Reviews (page 7 of 8)
Das Album Street Life von den Crusaders wurde 1979 veröffentlicht und in den Hollywood Sound Recorders sowie den Total Experience Studios in Los Angeles aufgenommen. Die Gruppe stammt aus den USA und war zuvor unter dem Namen The Jazz Crusaders aktiv. Musikalisch bewegt sich das Album zwischen Jazz-Funk, Soul und Pop. Der bekannteste Titel ist der über zehn Minuten lange Song „Street Life“, gesungen von Randy Crawford, der sich als stilprägend erwiesen hat. Weitere markante Stücke sind „My Lady“ und „Night Faces“, die die stilistische Bandbreite der Band zeigen – von rhythmisch treibenden Passagen bis hin zu eher zurückgenommenen, melodischen Parts. Die Produktion ist klar strukturiert und lässt den einzelnen Instrumenten Raum. Die musikalische Handschrift der Crusaders bleibt über das gesamte Album hinweg erkennbar. Ein insgesamt homogenes Werk, das sowohl den Anspruch von Jazz-Hörern als auch das Bedürfnis nach eingängigen Arrangements bedient.
So I'm not the biggest jazz fan in the world but I can appreciate it. My goal with this one was to let it roll and soak it all in. I dont really have any standouts on this one; the album as a whole is nice to listen to and all the musicians are of course very good. Jazz kinda blends together for me and I like the experience but picking out one song from another is a little harder on something like this than albums from most other genres. I enjoyed listening to the album in the moment but this kind of stuff I don't see myself actively trying to revisit, which puts this at a 2/5 for me. It makes for very good background music when trying to get stuff done though. All in all, for me, this was a slightly below average, but enjoyable listen.
Sorry I got bored
I wish it would've had more actual songs like the first track but it's a nice Smooth Jazz album
Meh
I can’t say this is bad, but there is something that is not gelling with me. It feels almost too slick, too produced. Like they are holding back emotion. Is “carnival of the night” where Lizzo got “about damn time” from? This is a good record, but I don’t know if I would listen again.
I don’t really know…I suppose a bit of a cross of jazz, funk, r&b, disco, a little bit of rock and pop. Lots of funky bass, drums, and guitar. Some cool chord progressions and solos. It’s also really easy music to zone out - I need to really force myself to pay attention, where you can find some cool details but the tracks aren’t rewarding for their full lenghs. The sonics of the instrumental tunes are a bit saccharine for my taste - particularly the sax parts. Sounds like jazz simplified to appeal to a pop audience. Well made, well played, but not my jam.
Not bad, but faded into the background a bit. Standout song Street life
Disappointing. Street life itself is a great tune, although the album version drags on a bit, but the rest is forgettable instrumental smoothness. It's backing music for dinner parties. Everything is 'nice' and quite inoffensive. I can't remember much past the first track. Nice to have something that isn't 70s rock, but still a bit flat
I'm just not a jazz fan. I know there are some talented jazz musicians and I'm not knocking their skill. I just can't get into this music. I do want to give a special shout out for NOT hearing any flute solos. For this, I'll give you solid 2 and a big thank you. 2
Perfect soundtrack for a 70s-era key party.
Tricked me in thinking this was going to be a funky disco album with Street Life, upset me with smooth Jazz after that 😞
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this sounds more like i picked out something completely random from a list of every 70s jazz album, then i could say "well what did you expect" but no, this is one of the 1001 most essential albums ever made everytime i listen to an album that i like and it isnt on this list i'll be thinking "this album died so that street life by the crusaders could take its place" why is it so backgroundy why does it taste so much like nothing so that being said it sounded pleasant, 2/5
It's the Hallmark Channel version of Jazz. It starts out promising, but gets extra cheesy quickly. Favorite Track: "Street Life".
Great start, but disappointing thereafter.
Too well-behaved, smooth soul. "They say" it's jazz but I wouldn't think so. Some OK grooves but lacking punch and the saxophones (and guitars) are just too smooth for me. Reminds me of cheap American TV series from the 1980's. Some good musicianship though.
Not surprised title track was used in a movie 40 plus years ago. And another group I’ve never heard of before. And hoping not hear again.
Too smooth for me. I did enjoy the part I listened to while I was driving at night, but can a guy give stars to ambiance?
Smooth, subtle, boring.... sorry. Jackie Brown is an awesome movie though!
Generic jazz, not bad per se
No song needs to be 11 minutes long.
Unfortunately Muzak-y
Not my cup of tea
The opener is okay, nothing special, but it's too long. The rest is all instrumental - not awful, fine for background jazz. But why mix the opener and the rest on the same album? Odd.
Too much like smooth jazz. Something I expect to hear playing quietly in the background of my dental office. Not objectionable but also not very interesting.
Sounds fine but nothing I would revisit. Not bad for doing work though.
This was super boring to me
This is just ok. I don’t love a lot of jazz.
First song was good then it became background noise
Sure.
