"…Way Back Home…"
Nearly ten years after their
formation in 1961 - Jazz Funk maestros THE CRUSADERS were still holding on to
the word 'JAZZ' in their band title when they went seriously funky for their
new decade debut LP on Chisa Records - the quirkily titled "Old Socks, New
Shoes...New Socks, Old Shoes" (Chisa CS 804, July 1970).
Both "Old Socks, New
Shoes…" and their rare 2nd album follow-up "Pass The Plate"
(Chisa Records CS 807, May 1971) are available as part of Universal's
'Originals' Series of CD Reissues. And that's where this cheap but
oh-so-cheerful Reissue/Remaster comes partying in.
As already noted "Old
Socks, New Shoes..." is part of Universal’s 'Originals' Reissue Series of
CDs - Soul, Funk, Fusion, Latin and Jazz albums culled from Universal's huge
array of labels stretching back to the Fifties. Each comes in a foldout card
digipak that apes the original LP artwork and all are pitched at mid price. Many
titles are first-time-on-CD and all are remastered from original source tapes
by Top Universal engineers - names that audio collectors will know like Kevin
Reeves, Gary Moore, Suha Gur, Gavin Lurssen, Ellen Fitton and Erick Labson.
Here are the varying shoes sizes…
UK released July 2008 (April 2008 in the USA) -
"Old Socks, New Shoes...New Socks, Old Shoes" by THE JAZZ CRUSADERS
on Universal/Verve/Chisa 0602517654365 (Barcode 602517654365) is a
straightforward 10-track transfer of the album (42:16 minutes).
1. Thank You
2. Funny Shuffle
3. Why Do You Laugh At Me?
4. Jackson!
5. Rainy Night in Georgia
6. Golden Slumbers [Side 2]
7. Jazz!
8. Time Has No Ending
9. Hard Times
10. Way Back Home
Tracks 1 to 4 and 8 written
by Wayne Henderson, Track 5 is a Tony Joe White cover version, Track 6 is a
Beatles cover version, Track 7 written by Joe Sample, Track 9 is a Paul
Mitchell cover version and Track 10 written by Wilton Felder.
Produced by STEWART LEVINE -
"Old Socks, New Shoes...New Socks, Old Shoes" was released July 1970
in the USA on Chisa Records CS 804 and October 1971 in the UK on Rare Earth
Records SRE 3001(it was the first LP released on the Rare Earth Records label
in the UK).
THE JAZZ CRUSADERS was:
JOE SAMPLE - Keyboards
WILTON FELDER - Saxophones
WAYNE HENDERSON - Trombones
NESBERT "STIX"
HOOPER - Drums & Percussion
Guests:
ARTHUR ADAMS – Guitar
FREDDIE ROBINSON – Guitar
Originally produced by
STEWART LEVINE to great effect - this 2008 CD reissue is a straightforward copy
of that album (gatefold sleeve and all). Experienced and long-standing Engineer
KEVIN REEVES has carried out the Remaster at Universal Mastering Studios and
the sound quality is fabulous - funky, clear and muscular - just what's needed.
The tri-gatefold card digipak (with an 'Originals' logo on the left) reproduces
the original foldout artwork of the vinyl LP (the boys laughing at a table) -
but there's nothing by way of liner notes or history, which is a damn shame
(the same for most of these 'Originals' reissues I'm afraid – no booklets at
this price).
Side 1 opens strongly with
four in a row from Trombone genius Wayne Henderson - "Thank You" as
Funky as anything the JB's could drum up - a stunning groove Chisa should have
used as a lead-off 45. Instead they went for the combo of "Way Back
Home" b/w "Jackson!" on Chisa C 8010 in September 1970 but it
sank without a trace despite the strength of both sides. No other sevens came
off the LP – but despite that – the public was digging the band’s new cooler
direction and rewarded the LP with a No. 12 position on the US R&B charts
with an overall stay of an impressive 31 weeks.
The opening drums and bass
combo of "Funny Shuffle" is incredibly clear and punchy - a fab
little Jazz Funk bopper that would liven up any hipster's Saturday Night party.
The Tony Joe White and Beatles melodies of "Rainy Night in Georgia"
and Abbey Road's "Golden Slumbers" are pretty and you can understand
why any serious musician would be drawn to them like a moth to a warm flame -
but oddly The Crusaders versions are borderline cheesy for me and a mistake I
think. Joe sample's "Jazz!" is the wildest track on here - even
sporting a mini drum solo - but again - it's kind of indulgent. Wayne
Henderson's gorgeous ballad "Time Has No Ending" is a highlight here
while the Paul Mitchell "Hard Times" cover jaunts along nicely too.
Far better though is the superb closer - Wilton Felder's "Way Back
Home" - a brothers-are-struttin' down the street cool groove that slinks
along like Mister Cool in his wide-brimmed hat thinking he owns the joint (and
he probably does).
"Old Socks, New
Shoes..." is typical of so many of The Crusaders Seventies LPs - funky
Jazz-Soul with a wee bit of fusion thrown in and to this day the music is still
cool, wonderfully slick and just so damn listenable. It's not all genius - but
those ill-advised covers aside - this is a cracking but long-forgotten
Jazz-Funk album I urge you to check out.
The Crusaders man - I never
tire of them...
PS: I've also reviewed the
following Crusaders CD reissues...
1. Pass The Plate (1971 LP)
2. Free As The Wind (1977 LP)
3. Images (1978 LP)
4. Street Life (1979 LP,
Japanese SHM-CD)
5. Gold (2CD Anthology with
superb Gavin Lurssen Remasters)
6. Rainbow Seeker by JOE
SAMPLE (Solo LP on Japanese SHM-CD)
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