Street Life

I was digging the first few tracks of this, but after awhile it didn't really hold my attention. I think I would like each track on their own as opposed to listening to the whole album again. 2.8/5

I wasn't sure what to make of this initially but I did end up listening to a few songs multiple times. Decent jazz fusion thing. I don't really see myself coming back to this, but I did enjoy it. 3/5

cool instrumental soul

Decent jazz.

Not my type

Zone our a fair bit. Good background music

Didn't even realize that the first song was over 11 minutes long. It was good though

Actually enjoyed this jazz album

I liked it, very funky -- wish there were more lyrics.

Love this. Not something I would listen to in the car but would absolutely love to have this on vinyl to throw in the background of reading or a calm night in. Great for chill parties and the like too. Though I would make an exception for a late night drive this would be perfect for that. Perfect cool mood setting music.

Not sure for me, 70s porn vibe.

É decente, mas um pouco genérico.

issa vibe

Groovy

3/5. The 11 minute opener “Street Life” is an absolute banger and what elevates this up to a 3 for me, love the vocals on it, love the solos, just an overall killer start. Then the rest of the album is unfortunately just kinda okay. Mostly a series of jazz-funk jams that you won’t have a bad time with, but that also don’t end up leaving much of a lasting impression.

This would be a '2' if it not for the title track, which is a 5. This really is just good 'hold' music and I'm not sure why it's on this list...

fantastic

Probably enjoyed more with scotch and a cigar

Jazz fusion sounds like a video game loading screen - pleasant and predictable, always returning to the main chorus/motif prior to looping before slowly fading out. Without the fadeout, the songs could loop indefinitely. ... That being said I do appreciate some good jazz fusion, and while I prefer Casiopea to this, this wasn't bad by any means. 3/5

I was going to give this a 5/10 like the Beau Brummels, but even for being straight-up elevator music, there's some compositional choices I liked. It isn't something I'd go back to, but I can't deny the talent expressed. Street Life (the song) is 11 minutes of straight vibes (I cringe a bit saying that). The rest of the album isn't as significant, but I gotta give them some props. They are indeed from Houston and they're actually responsible for that bass sample the Chemical Brothers used for Block Rockin' Beats. The more you know (6/10, 2/5 on this scale) (Update: 5/10)

Ooh the key changes in “Street Life” are so good! And the way the strings slide at the end of the chorus… I can’t get enough of that. I love this song. I’m familiar with a shorter version that’s on the “Jackie Brown” soundtrack (one of my favorite movie soundtracks — it introduced me to so much good music) but this was my first time hearing the full 11-minute version. And honestly, the song doesn’t overstay its welcome. I actually found myself hoping the chorus work come back one more time at the end. That’s the main song here. The rest of the album almost feels like a b-side to the main single. But I loved the rest of the album too. Disco funk that levels out into smooth jazz-rock fusion. Lots of great jazz soloing and slick grooves. The Crusaders were clearly a very accomplished jazz and funk band who also produced a killer single with “Street Life.”

What an album cover. Amongst many positives that this listening project has provided me, I think one cool takeaway that I'll have is to look more into album artwork and spend more time on them. I've been really enjoying going through this list and focusing on the album artwork and it's definitely given me a fun visual that connects to the music. There's plenty to enjoy and analyze in this one. I do feel like I'm on the street with the boys and they're all looking at me because it's my turn to vote on what club we're going to. Only thing is that one of my homeboys also tends to hate my suggestions and he's already eyeing me up like he's getting ready to shoot me down. This is some really solid disco funk. Not much to say because it does the genre justice and is a really enjoyable listen throughout. I listened to this album while I put some joint compound onto my walls (fixing a railing) and I grooved the whole dang time.

Baustelle, Gerstetten, Deutschland. So gar nicht meins.

The first song made me think it was gonna be some nice soulful 70s jam. But then it turned into run of the mill elevator jazz

This sounds like mediocre porn soundtrack music. Every 30 seconds I was expecting someone to interrupt saying "Please stay on the line. Your call is important to us." 🤦‍♂️

Competent jazz. I dig it while cooking. I’d never heard of it.

No. 129 This was so good. But I'll probably never listen again.

The jazz albums mostly go over my head - I like them, but they all similar to me. This was good but I don’t understand what separates it from the rest.

Honestly really surprised me. Maybe I’m just feeling generous but this DISCO JAZZ is getting a 5/5

I love Jackie Brown, so it was great to hear the familiar refrains of 'Street Life'. But the rest of the album slaps too. Understated, but smooth.

