Tower of Power (album)

Tower of Power is the third album release for the Oakland-based band, Tower of Power. This is their most successful album to date, which was released in May 1973.

For the 1969 Dexter Gordon album, see The Tower of Power!
Tower of Power
Studio album by
Tower of Power
ReleasedMay 1973[1]
Recorded1973
GenreSoul, funk, jazz-funk
Length39:56
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerTower of Power
Tower of Power chronology
Bump City
(1972)		 Tower of Power
(1973)		 Back to Oakland
(1974)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [2]
Christgau's Record GuideB[3]

The album peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Top LPs chart in 1973 and received a gold record award for sales in excess of 500,000. The album spawned their most successful single, "So Very Hard to Go". The single peaked at No. 17 during the week of July 28, 1973 on the Billboard Hot 100. Two other singles from the album also charted on the Billboard Hot 100: "This Time It's Real" and "What Is Hip?". It marked the debut of Lenny Williams being the lead vocalist (though Williams had a solo career prior to joining T.O.P., plus he co-penned the song "You Strike My Main Nerve" from the previous album Bump City). Tower of Power was also the first Tower of Power album to feature future Saturday Night Live band leader Lenny Pickett, who was the youngest member of the band at the time, replacing original lead sax player Skip Mesquite. Also joining the lineup were organist/keyboardist Chester Thompson and guitarist Bruce Conte, who replaced original guitarist Willie James Fulton.

Track listing

All songs written by Emilio Castillo and Stephen "Doc" Kupka except when noted.

  1. "What Is Hip?" (Castillo, Kupka, David Garibaldi) - 5:08
  2. "Clever Girl" (Castillo, Kupka, Fulton) - 2:56
  3. "This Time It's Real" (David Bartlett, Castillo, Kupka) - 2:54
  4. "Will I Ever Find a Love?" – 3:51
  5. "Get Yo' Feet Back on the Ground" (Willie Fulton) - 4:52
  6. "So Very Hard to Go" – 3:41
  7. "Soul Vaccination" – 5:13
  8. "Both Sorry Over Nothin'" (Castillo, Kupka, Lenny Williams) - 3:25
  9. "Clean Slate" (Castillo, Kupka, Fulton) - 3:22
  10. "Just Another Day" (Bruce Conte) - 4:34

Personnel
  • Greg Adams – trumpet, flugelhorn, backing vocals
  • Brent Byars – bongos, conga
  • Emilio Castillo – tenor saxophone, backing vocals
  • Bruce Conte – guitar, backing vocals
  • David Garibaldi – drums
  • Mic Gillette – trombone, trumpet, flugelhorn, baritone, backing vocals
  • Stephen "Doc" Kupka – oboe, baritone saxophone, backing vocals
  • Lenny Pickett – clarinet, flute, tenor saxophone, backing vocals
  • Francis "Rocco" Prestia – bass guitar
  • Chester Thompson – organ, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Jay Spell – acoustic piano
  • Bruce Steinberg – harmonica
  • Lenny Williams – lead vocals
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References
  1. "Tower of Power (Advertisement)". Billboard. Billboard Publications, Inc.: 1, 52 May 26, 1973.
  2. Ron Wynn. "Tower of Power - Tower of Power - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  3. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: T". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 16, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
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