Although
the Crusaders could not have known it at the time, their recording of "Street Life" (which features a memorable vocal by
Randy Crawford) was a last hurrah for the 20-year old group. Their recordings of the next few years would decline in interest until the band gradually faded away in the '80s. However this particular set is well worth picking up for the 11-minute title cut and there is good playing by the three original members (
Wilton Felder on tenor, soprano and electric bass, keyboardist
Joe Sample and drummer
Stix Hooper) along with guitarist
Barry Finnerty; horn and string sections, plus additional guitarists are utilized on
Sample's commercial but listenable arrangements ~ Scott Yanow