Altchuler and the Barnett brothers were raised in liberal Jewish families. The Crusaders were "one of the first on the scene with a “contemporary musical expression: The Beat”". "Little Drummer Boy"/ "Battle Hymn of the Republic" (1966) The Crusaders' debut release was a single produced by the newly created No.1 Productions of veteran arranger-conductor Hank Levine, who was previously the A&R director for Colpix Records, who had produced songs for The Monkees' Davy Jones, and psychedelic hard rock band The Other Half, and record producer Larry Goldberg, who had previously been Western sales manager at Hanna-Barbera Records, featuring "The Little Drummer Boy" backed with "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" (Tower 286), that was released in early November 1966. A reviewer for Billboard magazine described the single as: "A new concept of the holiday material features a solid rock dance beat with a straight well done vocal. A controversial conversation piece that should prove a sales giant". The Crusaders Make a Joyful Noise with Drums and Guitar (1966) Their debut album The Crusaders Make a Joyful Noise with Drums and Guitar, which was also recorded in 1966, and produced by Levine and Goldberg, was released by the middle of November 1966. The album's liner notes claim: "For the first time, God is praised in song through the most contemporary musical expression: The Beat!". Jesus music historian David Di Sabatino indicates that "this album is important in establishing that there were a handful of artists performing 'gospel rock' music well before Larry Norman or any other of the Jesus music artists emerged in the early 1970s". Kelly Lawler argues that "One of the very first releases that could clearly be considered a Christian Rock release, the Crusaders' Make a Joyful Noise with Drums and Guitars, stands as a landmark LP". Lawler describes the album: "By today's standards, the band really sounds quite subdued. Heavy emphasis on group harmony, and a reliance on Christian standards ... keep the LP from being heralded as an all-out Garage assault. However, they do whip up a snazzy rendition of "Little Drummer Boy" - no kidding. The rest of the material was apparently penned by the band with the exception of the Rodgers-Hammerstein composition, "You'll Never Walk Alone." With the just the right amount of fuzz-tinged guitar and bass, coupled with enticing organ, the band's Garage roots remain firmly planted, yet not quite the "rocking, muscular,