I was just talking about the Jackie Brown soundtrack the other day! that's kinda funny. anyway, the Crusaders (also known at various times as the Jazz Crusaders) were a band from Houston, Texas that existed in various incarnations from 1960 to 2010; pretty much all of them centered around the core trio of saxophonist/bassist Wilton Felder, keyboardist/arranger Joe Sample, and drummer Stix Hooper. if there's a subgenre of jazz that exists, the Crusaders probably dipped their toes into it at some point. on Street Life, given it was the late 70s, they were meeting the moment with some smooth funk, soul and R&B crossovers, resulting in what remains the band's most enduring body of work. this is a collection of six loose jams where the Crusaders (along with a bevy of session players) apply a jazz musician's sensibility to the popular sounds of their time. this is par for the course for jazz, but in 1979 this sort of thing was reaching a breaking point; the 80s would come to be defined by a rejection of this "electric" music, and a return to the acoustic sensibilities of 50s-60s bop. is Street Life the most groundbreaking thing ever? certainly not. what it is, though, is a testament to just how far the boundaries of jazz are capable of being stretched. the title track, despite its single edit being a fairly successful crossover hit, still demonstrates a keen harmonic and melodic sensibility that's undeniably bebop in its origins. it's clear that everyone involved here has a strong foundation in the roots of jazz, despite your Wyntons Marsalis who have come along to downplay the musicianship and contributions of those who dared to embrace amplification and electricity! listen to anything these guys made when they still had the word "Jazz" in their name, and you'd be hard-pressed to call them fakers. as the Crusaders, their propensity towards syrupy string overdubs and horn stacks (arranged by Sample, I would assume) might be a bit tacky, but there's no denying the craft at work here. strong 6/10.

7/10 el disco te va llevando a la entrada de la horrible década de los 80. Se escucha como el jazz se despide y entrega la posta a la nueva música: ritmos simples para mover la cadera y melodías de supermercado.

This album is a delight, with some fantastic songs. It's a jazz record, but with so much funk, and it's such a great combination, delivered with very good taste. The instruments sound great, all so well combined, and it's also a very funny and enjoyable album.

Fun jazzy R&B album that is very easy to listen to. Nothing mind blowing or outstanding, just consistently solid through the runtime. Top tracks: Streets Life, My Lady, The Hustler

okay - horizons officially broadened!! recommended tracks are popping off - march 2026 playlist taking the brunt of my excitement

First track is really good. Rest merge into one

groovy

If the vocals on the rest of the album were as good as the opening track... but as it stands, it's great background music for a restaurant (or an elevator, heh).

Favorite Song: Street Life

Ei

jazzy

ok i like this but in a muzak way and not an active listening way?

Street Life is such a great song. The whole album is very cool jazz with kind of a pop flair. It also makes me think of Quentin Tarantino.

The title track is an absolute classic and a banger; the rest is jazzy funk or funky jazz, depending on the way you see it. Not bad, but nothing I would listen to intentionally.

Dicen que es música de ascensor, pero mola, background jazzy para los que no le gusta el jazz, esto si les gustará

Groovy, but not remarkable like Superfly and What's Going On. Favorite Track: Street Life

Some really nice instrumentals - very smooth sax. I feel like 'Street Life' sets the tone for the rest of the album - cruising along.

第二首好欢快

Those are some very long tracks, but great jams.

Para nada llamativo...

I like some of the musicians in this group from other session work they’ve done (e.g., Joe Sample played on two Steely Dan albums, Wilton Felder on two others), but this was just so-so.

finally more jazzzzzzzzzz

Monótono, enjoativo. Acredito que já ouvi álbum de Jazz melhores.

Very smooth, not something i'd seek out but something I wouldn't mind being in the background for hours on end.

“Jazz music for people who don’t like jazz.” Whatever. If you can’t get behind that sax, your soul is dead.

I thoroughly enjoyed this!

Great musicians at work but I thought with the exception of the title track the songs were pretty much identical.

a maioria das músicas não tem PALAVRAS. a primeira tem mais de DEZ MINUTOS. só não vai levar zero porque o instrumental é bom

In the canon of hold music this is a titan of the genre. Jazzy, poppy, soft and inoffensive with a nice rhythm and movement. It's also very, very dry and makes trying to listen intently an absolute chore. It's a weird one, not because it's bad by any means but because it's unremarkable. Not soulless or flavorless, but also entrancing in a literal sense. Perfect background music for a party with your family or waiting for a doctor's office.

Heavy soul jazz funk album teetering on disco. It is well produced and has some great bass, horn and piano parts. The album has a great groove and is easy to bop along too but it gets a bit hard to discern the tracks from one another. They all sound the same and blend together, luckily it is funky enough to be interesting. I dug it but not something I feel I have to add to the collection.

I had never heard of The Crusaders prior to today. I read the Wikipedia blurb so I knew I would be listening to jazz, and this is typically ok with me. The album began with the title track, and I was sucked in right away. I wasn't expecting vocals and that was a very pleasant surprise. I enjoyed the jazz/soul/disco sound. I immediately thought that this album had a very George Benson feel to it, and that feel remained with the rest of the record. Aside from Street Life, the other songs were very pleasant pop jazz. There was nothing to dislike about it, but I can't say I loved the rest of the album as much as I loved that song. The playing, however, was very tasteful throughout.

This is great! I knew Streetlight but no their track from the album. But it turn out that this is some epic stuff here.

Es gab bessere Alben von den Crusaders. Dieses "Street Life" ist doch zu arg weichgespült

The title track is nice, if a little too long for it's own good. Yea it's elevator music but people say that like it's a bad thing. It's better than a Korn album.

Dentist waiting room vibe

Vibin’!!

Favorite Track: My Lady

muy sexy la neta no me lo esperaba jajaj gran trabajo del jazz, grandes voces, me puse de excelente humor

First song was alright but was about 7 minutes too long. Then the rest was a bit unmemorable.

Smooth American jazz at it's finest lol this was ok not my favorite but fine lol

Джаз лук ин май айз

Very well done. Enjoyed listening to this.