I’m genuinely confused as to why someone was insistent enough that I should listen to this that they put it on this list? It struck me as just generic, regular smooth jazz. Reminds me of music I’d hear in an elevator or shopping mall. It’s just …fine. I didn’t dislike this. I didn’t like this. It just is. I feel bad giving this a 2, but the personal scale I’ve been using for these ratings is that a 3 is ‘I liked it at least a little.’ This didn’t earn that.
The album was alright not something could listen to on repeat the absence of vocals after the first song makes it feel a little empty and more like elevator music.
I was glad when this finished.
2.5
The title track again is the story here apparently. And while it's great, do they do anything sufficient to justify the eleven minutes? Ordinarily a fan of long songs but I've said this before on here, but in this case it's kind of just a loop of similar things, until it isn't, and then it ends. And well, I just prefer the disco version Randy Crawford did later. The remaining instrumental tracks, 70s smooth jazz. Erm. Yeah. It's ok! But no more than. The hold music reviewer was not far off.
Wow. At one point I literally thought "I'm bored, maybe I should put on some music". Absolute white noise to me
Old funky inner city blah
god this was dull. there were a moments where it got a little funky and i was like YIPPEE but then it went back to being what my brain perceives as standard muzak fare. i think it’s the tone of the keyboards which sound unbearably dated to me, especially on the final track.
Obviously very technically impressive but just not really for me. This kind of jazz is too shmaltzy for me and feels like elevator music, and the saxophone is just way too in your face for me.
Not offensive, but very elevator music adjacent.
Decent jazzy music if I was waiting on the phone for something
Elevator/ hold music. Decent for background
Jazzy elevator music
I've never liked jazz. This 1001 musical experiment has shown me that sometimes I do like jazz, but this isn't one of those times. This is exactly the jazz that I don't have patience for.
Op de opener na spraken de nummers mij niet aan, en vond ik ze over het algemeen vrij saai.
Jazz with a bit of a funk
"Street Life" was the best track, but at 11 minutes long.... That's pushing it. The rest is just cheesy casting couch music. Not terrible, just not something I would reach for.
I found this to be pretty generic jazz albeit with lots of saxophone and horns.
Street life is a great Motown tune but I don’t care for the rest.
Schwieriger Disco Sound mit einigen Soul Elementen. Es ist noch mitreißend, eher nervtötend. Lassen wir das Ding im 70er Schrank.
2.5/5
A bit funky, but generally too lose to elevator music.
Very sugary.
Jazz….nice! Next time I am in a lift I will think of this album.
Can you have too much sax.... yes.
The bandname and album title made me think this was gonna be a punkalbum. Too bad. Can't complain about the title track. That's a gripping song. However the rest reminds me of elevator music and soundtracks to terrible 80's sitcoms
Smooth jazz, a bit too smooth for my taste, but thankfully a step above elevator music. 2.5 stars
I feel bad for this band. They didn't ask to be elevator music. They just wanted to play cool ass jazz.
Mellow. Great background music for working, but not something I'd actively pay attention to.
Raten we nu een nummer of een album? Want meer dan Street Life is dit toch niet? Zowel in kwantiteit als in kwaliteit. En dat Street Life...meer dan 11 minuten....Wel een beetje veel hoor.
Jazz isn't really my cup of tea... But, the 11:16 version of Street Life is quite good.
Not for me
Jazz funk fatigue
Street Life is ok. The rest didn’t hurt me. But I’m not chasing this down to hear it again.
Music for a TV show about a couple of chill Californian cops who bust the investigation wide open on a new case every week, then go shred some narly waves while the credits roll. Take a 5-minute radio edit of “Street Life,” and throw the rest of this smooth jazz into the dollar bin so a budding hip-hop producer can practice chopping on their new MPC 3000.
Day257 - this is a forgettable album, the jazz sound is pretty good but just seems generic
Forgettable smooth jazz. 2.4 stars
This conjures up a smoky, jazzy ambiance that I guess I'm just not feeling.
smoooooth jazz.
We mogen ruim 11 minuten genieten van het toch wel bekende 'Street Life' en daarna krijgen we er nog 5 iets minder ambitieuze nummers gratis bij. Ik vind het lastig te bedenken waarom dit in deze lijst zou thuishoren, behalve dan dat er wellicht een tekort aan jazz/soul zou zijn wat opgevuld moet worden. Het is niet de meest vervelende muziek in z'n soort, maar heel memorabel vind ik het ook niet. Een 2 of 3. Ik ga voor de zure 2.
Hardly engaging, does nothing to challenge the listener. Was waiting to see if they'd throw any curveballs, but none ever came. It's background elevator music.
Not the biggest fan here. It's certainly not bad but it reminds me of eating in an Arby's or walking through an airport. Boring funk/jazz. 4/10 (2/5)
I had no idea what to expect with this one. I’d never listened to the Crusaders before, and was surprised in good and bad ways. The title track is the absolute standout, and while all the songs are pleasant, it really verges on elevator music at times. A lot of the tracks sounded familiar, but not in good ways. Like something you’d hear in a mall or a bad 80s sitcom or your very last backup preset radio station that you hope you never have to listen to but every other station is on commercials. Still, it was nice, pleasant, and somewhat enjoyable. I’m really struggling between a 2 and a 3 for this, but I think I’m rounding down. The strength of the title track just can’t quite carry the record.
