THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

588-The Crusaders-Street Life.

1979-Number 5 single.

Best Bit At 1.27. The Crusaders were Jazz musicians, they played Jazz, they played Jazz Fusion, they played Soul Jazz, and they played Jazz Funk…..’NIIICE.’

The classic line up of The Crusaders, and those who also played on ‘Street Life,’ were, Joe Sample, (1939-2014) (keyboards) Wilton Felder, (1940-2015) (saxophone) and Nesbert ‘Stix’ Hooper (drums.) The trio first met at high school in Houston, Texas, United States, and formed their first band ‘The Swingsters’ in 1954. Soon after their formation they were joined by Wayne Henderson, (1939-2014) (trombone) who would stay a member until 1976. Other early members were Hubert Laws, (flute) and Henry Wilson (bass.) This early incarnation of the group played a mixture of ‘Jazz,’ and ‘R&B,’ but soon turned more to ‘Hard Bop,’ and renamed themselves the ‘Modern Jazz Sextet,’ but they also recorded in a more ‘R&B’ vein as the ‘Nighthawks,’or ‘Nite Hawks.’ In 1960 Joe Sample, Wilton Felder, Stix Hooper and Wayne Henderson moved to Los Angeles, and changed their name once again, this time to the ‘Jazz Crusaders.’ In 1970 when signing with the ‘Chisa Records’ label, the decision was taken to shorten their name to ‘The Crusaders,’ in an attempt to widen their potential audience. ‘The Crusaders had a total of 11 different members come and go, until the group was retired in 2010.

The discography of The Crusaders includes 24 Albums issued as the ‘Jazz Crusaders’ (including compilations) between 1961-2005, and a further six between 1994-2006, when the line up was Wayne Henderson and Wilton Felder. They have also released 15 singles as ‘The Jazz Crusaders’ between 1962-1970, and one single as ‘The Nite Hawks,’ in 1959, and one single as ‘The Night Hawks,’ in 1961. As The Crusaders they released 22 Albums between 1971-2004, and 25 singles between 1971-1988, there are also 19 official compilation Albums available. In America on Billboard six of The Crusaders Albums have reached the top 40, with ‘Street Life’ peaking the highest at Number 18, while their only charting single on the Billboard Hot 100 is ‘Street Life,’ which made Number 36. In the UK, ‘Street Life’ is also their only charting single, reaching Number 5 in 1979.

‘Street Life’ was the commercial peak for The Crusaders, while at the same time being the commercial breakthrough for the songs unaccredited guest vocalist Randy Crawford, who was born Veronica Crawford on February 18th, 1952, in Macon, Georgia, United States. In October 2018 Randy Crawford was set to perform ‘The Farewell South Africa’ tour in Cape Town, and Pretoria, but it was cancelled due to her suffering a stroke.This would have been her final performance prior to retiring from recording and performing. Prior to ‘Street Life,’ Randy Crawford had released three non charting Albums, and six non charting singles, but after the success of ‘Street Life’ her fortunes changed. In total Randy Crawford has released 16 studio Albums between 1976-2008, and 59 singles between 1972-2008, there are also 11 official compilation Albums, and two live Albums available. In America on Billboard her only charting single was ‘Street Life,’ but she has had far more success in the UK, where five of her singles have reached the top 40, with ‘One Day I’ll Fly Away,’ charting the highest at Number 2 in 1980, having been written by Joe Sample, and Will Jennings, and produced by The Crusaders.’

‘Street Life’ was the only single released from The Crusaders 12th studio Album as ‘The Crusaders,’ from December 1979, the song was co-written by Joe Sample, and Will Jennings, with the production credited to Wilton Felder, Stix Hooper, and Joe Sample. Will Jennings who was born on June 27th, 1944, in Kilgore, Texas, United States, is a lyricist, who has been inducted into the ‘Songwriter’s Hall of Fame,’ and has won several awards, including three ‘Grammy Awards,’ two ‘Golden Globe Awards,’ and two ‘Academy Awards.’ His best known songs include ‘My Heart Will Go On,’ (see also best songs 220) ‘Up Where We Belong,’ and ‘Tears in Heaven.’

Joe Sample was inspired to write ‘Street Life’ after visiting the beginner’s ski slope at ‘Mammoth Mountain,’ in California. He has said,’I saw people falling, running into each other… it was absolute chaos. It looked like a boulevard of madness. And I said, ‘That’s what street life is.’ Joe Sample then teamed up with Will Jennings, who has said,’The lyric, all that came right off of Hollywood Boulevard,’

‘There’s always love for sale, a grown up fairy tale. Prince charming always smiles, behind a silver spoon, and if you keep it young, your song is always sung. Your love will pay your way beneath the silver moon.’