Customer Rating: 
Summary: at night/in the car/travelling
Comment: This music is just so damn tasty, it is mystical. These guys were born to play together. I agree with another reviewer about So Far Away, and Larry Carlton's guitar. I also love the trombone playing, simply because of the way he plays; the notes and phrasing he uses. Really though, it is a SUM being (even) greater than its parts phenomenon.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Crusaders Fit For A King
Comment: Okay now I am usually the last person to say something like this but albums like 'Crusaders 1' are probably a good candidate for reasons why their might be funk-jazz snobbery,and THERE IS funk-jazz snobbery.Is this a bad thing?NO because 'Crusaders 1' IS so musically powerful and definative that it's bound to spoil your tastes a little bit.Credit also has to be given to Joe,Wayne,Wilton and Stix;whenever these people get together and play it's always a miraculous thing,and that goes for later day Crusaders albums such as Southern Comfort,Chain Reaction,Free as the Wind and Street Life.As for this recording it was made years before any of those,in 1971 in fact and Larry Carlton is only along as a guest here-he hadn't become a official member yet.This album (probably a double album on vinyl because of the sheer lengh of these tunes) consist of some of the funkiest jazz you will ever here.For that alone you can lool NO FURTHER then "That's How I Feel","Full Moon","Mud Home","Georgia Cottonfield","Sweet Revival","Shades Of Blues","Three Children","Mystique Blues" and the classic "Put It Where You Want It".That means nine out of twelve of these songs are tight,vital,living grooves with great hooks,TONS UPON TONS OF WAH-WAH GUITAR with Joe Sample and Wilton Felder especially talking off on their solo's and,as if he hadn't already in the Jazz Crusaders Stix Hooper let's go on the skins in a way he never had before-the overall effect is funky telepathy.Then there is the nearly 12 minutes version of Carole Kings "So Far Away",not only capturing more regret then the original with it's relaxed tempo but on the last part Wilton improvises this crazy sax solo that conveys more emotion then even the songs intention,turns it into something new entirely and it's a high point of this album.On "It's Just Gotta Be That Way" and "Mosadi (Woman)" The Crusaders explore a slower burning variety of funk grooves,kind of a cool down from the firey proceedings.But even they almost cook too much for a cool down.'Crusaders 1' is probably best descirbed as exploratory-it probes all of the territories of the groove and funkiness the band would extend and elaborate on in the years to come without one pause.That quality alone puts 'Crusaders 1' right up there with the very best Crusaders albums ever.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A True Masterpiece of Music
Comment: This Cd is one of the reasons Jazz Rock Fusion gained the immense popularity it had back in the early 70's. This was also the first time folks were exposed the the genius of Larry Carlton.
Few recordings classify as a masterpiece in any genre, but this amazing recording is directly responsible for so many people falling in love with Fusion and Crossover music well before the wildly successful "Breezin" by George Benson came out three years later. Some would call it a Smooth Jazz masterpiece, others a Jazz/Fusion masterpiece, and still others an R&B masterpiece. Even for those (like me) that think Miles Davis' land mark recording "Bi****s Brew" changed the world, Crusaders 1 still stands tall after all these years. Another mark of a true Masterpiece.
In fact at the time the original album was released it hit the Billboard charts in more than one category:
*1972 Crusaders 1 Black Albums 29
*1972 Crusaders 1 Jazz Albums 3
*1972 Crusaders 1 Pop Albums 96
*Information courtesy of Billboard dot com
No matter how you look it, this Cd is a "must have" for any collection. The only reason I didn't write a review sooner (it's been out for almost a year), is because I loved this album so much, I tracked it down and bought the Japanese Import that was released in 1993.
As the owner of Jazz Rock World and a "Fusion Specialist" I can tell you that this Cd is not a typical Fusion shredfest, wankathon, "too many notes", musically self indulgent, or another boring "what are they doing?" collection of songs. This outing finds the Crusaders (having recently dropped the word Jazz from their name) writing and covering some fantastic material full of the most tasteful "jazzy" sounding music ever recorded.
From beginning to end, this CD is ear candy for adults with a yearning for good music with "class", "style", and played by musicians of exceptional talent.
I don't know who is responsible for finally bringing this classic out of the vaults for the US market, but I would personally like to extend my heartfelt thanks and deepest gratitude for making it happen.
Rick Calic
Jazz Rock World dot Com
Customer Rating:
Summary: Finally, "So Far Away" on digital!!
Comment: I first became a jazz fan when I heard the Crusaders play "So Far Away" on "The Best of The Crusaders" about 25 yr.s ago. I've been waiting almost that long for someone to produce this song on digital format. YES!!
This "Best Of" album also contained a live version of this song that really grooved. I really wish that the live version made it onto "1", but still this CD is worth the purchase if just for this one song.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Nails it so perfectly it hurts....
Comment: I just bought this a couple of weeks ago unheard, and like the others here find it beyond amazing.
You probably remember the Crusaders from the 1980's tune "Street Life"? Well step back a decade earlier to their first fusion album and let its textured and beautiful jams work their magic on you. The solos in "So Far Away" are sublime, "A Shade of Blues" will have you breathing hard with its intensity.
If you miss this one...your life will have skipped a piece of pure joy. No kidding.
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