This started OK with the title track which I already knew and liked. Unfortunately it then reverted to the usual "Listen to me showing off" borefest of most jazz albums.
Ok
it's 1981 and you are in Great Neck Long Island listening to the greatest ever Bar Mitzvah cocktail hour band, trying to grab those tiny pig in blankets before the server disappears.
Really dull apart from the first song
Street Life is good, the rest is meandering elevator muzak. It's pleasant enough, but I would never go out of my way to hear it again. Made me feel like I was on hold and waiting for my call to be connected for half an hour.
The first track on this album is really good. Unfortunately, the rest of the album feels like you're stuck in an elevator with generic background music. 2
smooth boring forgettable
I think I've heard this album while waiting on hold with my bank.
Very smooth, too smooth.
Nice elevator music…4/10
2.2/5 listened 2x while almost to Denver on road trip
Background music. Not my jam, but it wasn’t awful.
Pretty easy listening for a morning album. Too easy listening. Got elevator music vibes from this one. Prefer other jazz to this minus the title track which got me excited for the album as a whole. High 2
Directionless soft jazz odyssey. Pretty shit
it's ok. I can understand and appreciate their talent but smooth jazz isn't really my thing.
Der erste Track ist ein Knaller (eher Funk/Disco als Jazz), der Rest nudelt so vor sich hin. Barmusik war meine erste Assoziation.
An earlier review was right. This is hold music.
Boring elevator music.
Street life is a banger but the rest of the album belongs in a lift.
Standard smooth sax jazz?
Elevator jazz, next to one standout track which got too much airplay on "solid gold" radio shows when I was a kid. I listened to the album a few times, but there was no spark.
Gorgonzola. Gouda. Cheddar. Mozzarella. Brie. Emmenthal. Feta. Parmesan. Camembert. Edam. Mascarpone. Leerdammer. Balkan. Stilton. Sorry that was just my exercise to try and name as many types of cheese off the top of my head. Nothing to do with the music. By the way, I didn't even notice that this album ended until like 30 minutes later. Spotify just kept playing songs that sounded exactly the same until I was like, "hey wait a minute, this album is long as he- oh, I'm listening to some Bulgarian jazz band from 1955. The album ended half an hour ago". ..So that should tell you something about the uniqueness and memorability of this project.
The first song is a great film score. The rest are late-70s department store jazz.
This sounds like music you hear in a waiting room or an elevator.
This is the kind of music that plays when the doctor's office puts me on hold.
Apparently this was jazz? I just never really noticed anything about it. I was expecting it to be a rock album at first because of the name of the album and band, and my mild surprise after finding out it was not is the only thing I really remember about the album. It’s not bad but there doesn’t seem to be anything memorable.
Not bad. Kinda of urban yacht rock feel to it.
that's elevator music with some rythm. 2 stars
I almost didnt' recognize this without the "Your call is important to us. Please stay on the line and we'll be with you as soon as possible." every 30 seconds.
this was fine. after the opening track, which i enjoyed in substance if not length, i was not exactly expecting an easy listening album having seen it described as jazz. i wish all jazz was like this.
This was nice to listen to, but I did get bored of it after the first song. It didn’t really grab my attention at all.
It's an
Smooth Jazz of the late 70's. Meh.
Nice smooth jazz. Never heard it before but I would listen again. Too bad it's such a short album.
That was difficult to get through. I try to find the positives in most music but I really dislike the sort of anodyne smooth jazz on display here. Sorry, The Crusaders.
Felt like something I could here at any of a thousand jazz clubs in a thousand cities. Blech.
Rachel: “this is elevator music.” “Tim, this is real bad.”
Rather unremarkable jazzy tunes.
This album starts with something interesting and then settles in to smooth jazz “on hold” music. Competent but lacking real flavor or drive.
Meh, a classic to open, then some middling noodling jazz instrumentals. Not my cup of tea, and not really sure why it's on the list. Decent background music I guess, but no more than that.
too schmaltzy—it tied in well with my dentist office visit today. although street life is definitely a sample on a hip hop album somewhere. it was driving me crazy trying to figure it out where i knew it, and i never figured it out :(
Jazz R&B Disco - I'm not a fan of Jazz or the late 1970's/early 1980's disco scene. Apart from an overly long version of their hit "Street Life", I found this album boring elevator music.
Street life, street life, street life. Beetje generiek voor de rest
This album felt very much “of a time”. It was fine - but just another album where I don’t understand why this is on a list of albums I should listen to before I die.
Great title track. The rest is awful elevator music.
1. Lied gut, Rest Fahrstuhljazz
The title track is good, albeit twice as long as necessary. It shows groove and soul, with a great vocal performance. The rest of the album features no vocals and is competently played but completely forgettable.