What street life are these guys talking about, Sesame Street? This is going to absolutely slap when I play it at my one hundred and second birthday party. I feel like I’m waiting speak to someone named Hymavathsay who is going to tell me his name is Steve and I’m just not going to say anything because he’s probably got it hard enough already. This album really inspired me to long for the street life in that I’d rather be hit by a car than ever listen to it again.

Liked it from the first note Oooh yeah, that's gonna be a 5 star album Goooosh I didn't know I already knew this song "Street Life". Love it. A tad disappointed that the rest of the album is instrumental only, but it's still very good!

Long ass songs pretty chilly though Love the bottom left corner dude Last 4 are really good head bobbers

Enjoyed this vicariously in my teenage body. If I'd discovered this when I was bopping to Jamiroquai I would have loved it. This is on the very accessible end of the jazz spectrum; a style of music that has been filtered out of mainstream existence by lack of popular demand. It's a shame because the musicianship is very impressive. Nice background music.

Street Life has been one of my favorite songs since it hit the UK charts in late summer 1979. The rest is lounge jazz music, which I'd enjoy if I was sitting in a cocktail bar sipping on some gin drinks....

street life sooo guete song. STREET LIIIFE. und UFEEE. SPASS. elfminütige song wo immer s glich macht (ok cooli soli und die striicher linie die höch slappt) liebs. sie sind schono funky. alles in allem sehr cool aber au huuere langwiilig

ahhh es tönt iwie scho nach filmmusig cuute aber hans jz mega schnell uusblendet ouh und echli laaaang jaa es isch alles smooth etc. etc. aber für miich langwiiilig OH SCHO FERTIG night faces isch na cute

Not what I expected.

Maybe I just love jazz music or something but I loved this album.

A good album, I liked Night Faces and Street Life the most.

muy largas las canciones y i dont fw that , pero pues bacanas algunas, igual que el pasado, están bien pero no me parcho escuchando un álbum full de esto

Smooth, easy listening jazz/funk fusion. Don't really get the on hold/elevator music criticism - it's better than that!

This was a good listen. Although I appreciate jazz music, I'm rarely in the mood to listen to it, unless it's something like this. I like the inclusion of R&B and funk and disco elements... a few of these tracks had almost a Rick James feel to it, and damn am I just a sucker for this. I did find my mind wandering a bit after listening to this, but I'd happily put it on again.

Had never heard of this album/song/band! Street Life (song) is so smooth and groovy. Not that I was around during this time, but I feel like it transports me to 1970s NYC. it's such a cool sound. The tune of My Lady reminds me of Baltimore by Nina Simone but more funky. I don't usually listen to jazz but I can definitely appreciate it, and this album is so groovy and fun to listen to.

Street life classic, the rest poor elevator music

Thank you for putting me on hold.

Title track is decent, but way too long. The remainder sounds like it should be on the Moonlighting soundtrack.

No for me

Opening track is class then it kinda descend into elevator music.

That street life song is dope.

Bet it would be amazing live

Polished funk. It's fine

Weather channel? Elevator? On hold? I don’t care. This whole album is tight.

VIBES 10/10

Opening track : "oh, yes. I know this one. Pretty smooth and funky" The remainder : endless brass orchestra noodling.

55

Weird. Not that the music itself is weird, it's just basic elevator music. The weird part is what is it doing here?

nice bit of jazz, good album overall

Cheezy cornball elevator jazz...no thank you.

This is great. Very funky

Jazz in the background is an underrated focus tactic

Funky. I would imagine it’s good for sauntering around downtown - will probably try it out sometime.

This was pretty cool. Chill instrumental album, kinda funky, kinda jazzy, very 70s.

super funky and fun. Really a good listen. I would def listen again.

Obviously I know the title track but I don’t think I like it really, it’s ok. In some ways this album could be my thing but in truth it just isn’t.

This is NOT my jam

Easy listening jazz, mostly instrumental but vocals on the title track. Excellent background music, although not an album that I would purchase. Slightly above average but not quite four stars.

This is pleasant! Good energy, fun instrumentation. I dunno about an 11 minute song, but I guess that's jazz for you. Highlight: 'My Lady' Lowlight: 'Night Faces' (a fine song in itself, but sounds like the hold music of my medical center, thus mildly traumatizing)

3.5

At first glance, I wasn't sure who The Crusaders were. But noticing the album title, and looking a little deeper, I realized that "Street Life," the title track, was re-recorded by guest vocalist Randy Crawford a few years later. I saw her name on the Cincinnati Music Walk of Fame two years ago, and I consider the track a genuine bop, be it in its sped-up remake or the slowed-down, sprawling jazzy arrangement of the original. With that said, how does the rest of Street Life, the album, sound? Well, it's intriguing because this was a jazz fusion group whose improvisations leaned towards smooth R&B and disco, at a time when the latter genre was declining in popularity. It's certainly pleasant to listen to, with some catchy melodies centered around Wilton Felder's eclectic saxophone playing. In fact, Wilton pulled double duty by laying down the bass lines for half the tracks, Joe Sample had some nice little keyboard solos in between, and the session musicians did a decent enough job providing some guitar flourishes and other light instrumental passages. That said, between the slower tempos and the minimal presence of the percussion, I can comfortably put this album in the same camp as Steely Dan. It's an easy listen in the moment, but I do prefer more challenging jazz-fusion music. I still dug Street Life as a nice record to have on in the background, but not much more than that. It was cool that they launched Randy's career, though.

