By the time Crusaders got round to making this album in 1991, there could be no doubt that their sound was getting smoother, more radio-friendly, if you will. Stix Hooper had left by this time but the two remaining original members; keyboardist Joe Sample and saxophonist Wilton Felder were (and are) so good that they manage to carry it off with flair.
They were assisted on this album by people like Marcus Miller on bass and synth programming, William "Bubba" Bryant on drums, Lenny Castro on percussion and Steve Lukather who gave a barnstorming guitar solo on "Cause We've Ended As Lovers", my overall favourite track on the album. Other favourites include - in love order - "Running Man", "Little Things Mean A Lot" and the title track, "Healing The Wounds". The version of "Maputo" on here is cool and all but the version on the Bob James & David Sanborn album "Double Vision", is 100 times better. IMHO.
The first thing that strikes me about this album every time I play it, is how clean it sounds. Every single instrument sounds distinct and crystal clear. Props to Marcus Miller, who produced it. It's smooth or 'contemporary' jazz but the two principal members of the band play their behinds off on here and it's well worth a listen. I love it so much that it's another in the long line of albums in my collection that are making the vinyl-to-CD transaction.
Bass – Marcus Miller Drums – William "Bubba" Bryant* Grand Piano, Synthesizer – Joe Sample Guitar – Michael Landau Mastered By – Doug Sax Mixed By – Bill Schnee Percussion – Lenny Castro Programmed By [Synthesizer] – Jason Miles Saxophone – Wilton Felder
If you love the Crusaders early work, you'll love this album from 1991. Drummer Stix Hooper doesn't feature on this album. The two original members, keyboardist Joe Sample and saxophonist Wilton Felder share the spotlight with bassist-producer Marcus Miller and a large rhythm section. The Jazzy funky music includes originals by Sample and Miller in addition to "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" and a Stevie Wonder piece is pure Crusaders.