Boring, Boring, Boring
Elevator jazz.
A lot of people said this album kinda sounds like good music. And those people are spot on. It’s not a bad album. But it definitely works more as background music. The first song was my favorite, the others were a bit bland. I was relieved when it was over
Disappointed to say the least. Title track is ok, and reminiscent of Jackie Brown by Quinten Tarantino soundtrack but the rest is boring and derivative. If you were on hold while trying to make a dentist appointment, you'd be like wow this is dope.
About as edgy as smooth jazz can get, I suppose.
Talented musicians making music I don't care for.
Jazz, R&B, Funk, and Disco vibes, doing none of them enough to fully capture me in the elements I like nor to lose me in the elements I dislike. It takes a very meandering path to about average for me.
obviously great musicians and there were some bright spots but the sax. I just can't listen to music dominated by a saxophone for very long.
My biggest question here is...why? Why is this soft jazz something I would need to hear? There is a lot of other jazz in this book that is more interesting, has better sounds and was more influential. Brian Eno already has the "elevator music" genre covered, so that can't be the reason this album is in the book. These guys are really good at playing instruments and this is completely non-invasive music. Would I ever just put this album on? Never. If I wanted to listen to jazz, would I put this album on? Never. Doesn't break new ground for me.
A bit ‘background’ but those guys can play!
Not sure why this is on the list
The song Street Life followed by some elevator music. No.
The title track with Randy Crawfords vocals, is the only credible track on this album. The rest of the tracks are literally the same jazz funk riffs, with a lot of sax leads. These guys can certainly play their instruments, it was just all very bland and boring... perhaps best suited as background music in a shopping mall.
Street Life, the song, is a classic. The rest of the album was sort-of seventies background music. It made me think of The Towering Inferno, for some reason. This music could be playing whisky you were hanging out in a bar with Roddy McDowell wearing flares and sipping a cocktail before the tower got infernoed. I don’t know if I’d listen to it again.
Funky/Disco classic start…. then sort of tails off to cocktail party background music. Nice enough but nothing exciting.
Started great. But got repetitive Very quickly.
Not for me. It has some moments and one good song but I was not into this much at all.
2* because of Streetlife. For the rest it's 13-in-a-dozen jazzfunk-by-the-numbers lounge. The music you'll hear in the park when there's a band playing that doesn't want to upset anyone.
I recognize the talent and artistry necessary to make this kind of thing, but it is just so deeply boring to me.
Holy saxophone baby!
Elevator music with hints of disco. Hard pass.
#68. Partway through I had to remind myself that no, I wasn't on hold to talk to the dentist, I was in fact listening to this album on purpose, for some reason. 2/5: meh
It grooves but didn't catch me.
This album started in a very different place than it began ... and then returned. I was very into the higher tempo more upbeat songs while the slower jazzier stuff lost my interest.
Instrumental album, not bad but kinda sleepy beat throughout. This band has better songs on other albums, so this one is a curious choice for the project.
This is just such an unnecessary album. It's not terrible, hence why not 1 star, but it brings absolutely nothing interesting to the world - it just ... exists. Utterly, utterly bland and forgettable but performed and produced very well. It's like a paint-by-numbers painting of Munch's 'The Scream' - you know the painting is good, but you don't see the point of it having been made.
Thought I was on hold at times.
Street Life - 4.5/5 That's an 11 minute song and WHAT A SONG IT IS. So fuckin groovy. The length obviously makes it a harder commit to re-listen to but it's really good, there's a shorter single version of this song that might be worth a listen. My Lady - 3.5/5 No lyrics this time around. Still decent, a bit more stereotypical funk-type beat. The cowbell works better than I'd care to admit. The song sounds like its like a minute long but loops throughout its actual 6 minute runtime and gets repetitive. Sounds like background music for a puzzle game. Rodeo Drive (High Steppin') - 3/5 No lyrics yet again (I have a feeling Street Life is going to be the only one with lyrics). Bass line carries the song, other than that, just some more jazz. Carnival of the Night - 0.5/5 Unironically sounds like hold music. Is too long, I was more than ready for it to be over at the halfway point. The Hustler - 1.5/5 Saxophone. Skipped when I was halfway through. Night-Faces- 0.5/5 More hold music. Only reason this and Carnival of the Night don't get 0's is that it's not terrible, just terribly boring. Overall thoughts: Street life is the only one really worth listening to, and you might be better off listening to the edited version so you don't have to commit to an 11 minute song. The vocalist is really freakin good, and other songs would've benefited from her inclusion. Latter half really fell off, very boring compared to the strong start.
why is the first song ELEVEN MINUTES??!?!! very disco, was in the 70s groovy tbh loving it all instrumental which is different
watered down jazz
Cocktail party background music, heavy saxophone use
Rating: 4/10 Did not enjoy this one overall. The production is amazing, the album really sounds great and is recorded well. Despite this, I was not into this whatsoever, besides Street Life. As good as everything sounds, it is not interesting at all. No memorable ideas, sounds like background music. As it progressed, I just wanted it to end. Favorite song: Street Life, which is also too long. Everything else is pretty forgettable and boring.