On the whole, and ok album. Stand out track was the first one, as it featured the outstanding vocal talents of Miss Randy Crawford. She alone is worth an extra point. Therefore its a 3.

Blinding title track which is as much about the vocal as the band. Unfortunately, the rest of the album felt like an overly long outro to the title track. It just never went anywhere at all!

Like my fellow traveller on this journey aptly put; this was all about the first song, a tour de force I might say. What came after was a rather limp and overly long coda.

One of the better jazz albums I’ve heard on here, the vocals on the first track are incredible and there is enough variety through the rest of the album for it to feel fresh without needing words. Standout Songs: Street Life Carnival Of The Night

This has a good beat / sound. During the first song I was shocked when the woman came on it was amazing. Not much else going on throughout. It was good soul beats

Nice jazz album. I'd jam to this in a café.

Great jazz album

Cheesy 70s soul funk mostly instrumental, competent but dull

Groovy but each track drags on forever and is very repetitive.

6 songs in 39 minutes? elevator music, not unenjoyable but also, to me, not enjoyable either

Never heard of The Crusaders. Wikipedia says they are jazz fusion. Hmmmm, that could be good, but it can also be incredibly horrible. First track is the title track, Street Life. Let’s see how this goes. I love that organ….wait a minute…..where has this group been my whole life?!?! Oh, hot damn, a solo for the keys and it’s FIRE! This song makes me want to move to Detroit and become a pimp. And now a sax solo? This may be the greatest 11-minute song ever. I’m sitting at my desk working, thinking about El Blizzardo Diablo heading our way, but this music is so good, I’m getting excited to be covered in a foot of snow. To be snowed in with The Crusaders in my buds, pumping out the jams? I’ve never been more excited to be smothered. 20 years ago, I’d have called this trash and old people’s music. Now it’s just glorious. Ah, the one true advantage of getting old…You’re not such a dumbass. So, I’m pretty much all the way through the album now, first listen. It’s a winner. I wish I still had either of my podcasts going because my podcast partners and I would be storyboarding a great 70s cop movie on the next episode. I would describe the music as jazz fusion, but 30 years ago, I’d probably call it easy listening. Because it is so easy to listen to and to groove to. It’s mostly instrumental except for the incredible title track and track 2, My Lady. Usually, I’m not a big instrumental album guy. I like hearing a voice as another instrument in the mix, but these guys have so many great musicians, it’s not really needed. The album is very short, like 39 minutes and it left me wanting more. In fact, after I finished the first listen, I started it over. It’s straight baby-making music. If everyone started listening to this a couple of times a day, the birth rate would jump 20%. Now, this album is incredible, and I love it. But, is it a must hear? I’m torn. , My heart says everyone should hear this because maybe you’ve never heard this kind of music done right, and you don’t know what you're missing. On the other hand, I can see how someone might think it’s good, but nothing special. Truthfully, I’m kind of torn between both sides myself. I love it, but at the same time, to me, it's not groundbreaking, it just scratched me where I itched today. All I can say is I will return for future listens, which hasn’t happened much with albums on this list. But if you do like this album after my recommendation, name your next child after me.

Enjoyed the disco elements, less keen on the jazzy elements.

1⭐️ at the first song (11 mins long) I thought “oooh I’m enjoying this more than I was expecting to, maybe 3 stars if the rest of the album’s like this!” but the other songs had no vocals or lyrics & seemed to go on for ages :( wouldn’t choose to re-listen songs I already knew: n/a fave new song(s): street life

One i know. Pretty good.

Great easy morning listening

Mostly instrumental, kinda funky, appreciate the chill

Not a ton of variety, but a smooth ride with some nice soundscapes.

No

First of all song Street life is good... until, after 4 minites, you realize that you will be listening to the same thing for another almost ten minutes. Or better to say for another half an hour, because the whole album sounds the same. It's not bad but I am not really into this type of music and its sometimes almost painfully boring for me to do so. I feel like I'm listening to elevator music.

I love "Street life" as a single, but on this album it's kind of a miss. It sounds like a pretty solid jazz band interweaving with a great pop single. The album is a good bop sometimes, sometimes it degrades to background noise, a little bit inconsistent on that.

527/1001

Une très jolie découverte, que je prendrai plaisir à réécouter!

Why they start with vocals then leave me hanging for the rest? Steely Dan without the Dan

3/10 This made me angry

This is certainly jazz. I don't really care for jazz and don't know how to properly rate it. It's fine I guess

The first song kinda dragged for me, but I enjoyed the rest of it. Today I was in the mood for jazz.

kind of expected it to be 40 minutes of Street Life, for lack of a better term. really flipped my expectations of a jazz album though, a great collection of individualized but complementary boppers. favorite song is Rodeo Drive (High Steppin'), or *maybe* My Lady

Rating: 4/10 Really didn’t care for this I was pretty bored

Fun jazz with lots of personality 7.1/10

Well, time of smooth jazz, but even so this is super smooth to the point of making a long elevator ride longer. Nothing adventurous allowed. Carnival tries to redeem, but too little too late.

I do like the titular song mostly because of the Randy Crawford vocals but I’m never gonna be a jazz fan.

