Up The Groove - ROY AYERS UBIQUITY (1974)
5. He's Coming - ROY AYERS UBIQUITY (1971)
6. Lifeline - ROY AYERS (1977)
7. Ubiquity - ROY AYERS (1971)
8. Vibrations - ROY AYERS (1977)
9. Virgo Red - ROY AYERS (1973)
10. You Send Me - ROY AYERS (1978)
11. Chapter One: Latin America - GATO BARBIERI (1973)
12. Chapter Three: Viva Emiliano Zapata - GATO BARBIERI (1974)
13. Chapter Two: Hasta Siempre - GATO BARBIERI (1973)
14. Ruby. Ruby - GATO BARBIERI (1977)
15. Tropico - GATO BARBIERI (1978)
16. Basie Land - COUNT BASIE (1963)
17. On My Way & Shoutin' Again - COUNT BASIE (1963)
18. Intimacy - WALTER BEASLEY (21 October 2008)
19. Just Kickin' It - WALTER BEASLEY (1989)
20. Walter Beasley - WALTER BEASLEY (1987)
Louis Belson – see STAN GETZ
21. I Got A Woman And Some Blues - GEORGE BENSON (1970’s material, 1984)
22. Shape Of Things To Come - GEORGE BENSON (1969)
23. Soul Finger - ART BLAKEY and the JAZZ MESSENGERS (1965)
24. Bobo Motion - WILLIE BOBO (1967)
25. The Brazilian Scene - LUIZ BONFA (1965)
26. Braziliana - LUIZ BONFA and MARIA TOLEDO (1965)
27. Return Of The Brecker Brothers - THE BRECKER BROTHERS [Randy and Michael] (1992)
28. Just Between us - NORMAN BROWN (1992)
29. Jazz Samba – CHARLIE BYRD (1962)
30. Occasional Rain - TERRY CALLIER (1972)
31. What Color Is Love - TERRY CALLIER (1973)
Paul Chambers – see OLIVER NELSON
32. Children Of Forever - STANLEY CLARKE (1973)
Rudy Collins – see DIZZY GILLESPIE
33. A Love Supreme - JOHN COLTRANE (1964)
34. Ascension - JOHN COLTRANE (1965)
35. Crescent - JOHN COLTRANE (1964)
36. Impressions - JOHN COLTRANE (1961)
37. John Coltrane And Johnny Hartman - JOHN COLTRANE and JOHNNY HARTMAN (1963)
38. The John Coltrane Quartet Plays... - JOHN COLTRANE QUARTET (1965)
39. Kulu Se Mama - JOHN COLTRANE (1965)
40. Live At Birdland - JOHN COLTRANE (1963)
41. Meditations – JOHN COLTRANE (1965)
42. New Thing At Newport - JOHN COLTRANE and ARCHIE SHEPP (1965)
John Coltrane - see also DUKE ELLINGTON
Gal Costa – see ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM
43. Images - THE CRUSADERS (1978)
44. Old Socks, New Shoes...New Socks, Old Shoes - THE CRUSADERS (1970)
45. Pass The Plate - THE CRUSADERS (1971)
The Crusaders - see also JOE SAMPLE and DAVID T. WALKER
46. Ascenseur Pour L'echafaud - MILES DAVIS (1957)
Paul Desmond Quartet - see GERRY MULLIGAN
Eric Dolphy – See OLIVER NELSON
47. A Dream Fulfilled – WILL DOWNING (1991)
48. Come Together As One – WILL DOWNING (1989)
49. Faces In Reflection – GEORGE DUKE (1974)
50. I Love The Blues, She Heard My Cry - GEORGE DUKE (1975)
Harry Edison – see STAN GETZ
51. Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins - DUKE ELLINGTON and COLEMAN HAWKINS (1962)
52. Duke Ellington & John Coltrane - DUKE ELLINGTON and JOHN COLTRANE (1963)
53. Plays The Theme From V.I.P. & Others – BILL EVANS (1963)
Bill Evans – see also OLIVER NELSON
54. Out Of The Cool - GIL EVANS ORCHESTRA (1961)
55. Octet - MAYNARD FERGUSON (1955)
56. Ella In Hamburg (Live) - ELLA FITZGERALD (1961)
57. Ella In Hollywood - ELLA FITZGERALD (1961)
58. Porgy & Bess - ELLA FITZGERALD and LOUIS ARMSTRONG (1957)
59. At The Shrine – STAN GETZ (1954)
60. Big Band Bossa Nova - STAN GETZ and GARY McFARLAND (1962)
61. Dynasty – STAN GETZ (1971)
62. Getz/Gilberto – STAN GETZ and JOAO GILBERTO (also features Astrud Gilberto) (1963)
63. Getz/Gilberto No.2 – STAN GETZ and JOAO GILBERTO (1964)
64. In Stockholm (Live) - STAN GETZ (1956)
65. Jazz Samba Encore! – STAN GETZ (1963)
66. Sweet Rain - STAN GETZ (1967)
67. Stan Getz With Guest Artist Laurindo Almeida – STAN GETZ and LAURINDO ALMEIDA (1963)
68. Jazz Giants '58 - STAN GETZ, GERRY MULLIGAN, HARRY EDISON, LOUIS BELSON and The OSCAR PETERSON TRIO (1958)
69. Swing Is Here - TERRY GIBBS (1960)
70. A Certain Smile, A Certain Sadness - ASTRUD GILBERTO and WALTER WANDERLEY (1966)
71. The Astrud Gilberto Album - ASTRUD GILBERTO (1965)
72. Look To The Rainbow - ASTRUD GILBERTO and GIL EVANS (1966)
Astrud Gilberto – see also STAN GETZ and JOAO GILBERTO