Street Life is an undeniable tune, but elsewhere it is jazz fusiony grooving and noodling. All very tasteful and immaculately played in a 'quiet storm' stylee but not really anything to shake my tree.
What a big fat nothing burger
Funky vibes, but did not grab me.
This was a quick jazz album. The first song was 8 minutes with a lot of funk and soul to it. The following 5 songs didn’t have any lyrics and went by pretty quick. This album could’ve been pretty great if it was more like the first song. It wasn’t a bad album but it started off and end me to believe it was something else. 5.7/10
Pretty boring for a jazz album.
Hittibiisi rox, loput taustamusaa. Varma 2*
The title track is a decent, then it gets very safe and elevator like
Opening track is great, the rest sounds like the best lounge bar band in a groovy hotel - but a lounge bar band nonetheless!
Instantly forgettable and largerly passed me by. Obviously very talented and inoffensive, but did nothing for me and sounds very dated
Funky soul music isn't my top genre and I'm not sure I'd pick anything out of this as worth listening to again. As background music it wasn't overtly offensive, which isn't a great review.
Like many of the Jazz albums before it just sounds like boring background music. Wouldn't listen to it again.
Easy to listen to, but not very interesting. The album finished and I was listening to something else without noticing.... As background music it was quite nice Recognised the opening track Not much else to say, won't be back
Meh
Its ok but dull. Its kinda elevator-bland at times and this genre is approached much better by Herbie Hancock or Weather Report. Saved by the extended title track. 2.5
Sometimes you just need six smooth songs. I enjoyed this despite the prominence of the saxophone on a few tracks. It is, though, totally unclear to me why I'd need to listen to this album before I died. There must be some historical reason I'm not yet aware of. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Well I liked the song but this felt more like a single than an album so I'll have to mark it down for that.
They do love the Street Life
corny muzak jazz fusion light rnb who knows? kenny g would be proud.
I did not care for the very much. Way too much of a disco feel. Way too smooth. I can’t foresee ever wanting to revisit this album. I’ll credit them with being good musicians, though.
Pretty boring
Well-executed, but bland. Lightly funky, bordering on yacht rock. Favorite track: "Carnival of the Night"
I can only be in the bathroom during business lunch for so long.
Decent jazz album, I'm just not that into jazz.
I'm just going to assume that this album was playing the first time the author of this list had sex, and that's why its on here. It's fine jazz, but absolutely not significant or groundbreaking in any way. I'd be insulted on behalf of all the great jazz musicians that were snubbed from this, but frankly I'm just happy that my man had sex 2/5
The band who started elevator music I guess?
Wiki lists this album as jazz-funk, which sounded okay. Sadly, the jazz-to-funk ratio was a little high for my taste. This sounds like elevator music for a building that's slightly funkier than average.
This really was not my bag.
Your call is very important to us
*Your call is important for us. Please, hold the line. Someone will be with you shortly*
Good lofi. 😅
Very great musicianship was used only to make us experience a 40 minutes journey inside an elevator.
Jazz for hipster hat-wearing, pretention-showimg posers. I'm not say "ooh it's not real jazz" but rather, it feels like it thinks the album is much more than ill-fitting hooks between pretentious sax. A disappointing record.
The first song is definitely iconic, but there's a reason its more famous counterpart is far shorter. The rest of the album is the music that you listen to in the background. Not quite elevator/phone music like some reviews say, but certainly nothing special.
"Street Life" is a studio by American jazz band The Crusaders. It was their 12th album since becoming The Crusaders in 1970. The band itself started in 1960 in Houston, TX as The Jazz Crusaders with core members Joe Sample (piano), Wilson Felder (tenor sax) and Nesbert "Stix" Hooper (drums). The music is a fusion as jazz and funk and they used all of 19 musicians on this album. The album was successful reaching the top 20 in three Billboard charts - Black, Jazz and Pop. The 11-minute "Street Life" opens the album with a soft sax and piano. It's got all the elements of smooth jazz but the poppier R&B beat gives it a funkier edge. Female vocalist Randy Crawford adds the soul. This was the big song from the album hitting the Black, Club Play and Pop charts. It's was also used in movies "Jackie Brown" and "Sharkey's Machine" and the TV show "Better Call Saul." I fondly remember watching "Sharkey's Machine" on VHS tape. Burt Reynolds and Rachel Ward. "My Lady" continues the funk a bit with leading horns. Female vocals staying into the background. The remainder of the album is instrumental and continues in more in smooth jazz. "Rodeo Drive (High Steppin')" has keys, horns and is more bass forward. "Carnival of the Night" actually has a lead guitar. The last song "Night Faces" is the most jazz-oriented with horns leading the way. This album sometimes leaned hard in the soft jazz area but, especially on the first few songs, the rhythm kept it interesting with the funk. The sax and horns in general are outstanding. Towards the ends of the album, the songs were getting kind of repetitive. I do remember that Chuck Mangione song "Feels so Good" being a hit around that time and this album reminded me of that. If you are a fan of that song, you will probably like this album.