These guys bent the laws of physics. The album runs for 39 minutes 22 seconds, and somehow the opening track is 41 minutes long.

This is my least favorite kind of jazz. They seem to be doing it well, but I can think of two dozen jazz albums that deserve this spot instead. How about Shape of Jazz to Come by Ornette Coleman?

While this is not usually my jam, I really enjoyed it. I suspect there is truly great musicianship going on so I look forward to read what the musicians in our group have to say. Interestingly, I think my cat & dog dug this. I caught them both sitting together at the window looking outside for quite some time while this played. Music speaks to all of us. I'm bumping this up a star for Tophee and Beckham.

Once I realized that the title track was also the opening track, I suspected this album was going to drop off. My suspicions weren't immediately confirmed, the second track My Lady was groovy enough but it just kept going and didn't really take me anywhere with it. Pleasant enough hold music I suppose. The rest of the album withered on and didn't do anything for me. Even as a background album, I would confidently choose something above Street Life to satisfy that task. 2 stars

Very boring

Great music! This was part of my 1980’s soundtrack!

Groovy as fuck

I think the first song is about street life. I like classic jazz, modern jazz all sounds a little too samey for me.

Can’t recall a lot of this but I wasn’t offended by the listen.

2.1 / 5 Welp, this was underwhelming. The only song on here to write something about is the title song. Everything else is just very boring, safe jazz that comes straight out of a 70s/80s Sitcom opening theme. There's really nothing to write home about at all here - which is sad because I sense some potential. Musically it's not bad per se, it just doesn't contain anything interesting. What makes Jazz interesting on other albums in this list is missing on this one, instead what we got is something that's extremely inoffensive and that cosplays as restaurant background noise.

El tema es tan bueno que merece que todo el álbum esté en este listado? Muchos la descubrieron por Tarantino en Jackie Brown, pero ya era uhn hitazo de sobra conocido. Buena pregunta, pero es que mientras suena esa odisea de R&B, funk , Jazz y Soul sedoso... se va medio disco, ocipa casi la cara A entera. El otro tema es un buen tema, casi instrumental con algunos coros, My Lady. Otros 4 instrumentales en la segunda cara destacando The Hustler de Stix" Hooper. Lo mejor, al margen del tema homónimo, la portada y sobre todo Randy Crawford. Es un buen disco, muy buenos músicos. No sé, tal vez es mejor alguno de Blood Sweat and and Tears (el segundo o tercer, aunque mi favorito es el primero), Chicago o los Isley Brothers.

Solid Jazz album. Fav songs rodeo drive and carnival of the night

Easy listening jazzy funk. I wouldn't say this is "jazz" as it has been described. It all sounds pretty preplanned to me. It's funk with long solos. Great foot tapping chill-out music.

Apart from the title track, it felt like listening to a polished jam session.

There is depth to this. The jazz / soul combination is great on this

The Crusaders serve up easy listening jazz fusion.

I suspect how much I enjoy this record is simply a reflection of how much I enjoy Jazz-Funk Fusion. I'm not mad about that genre, in fact it sounds like hold music to me, so am not really one to judge its success. I can say that I preferred the opening track thanks to its R&B vocals which nicely brings together the sound of the band, who without the vocalist wander off into all sorts of blind alleys.

Interesting how divisive this record is for people on the list, I’m really enjoying it. Yeah it actually got better and better as they went a bit experimental with it, solid 4/5

OMG OUI OUI OUI ÇA SLAP FORT!!! 100% moulé dans ma vibe, le jazz beurré de funk comme ça, ça me rend dingo dans le ciboulot

Too instrumental for my taste. The instrumentals felt too much like elevator music.

I was completely unfamiliar with The Crusaders. This is pretty nice and smooth, but not great, not terrible. I think I liked the first track the least. It's kind of a shame that it's the title track, apparently the single, and also has the most plays.

Updated jazz sound for the 70s quiet storm/R&B vibes. Each song sounded very similar to each other.

Instantly recognised the titular opening track, and what followed seemed to almost be 40 odd minutes of a jam session. It was quite funky and soulful, almost sultry in places. I quite liked it

You like Jazz? I think I'm starting too, or at least this style. Smooth AF, I could listen to this again. Solid 6.5 out of 10

Easy jazz album. A fun time. I think most people could enjoy this.

The top reviews for this album, all of which have low ratings, include sentiments like "Street Life is a Jazz album for people who don't like Jazz" and "This is waiting room/elevator music". Damn bro, what elevators are you guys in?? I want to be in them as well. In response to the first review, I don't generally enjoy traditional Jazz, especially the stuff that just sounds disorganized and free form. This at least sounds like it was planned out and is much more enjoyable than most of the Jazz albums I have heard so far on this site. When I saw how low this album was rated, I was bracing for something pretty bad. I am beyond pleased to say I think I enjoyed this one as a whole more than a lot of other people on the site. Now, it's still just a 3 because of how repetitive and basic it is, but it was very easy to listen to and I honestly don't mind that it was so repetitive, because it accomplishes what it sets out to do. It's great to have on in the background in any situation and isn't ever annoying, unorganized or overbearing. And for that, it's enjoyable from top to bottom. For Jazz, this is awesome, but it still never blows me away. So, as far as Jazz goes, this is like a 5 for me, but a 3 overall. Maybe even a 4 if I'm being very generous. My favorite song is the opener, "Street Life", as it's a good mix of Jazz, Funk, and a great singing voice. This album is also short enough that it doesn't really overstay it's welcome. A pleasant and surprising experience, I enjoyed this one a lot more than I expected to. Call it a 3.9/5, approaching a 4. I may go back and change this one to a 4 later if I feel like it. Good stuff.

