Street Life (1979)

Street Life is a studio album by the American jazz band the Crusaders. It was a top 20 album on three Billboard charts and represents the peak of the band's commercial popularity. The title track, featuring singer Randy Crawford, was a Top 40 pop single (No. 36) and became the group's most successful entry on the soul chart (No. 17). It was No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart. "Street Life" also hit the disco chart, peaking at No. 75, and was re-recorded by Doc Severinsen with Crawford reprising her vocal for the opening sequence of the noir crime drama Sharky's Machine, directed by Burt Reynolds in 1981. This faster-paced version was also featured in Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown, released in 1997.

The cover photograph was taken at 409 N Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, California.

Critical reception

The Bay State Banner noted that "Crawford's voice has passion and intensity, unlike the meanderings heard on her albums."

The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Personnel

The Crusaders

Wilton Felder – tenor saxophone (1–4), electric bass (1, 2, 5), alto saxophone (5, 6)

• Joe Sample – keyboards, horn and string arrangements
• Stix Hooper – drums, percussion
• Additional musicians and vocalists

Randy Crawford – vocals (1)

Louis Aldebert – vocals (2)

Monique Aldebert – vocals (2)

Arthur Adams – guitars (1, 4)

Roland Bautista – guitars (1, 4)

Billy Rogers – guitars (1)

Barry Finnerty – guitars (2–5)

Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars (2, 5)

David T. Walker – guitars (4)

Alphonso Johnson – bass (3, 6)

James Jamerson Jr. – bass (4)

Paulinho da Costa – percussion (1–5)

Jerome Richardson – alto saxophone (1)

William Green – baritone saxophone (1)

Robert Bryant Jr. – tenor saxophone (1)

Maurice Spears – bass trombone (1, 3)

Garnett Brown – tenor trombone (1, 3)

Oscar Brashear – trumpet (1, 3)

Bobby Bryant Sr. – trumpet (1)

• Benjamin Barrett – orchestra manager for strings
• Production
• Wilton Felder – producer
• Joe Sample – producer
• Stix Hooper – producer
• Rik Pekkonen – engineer, mixing

Bernie Grundman – mastering at A&M Studios (Hollywood, California)

• Tom Hooper – executive assistant
• Pamela Hope Lobue – production coordinator
• Stuart Kusher – art direction
• Jayme Odgers – design, photography