Fucking crap. Title track is obviously a classic tho.
I like it. It’s pretty smooth. Only the title track is really worth returning to though. It’s a fairly easy 2 for me…
Cheesy, generic background music, but nothing atrocious. My Mom rates it a 3.
the jazz FM-iest jazz all super crisp and polished
Here’s a strange comparison: I recently gave Slint’s “Spiderland”, one of my 1st from the generator, a relisten (because I took a look at RateYourMusic’s favourite albums and that was way up there). And my conclusion is I get overly frustrated with albums that have a great start but fail to grab my attention after that, & I think that’s what happened with “Street Life” (and the Slint album) I feel that my disinterest in jazz growing up was because I thought it was all like this: slippery-smooth café background that takes the edge off waiting for that crispy panini (Where was I…) I kinda feel bad for ragging on easy-listening music for being easy to listen to, but I’m going with my gut with this rating March 21, 2023
Forgettable Jazz. Title track is ok but not enough to save the album
Elavator music. A pretty intricate version of it, drawing from both jazz and disco. But elevator music nonetheless. A rhodes keyboard always sounds great, by the way, whatever you play on it. And given that the Crusaders are stellar musicians, their instruments are bound to sound good. I think that "My Lady" has been sampled in one of the hip hop albums I have, but I can't remember which. I need to do some research... Funny how the last track, "Night Faces", going back to the band's pure jazz roots from the sixties, sounds so good as well. As a matter of fact, that track has aged infinitely better than the mindless disco beats The Crusaders onverindulged in for the rest of the album. Disco can be fun, once in a while. But a whole album of it is often quite ridiculous. Especially if you don't dance to the latter. Because let's be a little honest for a second. Who would dance to this stuff *today*? I've written four paragraphs about this album, *Street Life* (five, now, counting this one). I think it's more than said album deserves if you're doing a list of 1001 "essential" ones. Next. Number of albums left to review: 630 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 182 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 85 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 110 (including this one)
Easy listening. Sounds like hold music or what you might hear in a hotel lobby. Bold to start the album with a song lasting 11 minutes. Not the best.
Meh. Jazz for people that don’t like jazz. Completely average.
Muy buenos músicos, pero por momentos me sentía en un ascensor
Better than jazz but still insufferable.
fine but boring
what a fucking tune street life is. the rest of the smooth jazz album not so much. they definitely should have got Randy Crawford on more of their tracks.
Street death
I quite like the title track, but nothing else on this album has any interest for me. It's quite non-descript disco era jazz. It's 1979, you're at a family wedding, the buffet gets unveiled, and everyone shuffles along filling their paper plates with finger food. This is the music the DJ plays quietly under the murmurs of munching guests. It's completely inoffensive, the musical version of beige. For such a short album it really goes on, and on, and on, repetitively, on and on. Lovevly production and mixing though.
Adding funk to jazz does make it better, but it still is not what I want. This is basically easy listening.
I usually like funk, needles to say jazz, but this is almost parody lol. Has its moments but nah, not for me
quite repetitive funk
Ähnlich ärgerlich wie Weather Report: gut komponiertes, aber belangloses Gelaber. Wenigstens ist mit Street Life ein vollumfänglicher Klopper auf dem Album.
Kinda funky, kinda boring
Honestly man this one was ok it’s just some jazz type instrumentals with some more funky stuff. The one that has singing is the worst which I thought was weird but it’s like eleven minutes of “street life”
Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: Not really, just not a fan of long instrumentals Favourite song: didn’t have one
I'm knee-deep in funk right now, and I don't think I need half an hour of pointless, generic, fiddly funk.
I liked the title track and then everything else was just okay.
Stand out - street life
Not a huge fan of jazz
Unmemorable
They think they know how jazz works but they don't actually
Expertly played, but it's just too cleeeeeeean. Everything is in exactly the right place, so rather than more it more musical it gives it a cold and sterile vibe. And the jams are just endless. The tracks just go on and on and on and on. Nope.
Late 70s kinda disco, kinda elevator music
The first two or three tracks were enjoyable and then everything else kinda blended together for me.
Kinda like being inappropriate groovy lift.
I knew of the opening title track, it's got a catchy chorus, but no one needs 11 minutes of it! The rest is like background music at a casino.
Just an instrumental jazz album. Was cool to hear My Lady, a track sampled in some rap songs.
Not bad, just not…. good. Pretty boring actually. There’s a reason this style of smooth jazz died out quickly. The guitar parts are cool but the sax parts get kinda corny. The song “Carnival of The Night” is the highlight on here. Everything else is pretty mellow.
Elevator muzak: the album
So I’ll have to preface this by saying that jazz really isn’t my forte. I gave this a chance and didn’t find much enjoyment in it. Has an elevator quality to it. I found myself wandering off with it. Not in a great way though.