I'd never heard of the Crusaders but enjoyed this tight album quite a lot.

Pretty chill grooves with the saxamaphone

fajnovej jazzik, ta prvni skladba me mega prekvapila (goated) doporucil jsem honzovi zakovi a neznal to, takze success

The iconic Street life, the rest of it is some nice soul vibes

Title track has some life to it. Then become unmemorable

Really liked this - have had it before on this list and it was still good on a second listen. Still feels very atmospheric and makes me want to be in NYC or LA in the 70s.

jazzy

I love the title track after hearing it on The Venture Bros., but I had never heard the eponymous album before. "Street Life" is the only song with vocals, and goddamn, what a vocal performance! The instrumentation, likewise, is stellar! The Crusaders' brand of jazz fusion is pristine. It is very much Weather Channel-core, but I'm into it.

Street Life iconic song.

From one of the most well known songs, Street Life, to funky jazzy sounds. Nice.

Mellow tunes, sweet jazz, enjoyed it.

This was delightful jazz/soul album. "Street Life" is a song I've heard before and is a highlight, but the instrumentalism across the album is wonderful.

Well, I love sax so I enjoyed this. Wish there was a bit more to it on the whole. Had some great moments but never really felt like it came to a point of impact.

Street Life's a great track. Rest of album runs a narrow line between smooth jazz and hold muzac. An easy listen but not my bag.

Streetlife I know the title track from the Jackie Brown soundtrack, although this is the slower version. Either way it's a great soulful-jazz track, the keys rolling it along with great string and horn arrangements and a nagging guitar riff. Although it’s consummately played and produced and there’s nothing quite as good as that song, the rest of the songs flows by in a perfectly enjoyable miasma of unthreatening jazz-funk-soul smoothness, the perfect soundtrack to cruising the quiet city roads at night, or walking in slow motion into a bar in the 70s, or regrouting the kitchen tiles on a Saturday morning. Although I thoroughly enjoyed it, it does carry a faint tang of smoothness over direction, the quality playing and the sound is undeniable, and apart from the title track it can feel a bit aimless. Night Faces starts out with some slightly ominous chords and that feeling returns now and again, but it always settles back into the smoothness pocket, somewhat blending in with the rest of the tracks. Still its an enjoyable laid back easy listen, something I think I’ll return to in the right mood, so I’ll go for a high 3 🛣️🛣️🛣️ Playlist submission: Street Life

I am not surprised the title track comprises over 25% of the album's run time. When you have a song that funky, and a wider album rather hit and miss, it makes sense. What's more the rerecorded and pacier 'Street Life' a couple of years later, is the better version. Nonetheless, what a corker. As for the rest, the best I can say is it didn't annoy me as much as I thought jazz-funk instrumentals would. I actively enjoyed 'My Lady', which has some great bass bounce, and a Rotary Connection vibe (and feels ripe for being sampled by the sampling crowd). 'Carnival of the Night' demonstrates everyone is controlled and not improvising for the sake of it. The bass remains the key element throughout with some funk-basslines that, unlike Mrs Macron, never go full slap. This is a tune that immediately makes you want to roller-skate. It is a classic case of diminishing returns however. 'Night Faces' delivers some shifting chords that put this in the 'too MoR for Steeley Dan' camp. 'Rodeo Drive' sounds like a pool-side cabaret in Mallorca.

streetlife! der rest ist dann doch eher für die beschallung von liftkabinen und hotlines.

Guter Sound solange niemand singt

The perfect album for high-fives down at Sully's where you are having a Schlitz with your fellow patrolmen after a hard day workin' the beat, tusslin' with the low life gamblers, trying to restore a little luster to these mean city streets.

Very nice. Title track is an all time classic. Boring after a while.

EZ Listening

Would sound great in a lift

Obviously one standout track but I enjoyed everything else.

Fairly enjoyable and an actual surprisingly good album I had never heard of before. This is the kind of stuff i signed up to hear, not Aersomith twice

Very nice, good for relaxing background music

I enjoyed!

The sexophone just didn’t stop. I was embarrassed to be listening to this. Even with headphones on, I kept looking around, thinking ‘everyone knows!’

Good background music

It’s at least different. Cool grooves but it seems like the album’s material had so much potential but didn’t land.

This seems to be an example of fantastic musicians serving very bland pop trends, in this case disco. The production is so overly dated that it would be charming if disco didn't make me so nauseous. The title track "Street Life" is great but meanders and repeats itself for over 11 minutes so everyone can be out on the dance floor longer or to get a few more laps in during the roller disco. There is great jazzy funk playing here, a groovy bass and keyboard, and wonderful singing from Randy Crawford, but it's produced with these cheesy orchestral strings that make me cringe each time, and the song just goes on and on and on. There are some positives here. "My Lady" has this bass line with an envelope filter that Thundercat would be jealous of. "Carnival of the Night" has this Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters energy with some great keyboard licks and tight Nile Rodger's style compressed guitar riffs. I mean, really the musicianship is awesome on every track. But overall, it just feels kind of bland and uninventive. Just really good musicians staying boxed inside the disco sound of 1979. So many tracks feel kind of sleepy and drag on, like they need to go just 5-10 bpm faster to have a little lift. It's great background music for a kitschy cocktail party, but it's not very interesting to listen to actively.