Joao Gilberto – see also STAN GETZ and JOAO GILBETO
73. The Cool World - DIZZY GILLESPIE (1964)
74. Dizzy Gillespie Goes Hollywood – DIZZY GILLESPIE (1963)
75. Dizzy On The French Riviera - DIZZY GILLESPIE with CHRIS WHITE, RUDY COLLINS, LALO SCHIFRIN and LEO WRIGHT (1962)
76. I Just Dropped By To Say Hello - JOHNNY HARTMAN (1963)
Johnny Hartman – see also JOHN COLTRANE
Coleman Hawkins – see DUKE ELLINGTON
Roy Haynes – see OLIVER NELSON
77. Used To Be Duke - JOHNNY HODGES and his ORCHESTRA (1954)
78. Lady Sings The Blues - BILLIE HOLIDAY (1956)
79. The Artistry Of Freddie Hubbard – FREDDIE HUBBARD (1962)
Freddie Hubbard – see also OLIVER NELSON
80. At The Museum Of Modern Art – MILT JACKSON (1970s)
81. Treasure Island - KEITH JARRETT (1974)
Jazz Messengers – see ART BLAKEY
82. Rio Revisited - ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM and GAL COSTA (1989)
Antonio Carlos Jobim – see also Elis Regina
83. Quincy Jones Explores The Music Of Henry Mancini - QUINCY JONES (1964)
84. The Quintessence - QUINCY JONES ORCHESTRA (1962)
85. You've Got It Bad Girl - QUINCY JONES (1973)
86. Live At The Apollo – B.B. KING (1990)
87. Arabesque - JOHN KLEMMER (1977)
88. Barefoot Ballet - JOHN KLEMMER (1976)
89. Goin' Latin - RAMSEY LEWIS (1966)
90. The In Crowd - RAMSEY LEWIS TRIO (1965)
91. Live At The Bohemian Caverns - RAMSEY LEWIS TRIO (1962)
92. Home Is Where The Music Is - HUGH MASEKELA (2LP set on 1CD) (1972)
Gary McFarland – see STAN GETZ
93. Down Here On The Ground - WES MONTGOMERY (1967)
94. Goin' Out Of My Head - WES MONTGOMERY (1965)
95. Blues In Time - GERRY MULLIGAN and PAUL DESMOND QUARTET (1957)
96. Lonesome Boulevard – GERRY MULLIGAN (1990)
Gerry Mulligan – see also STAN GETZ
97. The Blues And The Obscure Truth - OLIVER NELSON [featuring PAUL CHAMBERS, ERIC DOLPHY, BILL EVANS, ROY HAYNES and FREDDIE HUBBARD] (1961)
98. In A Romantic Mood - OSCAR PETERSON (1955)
99. Oscar Peterson Plays The Jerome Kern Songbook - OSCAR PETERSON (1952)
100. Oscar Peterson and Nelson Riddle - OSCAR PETERSON and NELSON RIDDLE (1963)
101. Oscar Peterson Trio + One - OSCAR PETERSON TRIO and CLARK TERRY (1964)
Oscar Peterson Trio - see also STAN GETZ, SONNY STITT
102. Blues In the Closet – BUD POWELL TRIO (1956)
103. Come Into Knowledge - RAMP (1977)
104. Elis & Tom - ELIS REGINA and ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM (1974)
See also ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM
Nelson Riddle – see OSCAR PETERSON
105. Quiet As It's Kept - MAX ROACH (1960)
106. On Impulse! - SONNY ROLLINS (1965)
107. Swing Street Café - JOE SAMPLE and DAVID T. WALKER (1981) [Keyboardist and Guitarist with The Crusaders]
108. Piano, Strings And Bossa Nova - LALO SCHIFRIN (1962)
Lalo Schifrin – see also DIZZY GILLESPIE
109. Everybody's Somebody's Fool - LITTLE JIMMY SCOTT (1950s Material)
Archie Shepp - see JOHN COLTRANE
110. Let It Be Me (Live) - NINA SIMONE (1987)
111. Hobo Flats - JIMMY SMITH (1963)
112. Live At The Village Gate - JIMMY SMITH TRIO (1963)
113. Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? - JIMMY SMITH (1964)
114. Sonny Stitt Sits In With The Oscar Peterson Trio - SONNY STITT and OSCAR PETERSON (1957)
Clark Terry - see OSCAR PETERSON
115. ...Plays The Contemporary Music Of Mexico And Brazil - CAL TJADER (1962)
Maria Toledo – see LUIZ BONFA
David T Walker - see JOE SAMPLE
116. At Mister Kelly’s – SARAH VAUGHAN and HER TRIO (1957)
Walter Wanderley – see ASTRUD GILBERTO and WALTER WANDERLEY
117. All The King's Horses - GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr. (1972)
118. A Secret Place - GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr. (1976)
119. Feels So Good - GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr. (1975)
120. Inner City Blues - GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr. (1971)
121. Reed Seed - GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr. (1978)
122. Soul Box - GROVER WASHINGTON, Jr. (1973)
Chris White – see DIZZY GILLESPIE
Leo Wright – see DIZZY GILLESPIE

