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"…Felt Good…Nice And
Good All The Way…"
Ten years after their
formation in 1961 - THE CRUSADERS finally dropped the word "Jazz"
from their name and continued with a funkier direction for their debut LP on
Chisa Records in 1970 - “Old Socks, New
Shoes...New Socks, Old Shoes" (Chisa CS 804). Both “Old Socks…” and this -
their rare 2nd album “Pass The Plate” on Chisa Records CS 807 - are available
as part of Universal’s ‘Originals” CD Reissue Series.
UK released October 2008 - "Pass The Plate" by THE CRUSADERS on Universal/Verve/Chisa B0011961-02 (Barcode
602517833333) is a straightforward 7-track transfer of their rare 2nd album and
is part of their Universal’s ‘Originals’ CD Reissue Series - Soul, Funk, Fusion
and Jazz albums in card digipaks at mid price (42:16 minutes). Here are the
platefuls…
1. Pass The Plate
(a) Tap N' Shuffle (b) Sing
For Your Keep (c) Beggin' (d) Haggin' Stomp! (e) Pennies, Nickels & Dimes
2. Young Rabbits ’71-’72
3. Listen And You’ll See
4 Greasy Spoon
5. Treat Me Like Ya Treat
Yaself
6. Goin’ Down South
7. Love Can’t Grow Where The
Rain Won’t Fall
Tracks 1 and 2 written by
Wayne Henderson, Track 4 by Nesbert Hooper and Tracks 3, 5, 6 and 7 by Joe
Sample
The line up was still a
four-piece (with Arthur Adams supplementing on guitar):
JOE SAMPLE - Keyboards
WILTON FELDER - Saxophones
WAYNE HENDERSON - Trombones
NESBERT "STIX"
HOOPER - Drums & Percussion
ARTHUR ADAMS - Guitar
"Pass The Plate"
was originally released May 1971 in the USA on Chisa Records CS-807 as a single
album in a fetching gatefold sleeve (NO UK equivalent). Originally produced by
STEWART LEVINE to great effect - this 2008 CD reissue is a straightforward copy
of that album. Experienced and long-standing Engineer KEVIN REEVES has carried
out the Remaster at Universal Mastering Studios and the sound quality is
fabulous - funky, clear and muscular - just what's needed. The tri-gatefold
card digipak reproduces the original fold-out artwork and informative liner
notes by LES CARTER of KPPC FM Radio Station (there is no booklet.
Side 1 opens with the near
16-minute title track "Pass The Plate" by Wayne Henderson which is
broken into 5 parts (a) Tap N' Shuffle (b) Sing For Your Keep (c) Beggin' (d)
Haggin' Stomp! (e) Pennies, Nickels & Dimes. "Pass The Plate" was
actually edited down to 2:42 minutes and issued in May 1971 as a 7" single
on Chisa C 8013 with the slinky "Greasy Spoon" from Side 2 of the LP
as its brilliant B-side (title of this review is spoken by the drummer at the
end of the song). This lone 45 was issued and distributed solely by Motown,
hence both sides of it (along with an unreleased version) have turned up on
Disc 4 of the "The Motown Singles Collection Volume 11A: 1971" from
February of 2009.
Side 2 contains two of my
favourites - a lethal double whammy opening of Joe Sample's sweet and soulful
"Listen And You'll See" followed by the already mentioned funky
chestnut "Greasy Spoon". Sample's "Goin' Down South" is a
wicked groover too. The only track that I find hard to take is the uncomfortably
fast "Young Rabbits-'71-'72" which ends Side 1 - a little too fusion
for my old foggy ears.
"Pass The Plate" is
typical of so many of The Crusaders Seventies LPs - funky Jazz-Soul with a wee
bit of fusion thrown in - and to this day it's still cool, wonderfully slick
and just so listenable. This cracking but long-forgotten Jazz-Funk Meisterwork
is now less than mid-price on CD and it's one I urge you to check out.
The Crusaders - I never tire
of them...
PS: See also my review for another superlative Crusaders set - the 2CD
Anthology “Gold” with amazing Gavin Lurssen Remasters…and "Old Socks, New Shoes", "Images" and "Free As The Wind" - and Joe Sample's "Rainbow Seeker" solo LP...