Bon ben c’était très sympathique, très pro, très bien joué, mais aussi pas franchement aventureux, ce qui est terrible, pour du jazz. Le titre vocal au début est très cool et la suite instrumentale est très agréable à écouter. Mais ça manque de folie. Pas facile de sortir un album de jazz funk après Herbie Hancock.

3.5

Smooth, calming, uninteresting. Rodeo Drive - just a long theme tune. Washes over you in inoffensive way. 2.5

Didn"t know Street Life was by them. So that's interesting. The rest definitely lift music

Long version of Street Life a Banger, the rest a damp squib. As much as I like most Miles Davis jazz fusion he also really has alot to answer for...

4 for the opener a solid 1 for the rest of the album. It was painful in a “how long have I been on hold?” Kind of way.

Previously unknown to me but very nice. Will listen again!

You know an album is gonna be good when it starts with a saxophone solo!

jazz/funk setentero, un poco repetitivo, casi nada de letra, muy tranquilo, para poner de fondo

It’s jazz

Reviews of elevator and hold music accurate. Not great Jazz. No idea why this is here. 🤷‍♂️

Kinda boring.

not bad, like upbeat jazzy toilet music

Kind of hard to go wrong with a jazz album, and this one was a pretty relaxing listen from start to finish. Smooth playing, easy vibe, and nothing that got in the way of just zoning out for a bit. It did not blow me away, but it was solid background music and stayed enjoyable the whole way through.

The titular track is good fun, but the rest of the album was very dull. Even as music to have on in the background, it felt like a bit of a slog to get through.

This vaguely felt like waiting room music. Not bad per se, but all kind of felt the same. Inoffensive background jazz

Yesterday was Mike’s Davis’ A Silent Way and this just wasn’t up that comparison. If it was in between two rap albums I might have given it a 4 but compared to Miles Davis, it was lucky to get that third star!

I didn’t enjoy the first couple of tracks but the album did actually win me over by the end. I completely agree that it sounds like holding music but that didn’t hurt my enjoyment. Rating: 3.3

“Street Lights” for 10 mins, and it stuck in my mind for a day

I don't remember a single thing I heard on this album

Sensational. This is by far the best album I’ve listened to, objectively. Top 1%

Brilliant album and a classic

I like it for what it is, but there’s just not much to it. This whole album sounds like the smooth jazz station setting on a clock radio alarm.

This takes me back to the early 90s and back to school shopping at JC Penny. i don't hate it

It's pretty fine? It sounds good, technically proficient, everyone knows what they're doing, but just isn't quite interesting enough to get too much in the way of repeat spins.

I guess when it was released it was more exciting? Some of the guitar solos aren't all that bad though.

Dull jazz. That should be an oxymoron.

Wasn't feeling the Jazz/Disco thing.

Meh? Some interesting things in here, but I was really bored.

my name jeff

Ok bit Muzak-y fir me

1 song classic, the others below average.

Eh, I didn't hate it

Love it. Own it.

long but vibey songs

3/5

Solid smooth jazz, nothing earth shattering, just a calm pleasant listen. Enjoyable, forgettable, earns a 3.5 but limited to a 3.

Really enjoyed this, smooth jazz vibes and pleasant tinkling on the rhodes

This was alright. Very 70s and very smooth jazz. Did send me on a fun deep dive down that part of the world, but can't really see myself coming back to this.

Interesting mix of soul, r and b and jazz

Street Life with more key changes? Cool! Also I like My Lady, and not just the bit Tom Misch sampled. Overall though, this is just some recordings and not a "wow" album moment.

The bland intersection between smooth jazz, disco, and elevator music. No doubt the musicians are insanely talented, but these tracks are unispired.

A bit boring in places but it's a lovely album to listen to while doing something else. Amazing instrumental songs.

Jazzy, but the tracks are a bit too long imo

It was OK

It's okay background music but I am just not into Jazz. 2 stars or D+.

1. life - 1.5 2. lady - 1.5 3. rodeo - 1.5 4. night - 1.5 5. Hustler - 1.5 6. Faces -1.5

I don't know much about jazz after the 1960s or before the 2010s but I really enjoyed this album. The titular track contains a very strong vocal performance and incredible execution. The Hustler is another strong highlight with incredible drum work and a piano full of personality. The entire album is background music but it is good enough that you could vibe to these as well. Very pleasantly surprised.

I was surprised that all but the first song didn’t have vocals. It’s well done music, but not my thing.

- Mmm, had er geen zin in, maar er zat iets in. - 0 nummers toegevoegd aan MMMM - 0 nummer al toegevoegd aan MMMM

Title track is a banger but did it need to be 11 minutes? It doesn’t, but when the rest of the album is filler elevator music maybe it has to be. Buy the 7” version ditch the rest.

Great jazz music and totally love the song Street Life!

It's a vibe. I'm not too into jazz fusion but I liked this as some background music.