"Gold" by THE CRUSADERS featuring Joe Sample, Wilton Felder, Larry Carlton, Stix Hooper, Wayne Henderson and more (October 2007 US Hip-O Select/Verve 2CD Compilation with Gavin Lurssen Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 333 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R 'n' B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95 (2024 Update)

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"…Freedom Sound…"

What a total winner this double-CD set in Universal's "Gold" Series is - and if ever a band deserved recognition - it's the Soul-Funk-Jazz-Fusion band THE CRUSADERS. There's a wad of detail to get through…so...

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

JOE SAMPLE – Keyboards

WILTON FELDER – Tenor Saxophone

WAYNE HENDERSON – Trombone

NESBERT “STIX” HOOPER – Drums & Percussion

This hugely revered American band has used many session men throughout the years but two stick out as practically the fifth and sixth member of the group – 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 (featured a lot in the highly creative late 70’s period).

Initially released in the USA only in October 2007 as a 2CD set (it’s subsequently been given a UK release) - "Gold" by THE CRUSADERS on Hip-O/Verve B0008268-02 (Barcode 602517184053) breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (79:54 minutes):

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

8:  Scratch (a Wayne Henderson song)

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)

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

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

12:  Double Bubble (a Joe Sample song)

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

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

15:  Creole (a Wilton Felder song)

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

Disc 2 (79:53 minutes):

1:  Spiral (a Joe Sample song)

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

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

4:  Nite Crawler (a Larry Carlton song)

5:  Sweet 'N Sour (a Joe Sample song)

6:  It Happens Everyday (a Joe Sample song)

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)

8:  Snowflake (a Joe Sample song)

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

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)

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

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

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)

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 Lurssen 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 - 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. The 12-page booklet has a basic essay on the band's history by Michael A Gonzales (American Music Reviewer) and detailed discography info on each track.

But better than all that is the STUNNING AUDIO QUALITY – it literally explodes out the speakers on every track – especially the rhythm section of Hooper and Popwell. I mention the sound because having been hugely disappointed by the half-assed 1980’s 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 this great band's catalogue the sonic overhaul they’ve 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...

Initially upward to eighteen quid when it came out - in 2014 this 2CD set can now be bought for six and less. A superlative reissue – buy it with confidence. And roll on the solo stuff on another 2CD set.

PS: For those wishing to explore more of the Crusaders - I cannot recommend enough the first solo album by JOE SAMPLE called "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...

PPS: see my reviews for other Crusaders CDs - "Pass The Plate", "Images", "Old Socks, New Shoes...", "Free As The Wind" and more...