This seemed like easy listening, Weather Channel-type music. Admittedly I didn't do any reading on what made this album significant. Maybe it was a pioneer in the genre, maybe it led to bigger and better things. My 9-year old described it as "weird" but I heard it as more generic. Maybe all these years later we're just more accustomed to this type of smooth jazz.
Too jazzy?
One great song, but the rest of the album is uninteresting.
Not my thing. Sounds like theme music for an 80's drama or sitcom. Or for romantic movie scenes haha.
10/07/2022 Not it. Muzak fr — Today sucked so so fat. Something just came over me that made me hate my whole life. I had to leave studio for an hour today just to cry. I really really want to quit, because thinking about having to do this for THREE MORE YEARS is making me want to go crazy. Phillip got in tonight from Memphis!!! I haven’t seen him since before covid :((( We have the whole weekend together now :)
I lost hope when the title track (that was widely regarded as a highlight) fell flat and went on for over 10 minutes! I enjoy a longer track but this was too much as a third of the album. The instrumental pieces are fine. Just fine. Was excited with the "jazz/funk" description but it disappointed me.
MID AND BORING, SORRY. JUST NOT MY TYPE AT THIS MOMENT.
Not for me.
Jazz trio led by what I can only call an impeccable saxophone. I appreciate the virtuosity these players have, but unfortunately, this kind of slow jazz doesn't resonate with me like larger group jazz does.
Talented musicians. But not in my wheelhouse.
First song absolutely ripped then nothing of note
Jazz can eat my ass.
Didn’t mind this but was just a bit samey background music. didn’t do much for me.
Wanted to like it, definitely a lot of skill on show, but after the title track it just gets a bit disengaging ...
Street Life was a great song, everything else was meh.
Not for me
Not really for me.
My least favorite type of jazz.
No me ha parecido nada destacable. Es interesante como música de fondo, aunque no hay nada en este disco que me llame o que me atrape.
This was a pretty smooth record, but not really something that I got really engrossed in. The title track, "Rodeo Drive (High Steppin')," "Night Faces," and "Carnival of the Night" were probably my fave tracks.
Heard before: no A little on the poppy side - some interesting musical ideas, but I can't get into jazz fusion that doesn't have a bit of 'edge' to it. Great musicianship and feel though!
Okay as background music, but that's it. Jazz isn't my thing.
This was a nice easy listen. However, I didn't hear anything special about it. Pretty average imo
I live in a small country town with no elevators. The first song was alright, but then they put me in the longest elevator ride.
The first song was about 66.67% too long. The rest was too similar and just ok. Nothing here to revisit.
Lekker laidback, maar toch iets te braaf dit.
Muzak.
Street Life is basically gonna depend whether you like jazz with a disco flavour or not. I do, depending on mood, it's a very easy morning listen (especially on a nice sunny day like today), but I don't think I'd stretch to a 3 for it.
Perfectly fine background music, quite a pleasant listen if you're not really concentrating, but doesn't offer a huge amount beyond that. A step above lift music, but only a small step. 2/5.
In offensive soft jazzy flourishes. Unmemorable.
Easy listening, nothing stood out and I doubt I'd ever come back to it.
With the exception of Street Life (which I didn't know was theirs) the remainder of the album sounds too much like either a soundtrack to a 70s porn film, or hold music, I can't decide)
Pretty average, inoffensive, kind of boring, yet not bad either. Just plain, regular ass music. In this context it's both a good and bad thing.
Not that good.
04/15/2022 The song Street Life goes on for days and days. Jesus Christ, please, never again. Jazz morphs into elevator music by the end. Not for me.
Did not pay too much attention, used as background music. Should listen again for its own sake.
A bit smooth for my taste. I have a live Crusaders album, which has a little bit more bite, but I find their jazz funk a little too polished. The title track is terrific, but the album just washes over me, making little impact.
I would rather not listen to somebody pretend to be Kenny G. I don't understand the appeal, but clearly somebody likes this shit. Best track: My Lady
A banger of an opening track with a robustness that supports its runtime! I've heard it a million times in films. So this is where it's from... huh.
Tails off pretty badly after the title track.
Great voice and I love the title track, but the rest of the album sounds like 80s American sitcom theme tunes.
Not for me.
started out okay, but got repetitive and less interesting over the course of an album. I like tastes of Jazz, not a full album. That's me.
This is one of those albums on this list that makes me think ..."Really?..., I have to hear THIS album ". Sounds like some generic smooth jazz ... the kind that Starbucks used to sell, the kind that give jazz a bad name. 2 🌟
This album sounds familiar. I think I may have inadvertently heard to it while on hold on the phone or in a lift.
I liked it at the time, but now it sounds pretty dated and somewhat boring.
Nice, but maybe a little bland.
