The Crusaders became a part-time group after the early '80s and by 1986 drummer
Stix Hooper had departed. This final set by what was left of the group finds the two original members (keyboardist
Joe Sample and saxophonist
Wilton Felder) sharing the spotlight with bassist-producer
Marcus Miller and an oversized rhythm section. The funky music (which includes originals by
Sample and
Miller in addition to "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" and a
Stevie Wonder piece) is pleasant but not too memorable. Considering the upcoming infighting that found
Felder and the group's former trombonist
Wayne Henderson forming a "New Crusade" over
Sample's objections, the title of this CD is rather ironic. ~ Scott Yanow