1972 · Album
We Got a Good Thing Going
Recorded 1972 · Kudu · Produced by Creed Taylor
Crawford Finds His Groove on Kudu
By his second Kudu outing, Crawford had stopped trying to prove anything and started playing what felt good.
Hank Crawford was already a seasoned veteran by the time he recorded We Got a Good Thing Going. This is his thirteenth album as a leader, but it marks a genuine shift in how he presents himself. On his first Kudu session, Crawford was still partly the hard-bop saxophonist, pulling from a deep well of Blue Note habits. Here, he leans harder into soul-jazz territory — funkier, more grounded, less concerned with showing off technique for its own sake.
The album sits comfortably between Crawford's earlier work and where soul-jazz was heading in the early seventies. There's a looseness to the playing that suggests the band knows exactly what it wants to do and isn't second-guessing itself. The rhythm section locks in tight, and Crawford's saxophone sits in the pocket rather than soaring above it. This is Crawford doing what he does best — swinging hard without needing to fill every space, letting the groove breathe.
It's neither his peak nor a departure so radical it demands reassessment of his entire career. But it's a clear statement that he'd found a label and a sound where he belonged. For listeners coming to Crawford for the first time, start with this or his earlier Blue Note work depending on whether you want soul-jazz or straight-ahead hard bop. For those already familiar with his sound, this is a natural entry point into his Kudu years.
Who's playing
Gordon Edwardselectric bass guitar
Ron Carterelectric bass guitar
Richard Teeelectric piano
George Bensonelectric guitar
Hank Crawfordalto saxophone
Bernard “Pretty” Purdiedrums
Art Jenkinscongas
Al Brownviola
Harold Colettaviola
Max Ellenviolin
Paul Gershmanviolin
Emanuel Greenviolin
Ted Israelviola
Harold Kohonviolin
Phil Krausbell
Harry Lookofskyviolin
Joe Malinviolin
Charles McCrackencello
David Nadienviolin
George Riccicello
Elliot Rosoffviolin
Margaret Rossharp
Irving Spiceviolin
Where next?
More by Hank Crawford
All 27 albums →
The musicians on this record
In Flight 1977
George Benson
plays electric guitar here
plays electric guitar here
Uptown Conversation 1969
Ron Carter
plays electric bass guitar here
plays electric bass guitar here