Street life My Lady 6 titres, simple, good vibe, ils ont l'air sympas en plus
I don't have much great to say about this one - I really wanted to like this a lot more than I do. Jazz with potentially a funk flavour (based on the wiki entry) from the 70s sounded like it would be fantastic but I don't get any bit of funk in this. It's smooth - wayyy too smooth - and not being a fan of vocal jazz the first song was a rough start for me. On the positive note, this band could play - that much is obvious - some outstanding individual musicianship is evident (notably in "Rodeo Drive") but my problem is that the songs aren't that memorable or interesting either. Even in Rodeo Drive it just sounds ... dated. I expect to hear this in the background of an old Dudley Moore movie. Not that that would be a bad thing in context :P - it's just kinda meh to listen to on its own. I've heard their earlier album "The 2nd Crusade" (1973) which hit me deeper - on this one I expected as much or more but it isn't anything that sticks with me at all. 4/10 2 stars.
Randy Crawfords vocals on this are great, obviously the pinnacle of the Crusaders pop /Jazz-Funk career. A few good tunes on this but "Street Life" is the standout track for me. Good but wouldn't be on my list!
2.8 - The first track “Street Life” sounds cool but the rest is glorified Muzak.
Starts strong with Street Life, kind of lost interest after that.
They all sound like really good musicians, but for me this alb just doesn't hit the mark. If this list was for inoffensive background music to play at dinner parties whilst drinking over priced champagne and running off to the bathroom to do bumps of coke then I would give it 5 stars. But it's not and nothing about this ablum screams essential listening.
While, I don't actually hate this, it just seems totally soul less. nothing there, sexy saxophone.
I know the song Street Life. The rest is just nice funky jazz. No problems with it at all. I look forward to hearing more of it. First Listen. 2/5
Everything takes too long
too smooth for me
instrumental is not always my thing...
Nothing mind-blowing. Imagine if Steely Dan would be paid by the Hilton, which needed some downtempo jazzy beats for their elevators .... and this is what you get. However, one can not deny the absolute banger that is Street life, though I strongly prefer the radio edit.
Not sure how much I enjoy this kind of thing. Quite nood-ly and mostly instrumental.
Definitely not my type of music. Very jazzy.
Street life is a banger. Rest of the album isn't my cup of tea. Not a big jazz fan
Jazzy
Det er hyggelig baggrundsmusik men ikke mere end det.
very funky, but not my thing
Questo è uno dei dischi più laidi e ammiccanti che io abbia mai sentito e per questo mi è stato anche simpatico. Street Life mi ha divertito ed anche alcuni momenti un pò da sitcom anni 80 però il resto è veramente troppo.
It’s fine. It’s quite nice. I get the “it’s elevator music” argument but I had this on while working and didn’t feel this need to turn it off, I even enjoyed it a little - so I guess that makes it good elevator music. Won’t seek it out again though.
If it had all been like street life it would have been a decent score.
Like the title track but all other tracks were very similar without any vocals to spark any interest.
Jazz pop setentero, completamente instrumental a excepción del primer tema. Nones de mi estilo pero es bastante escuchable.
Production: 9/20 Songwriting: 6/20 Innovation: 6/20 Bangers: 5/20 Emotional response: 6/20 =32
A lot of saxophone. Nice enough, but descended slightly into elevator music. A bit one paced.
Street life is great! The rest totally forgettable background music
Jest to moje piersze spotkanie z zyciem ulicy granym przez krzyzowcow, nazwa plyty oraz jej okladka wskazuja na czarne granie i tak jest w rzeczy samej, granie jazzowo soulowe, z bardzo wyraznymi elementami wspolczesnego jazzu, ktory jak dla mnie cechuje sie tym, ze jest wyjatkowo gladki, w niektorych wypadkach do tego stopnia ze zapetlowe czesci trackow moglyby robic za muzyke windowa, a ostatni podgatunek jaki jestem tu w stanie wychwycic, to rytmy disko i charakterystyczne temu wycie trab, bardzo robi to klimat filmow z lat 80/90 o tematyce kryminalnej, doslownie odpalaja sie sceny barowych przesluchan lamanych przez poscigow przy takich kawalkach jak the hustler, ale trakiem ktory najbardziej robi dla mnie te plyte jest tytulowy street life, jedyny kawalek z wokalem, ktory i tak nie jest wymieniony w creditsach, co jest dosc dziwne, od Randy Crawford, bo naprawde nadaja one materialowi charakteru ulicznego zycia, wlasnie ten kawalek laduje u mnie na plejce, gdyby nie on to czulbym sie, ze nie uslyszalem nic godne uwagi w tym posiedzeniu, bo jazz grany tak gladko jest dla mnie czyms nienaturalnym i jest poniekad przeklamaniem gatunku
Definitely reschedules a street rift between gangs with its cruisy vibe.
6 canciones y 39 minutos de disco. Me está sorprendiendo la duración que tenían antes los discos y como fueron llenándose cada vez más hasta la época del CD. Más o menos me gusta el Jazz pero este disco me ha parecido un poco rollo. Lo mismo fue interesante en su época pero ahora me parece prescindible.