Street Life (The Crusaders song)

The inspiration from the song came from the beginner's ski slope at Mammoth Mountain in California. Joe Sample said he "'saw people falling, running into each other... it was absolute chaos. It looked like a boulevard of madness.' And I said, 'That's what street life is.'"[4] Sample teamed up with lyricist Will Jennings, who said that "the lyric, all that came right off of Hollywood Boulevard".[5]

Sample first met Crawford when he played on her debut album Everything Must Change in 1976.[4] After having good reviews about her song, but not being commercially successful, Crawford was then asked by Sample to sing the vocals for the song. As a result of this, the Crusaders produced her fourth album Now We May Begin, which became very successful.[6]

Jazz reviewer Scott Yanow wrote "Although the Crusaders could not have known it at the time, their recording of 'Street Life'... was a last hurrah for the 20-year old group. Their recordings of the next few years would decline in interest until the band gradually faded away in the ’80s." Whereas, for Crawford, this song brought her recognition and effectively marked the beginning of her career.[1]

7"

1. "Street Life" – 3:58
2. "The Hustler" – 3:50

12"

1. "Street Life" (Special Full Length US Disco Mix) – 7:50
2. "The Hustler" – 5:25

12" US promo

1. "Street Life" – 6:02
2. "Street Life" – 6:02

• Crawford re-recorded the song for the 1981 film Sharky's Machine which was also included on the soundtrack.[16]
• Crawford's re-recorded version also featured in the 1997 film Jackie Brown.[16]
• In 2009, Crawford's re-recorded version featured in the film Fighting.[17]
• The song is featured in the 2013 video game Grand Theft Auto V.
• In 2018, the song featured in the episode "Quite a Ride" of the television series Better Call Saul.[18]

• In 1979, trumpeter Herb Alpert released a cover of the song from his album Rise. It peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, number 41 on the Adult Contemporary chart, number 64 on the Hot Soul Singles chart and number 9 on the Canadian Adult Oriented Playlist chart.[19]
• In 1982, the Crusaders released a version of the song featuring B.B. King and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The single was a shortened version from the live album Royal Jam. It was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1982.[20]
• In 1990, the song was sampled in "Postin' High" by Masta Ace, for his album Take a Look Around.
• In 1993, gangsta rap group Geto Boys sampled the song in "Street Life" for their album Till Death Do Us Part.
• In 1994, the song was sampled in "Forget I Was a G" by R&B duo Whitehead Bros. for their album Serious.
• In 1996, the song was sampled in "Street Life" by rapper Skull Duggery featuring Aynne "Ya Ya" Williams for his album Hoodlum fo' Life.
• In 1997, American actor and singer Rahsaan Patterson covered the song for the film Hoodlum.[21]
• In 1997, Swedish rapper Swingfly sampled the song in "Street Life", which reached number 46 on the Swedish charts.[22]
• In 1997, rapper Mic Geronimo sampled the song in "Street Life" featuring Monifah, from the album Vendetta.
• In 1998, the song was sampled in "Beautiful" by Mary J. Blige for the soundtrack album How Stella Got Her Groove Back. The song peaked at number 72 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[23]
• In 1998, Japanese singer Keiko Lee covered the song for her fourth album If It's Love.
• In 1999, Joe Sample covered the song with American R&B singer Lalah Hathaway for their collaboration album The Song Lives On.
• In 2000, rapper Young Bleed sampled the song in "All They Lef' Me Wuz' da' Streets" featuring Jennifer Brumfield for the album My Own.
• In 2008, American guitarist David T. Walker covered the song for his album Thoughts.
• In 2011, the song was sampled in "Peer Pressure" by Snoop Dogg featuring Traci Nelson for his album Doggumentary.
• In 2012, Crawford, Sample, Steve Gadd and Nicklas Sample covered the song for their live album Live.
• In 2016, producer and DJ Wilkinson sampled the song in "Sweet Lies" featuring Karen Harding, for his album Hypnotic.
• In 2016, American singer Will Downing covered the song for his album Black Pearls.