The 100 Best Live Recordings - No. 87: Scratch

No. 87 - The Crusaders: Scratch (Blue Thumb, 1974)

Neal Preston and Suzanne Ayers

Originally formed in 1960 as The Jazz Crusaders, the Crusaders included pianist Joe Sample, tenor saxophonist Wilton Felder, drummer Stix Hooper, and trombonist Wayne Henderson, evolving from hard-bop to a more accessible funk style by the early 1970s and adding members like guitarist Larry Carlton and bassist Max Bennett by the mid-’70s. Their 1974 live album, Scratch, recorded at The Roxy Theatre, is a notable jazz-funk recording capturing the soul zeitgeist of the period.

The live recording captures the atmosphere of the Roxy Theatre shortly after its opening in 1973. This West Hollywood venue was famous for hosting legendary live recordings, including: Neil Young’s Roxy: Tonight’s the Night Live (Reprise, 1973/2018), Frank Zappa and the Mothers’ Roxy & Elsewhere (DiscReet, 1974), and Bob Marley and the Wailers’ Live At The Roxy Theatre 1975 (Tough Gong/Island, 1976/2003).

The album features only five tracks, but their length and the band’s artistry make each one impactful. The title song kicks off the release with the gangly funk that would soon occupy the band. Trombonist Wayne Henderson wrote “Scratch,” and it charted at #81 on the U.S. as a single edit. The lengthy “Eleanor Rigby” gave the band the vehicle to put their signature spin on this Beatles cover.

“Hard Times”emerged as the emotional center of the album, featuring a powerful and masterfully technical saxophone solo by Wilton Felder. Written by P.F. Mitchell, it exemplifies the band’s soulful, funky sound with a huge shot of R&B. Carole King’s “So Far Away” is the most pop-oriented on the recording. The recital closes with the Crusader’s original “Way Back Home,” which shares its R&B and gospel roots with “Hard Times.”

Certainly, this is not all the material recorded that night at the Roxy, and a deluxe or super deluxe edition would be a great addition to the Crusaders discography.