A chill-as-all-hell album, like genuinely this is some of the most inoffensive, mind-resting, wind-down jazz music I've ever heard. At no point was I really amazed at what was going on, but I'm kind of thankful that was the case. The album keeps itself huddled in this very small, warm, and feel-good space - never trying to leave it. The opening title track is one of those songs that I can just play for hours, and I wouldn't even notice, just super catchy and smooth in how it continues to loop in on itself. I guess maybe this whole album feels that way, like sitting in a hotel lobby at night, sipping a cup of coffee, and people-watching as you see different travelers walking in and out of the building. Feel-good music, if I've heard it, and just the type of thing I needed tonight. Brain music.

i need them to stop putting so long songs and not a lot of songs. i am not a fan

street life- 5 my lady- 5 rodeo drive- 5 carnival of the night- I like the bass. 5 hustler- 5 night faces- 5 I love jazz. I dont love this. not sure where that gets us.

Fuck jazz, why is there so much jazz on this fucking list?

I bet Steely Dan think this record is swell. Smooth jams, clean production.

De los pocos De este género que me generó algo Nota: 3.7

sounds like hold muzak.

Awesome jazzy vibe, this was a fun listen

this was awesome and also hilarious that the playlist for this album on youtube was compiled by a japanese guy whose username was "Donald Fagen"

Cool jazz, quite short.

Title track was good.

If your walk turns into a strut as you're walking down the street, you know you're listening some cool tracks.

Enjoyed it. My family called it elevator music.

Like a 40min pleasant elevator ride

JAZZ

Great background music

Couldn’t get into this one. I like Jazz but only sometimes. Favorite Song(s): Rodeo Drive

Nice and smooth

*1979. Jazz. *These are all like 10 minute jazzy songs. Very cool but not something I would regularly listen to. RATING - 6/10

I have to be in the right mood to listen to jazz, and today was not that day. That said, this is barely above waiting room music, so I don't know that there is a day when I would be in that mood.

неплохо. но не фанат такой музыки

Background music

Thoughts before listening: 70s funk and r&b I believe is what this will be. I don't typically see the Crusaders making lists like these, and this will likely be a first listen for me. Review: So if this is a funk/r&b band its much more heavily indebted to the smooth jazz, pop rock sound than I would typically associate with the genre. Maybe it's because Donald Fagen's solo album was the last album I heard on this project, but I am hearing a lot of similarities in the overall sound here. There are some decent smooth jazz instrumentals on the back end of this album that catch my ear with some nice guitar solos, but otherwise this is a little too elevator music for my tastes. 2-stars

2.83

Good stuff.

I recognize the talent, but man this isn’t my genre. Maybe it’s because it sounds like a super market, but I can’t get into it. Just as I find a groove to settles into they do a cheesy key change, or jazzy break down. Oh, and I did not like “Street Lights”, it just went on and on.

Interesting mix of jazz, R&B and disco. Not super memorable, but it was a nice listen

I’m not shay’s on board with mostly instrumental albums but I enjoyed the vibe and really gave a feel for that era

Вайбово и немного никак. Лучшая песня - Street Life.

So past the first song, the comparison of this record to hold music is totally fair. It really does feel like being on hold with a customer service line. This is a kind of jazz that is too accessible and it just kind of falls flat. There's nothing here to push you or, really, to even keep you interested. And I suppose that's the same thing you could say about music that plays when you're on hold with any given customer service department. Good musicians, but this album is just way too plain for me. 2.5/5

Street Life er super fed! Resten er helt fint baggrundsmusik, men nok ikke noget jeg finder frem igen

Lød meget generisk og pænt. Ved ikke hvad det laver her.

Background music for a grey Monday. Didn't make it any better 🤷

It’s smooth, gotta say that about it. Tasteful, easy listening type of jazz, to the point it’s more pop, soul. They can definitely play and their interaction is spot on. It’s just easy listening, not a dig and not a complement. The 1st 4 minutes of the title track; this is going to be an ok listen but by time got to 8 minutes thinking please end the damn thing sometime soon, by 10 minutes was twitching over the skip button. But Won’t be returning anytime soon, just can’t see any situation where I would be wanting to listen to this. It was what it was just a bit too damn saccharine, too smooth, too safe, too light, too bloody pleasant, I could keep going and nothing would make me listen more. Don’t want to diss on it, and give it too low a score because didn’t find it bad just bland. 3 Star

It’s as if the clangers dropped acid and recorded an LP. Worst album on here so far

Interesting but not for me

I’d give it 10 if I could

Background Band. Nothing to exciting.

Favorite Track: Street Life

funky and cool!! exactly what the album cover promises

listening to street life walking my dog at 6 am

alright

Street Life was a solid jazz album - made for great background listening at work. Best: Street Life Worst: The Hustler 3.5 Stars

Got distracted by other things, not good sign

I, too, love “Jackie Brown.” But yeah, it’s one five star song that’s over a fourth of the length of the album, and then a couple instrumental tracks that sound like something my kindergarten teacher would play to help us calm down during nap time. Which, no hate. They’re chill songs. But not as good as “Street Life.”

Not bad, I like the smooth jazz feel, which is not something that I tend to gravitate towards.

Love the instrumentation on this album - wish there was more lyrics.

This was a Carnival of the Night.