Rhapsody and Blues

Rhapsody and Blues
Studio album by
Released1980
GenreJazz
LabelColumbia
ProducerJoe Sample, Stix Hooper and Wilton Felder
The Crusaders chronology
Street Life
(1979)
Rhapsody and Blues
(1980)
Standing Tall
(1981)

Rhapsody and Blues is an album by jazz fusion group The Crusaders, produced by Stix Hooper, Joe Sample and Wilton Felder, and released in 1980 via MCA Records.[1] That album peaked at No. 2 on the US Billboard Top Jazz LPs chart.[2]

Guest performances

Guest artists on the album included Bill Withers, Sheila E. and Roland Bautista of Earth, Wind and Fire.[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]

Scott Yanow of AllMusic, in a 2/5-star review, remarked, "the group's concept was starting to sound a bit tired..(with) the group's R&Bish music sounding closer to a formula."[3]

Tracklisting

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Soul Shadows"Will Jennings, Joe Sample8:16
2."Honky Tonk Struttin'"Wilton Felder4:26
3."Elegant Evening"Stix Hooper6:03
4."Rhapsody and Blues"Joe Sample8:48
5."Last Call"Joe Sample6:40
6."Sweet Gentle Love"Joe Sample4:56

References

  1. ^ a b The Crusaders (1980). Rhapsody and Blues (album). MCA Records.
  2. ^ "Billboard Best Selling Jazz LPs" (PDF). Billboard. July 26, 1979. p. 37. Retrieved May 9, 2025 – via americanradiohistory.com.
  3. ^ a b Yanow, Scott. "The Crusaders - Rhapsody and Blues". AllMusic. Retrieved May 9, 2025.