Tower Of Power

Tower Of Power - Back To Oakland - 1974 - Warner Bros

Not regarded as one of Tower of Power's better albums, but it contains plenty of funky syncophated rhythms, some great instrumentals, and brilliant horn arangements.Check out their brilliant instrumental, Squib Cakes. One of the best R&B/Soul albums of the seventies. Also check out the Average White Band, and Blood Sweat & Tears.

TRACKS

A1 Oakland Stroke... (0:53) - Written By David Garibaldi , Emilio Castillo , Stephen Kupka
A2 Don't Change Horses (In The Middle Of A Stream) (4:28) - Written By .J. Watson , Lenny Williams. Arranged By Tower Of Power. Backing Vocals Marilyn Scott , Pepper Watkins
A3 Just When We Start Makin' It (6:30) - Written By Emilio Castillo , Lenny Williams , Stephen Kupka. Arranged By Greg Adams. Backing Vocals Marilyn Scott , Pepper Watkins. Conductor [Strings] Greg Adams
A4 Can't You See (You Doin' Me Wrong) (3:00) - Written By Emilio Castillo , Lenny Williams , Stephen Kupka. Arranged By Greg Adams , Tower Of Power. Backing Vocals Marilyn Scott , Pepper Watkins
A5 Squib Cakes (7:49) - Written By Chester Thompson . Arranged By Chester Thompson.
B1 Time Will Tell (3:11) - Written By Emilio Castillo , Stephen Kupka. Arranged By Greg Adams. Backing Vocals Alice Thompson , Marilyn Scott. Trombone Kell Houston , Ray Gillette.
B2 Man From The Past (4:00) - Written By Emilio Castillo , Lenny Williams , Stephen Kupka. Arranged By Tower Of Power. Conductor [Strings] Greg Adams
B3 Love's Been Gone So Long (4:47 ) - Written By Bruce Conte. Arranged By Greg Adams. Conductor [Strings] Greg Adams
B4 I Got The Chop (2:59) - Written By Emilio Castillo , Stephen Kupka. Arranged By Tower Of Power
B5 Below Us, All The City Lights (4:20) - Written By Emilio Castillo , Stephen Kupka. Arranged By Greg Adams. Conductor [Strings] Harry Betts. Flute, Flute [Alto], Saxophone [Alto], Piccolo Flute Bud Shank. French Horn David Duke , Richard Perissi , Vincent DeRosa. Trombone - Frank Rosolino , Tom Shepard .
B6 ...Oakland Stroke (1:08) - Written By David Garibaldi , Emilio Castillo , Stephen Kupka.

CREDITS

Richard Perissi French Horn
Lenny Pickett Flute, Flute (Alto), Piccolo, Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor), Sax (Bass), Sax (Baritone), Sax (Alto)
Francis Prestia Bass
Frank Rosolino Trombone
Tommy Shepard Trombone
Bruce Steinberg Art Direction, Cover Design, Photography
Chester Thompson Organ, Synthesizer, Vocals (Background), Clavinet, Piano
Pepper Watkins Vocals (Background)
Vincent DeRosa French Horn
Ray Guilette Trombone
Kell Houston Trombone
Stephen Kupka Horn (English), Vocals (Background), Sax (Baritone)
Greg Adams Strings, Trumpet, Conductor, Flugelhorn, Vocals (Background), Bells, Arranger
Thomas Shepard Trombone
Alice Thompson Vocals (Background)
Ali Thompson Vocals
Marilyn Scott Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Harry Betts Conductor
Brent Byars Conga
Emilio Castillo Sax (Tenor), Vocals (Background)
Bruce Conte Guitar, Vocals (Background)
David Duke French Horn
Jim Gaines Engineer
David Garibaldi Drums
Mic Gillette Trombone, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, Trombone (Bass), Vocals (Background)
Stephen "Doc" Kupka Horn (English), Sax (Baritone), Vocals (Background)
Tower of Power Producer, Main Performer
Lenny Williams Vocals
Bud Shank Flute, Sax (Alto), Piccolo, Flute (Alto)

REVIEWS

Tower of Power followed their self-titled gold album with an even better album that didn't enjoy similar sales success. Back to Oakland had tougher, funkier and better-produced cuts, stronger vocals from Lenny Williams (who was more comfortable as their lead singer), and included an excellent ballad in "Time Will Tell," and a rousing tempo in "Don't Change Horses (In the Middle of a Stream)." The Tower of Power horn section reaffirmed its reputation in both soul and pop circles, and the album included a powerhouse instrumental. © Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
Paying tribute to their hometown, Tower Of Power's BACK TO OAKLAND is a landmark in the group's history. Sporting the syncopated instrumental "Oakland Stroke" that bookends the disc, this set is the very definition of the Tower Of Power sound and style, powered by both the ultra-funky rhythm section and the world-renowned Tower Of Power horns. Vocalist Lenny Williams is the guiding light through R&B-flavored cuts like the bouncing "Don't Change Horses (In the Middle of the Stream)" and the dramatic ballad "Just When We Start Makin' It." It's the signature instrumental "Squib Cakes," however, that opens the floodgates to all the funky power that the band can muster; it's the group's premiere showcase, with hearty contributions from keyboardist Chester Thompson, drummer David Garibaldi, and the entire stellar horn section. © 1996 - 2007 CD Universe

ABOUT THE GROUP

In the mid-1960s, 17-year-old tenor saxophonist Emilio Castillo moved from Detroit, Michigan, to Fremont, California. He started a band called The Gotham City Crime Fighters[1] which evolved into the Motowns, specializing in soul music. In 1968, Castillo teamed up with baritone saxophonist Stephen "Doc" Kupka (aka "The Funky Doctor") and trumpet/trombone player Mic Gillette, moved to Oakland, and began writing original material. They changed the band's name to Tower of Power and began playing frequently in the Bay Area.
In 1970, Tower of Power (by then including trumpeter Greg Adams) signed a recording contract with Bill Graham's San Francisco Records and quickly released its first album, East Bay Grease. They moved to Warner Bros. Records and 1972's Bump City and 1973's self-titled release were breakout albums for the band; the latter included possibly their most enduring song, What is Hip?. On some of their releases in mid-1970s, such as Urban Renewal (1974), the band moved towards funk, but always continued recording ballads as well. After vocalist Lenny Williams left, the band's days of commercial success were over. In late 1970s they moved towards disco sounds.
Tower of Power has remained active throughout the years, and is still touring. Personnel changes have been part of the history and evolution of the band; at least 60 musicians have performed, toured, and/or recorded with the band through the years, including Saturday Night Live musical director Lenny Pickett, drummer David Garibaldi, trumpet Rick Waychesko, bassist Rocco Prestia, saxophonist Richard Elliot, and bassist and BALCO founder Victor Conte whose cousin Bruce Conte played guitar in the band as well (Bruce Conte has recently rejoined). After leaving the band, one of their original vocalists, Rick Stevens, was sentenced to life in prison on three counts of first-degree murder. The other original vocalist, Rufus Miller, performed most of the lead vocals on "East Bay Grease."
Tower of Power has released 18 albums over the years (Compilations and regional variations not included), the latest being 2003's return to form Oakland Zone. In addition, the horn section has become well-known as a backing unit for other artists. The TOP horn section has appeared on many artists' recordings, including Little Feat, the Monkees, Santana, Elton John, Linda Lewis, John Lee Hooker, Rod Stewart, Jefferson Starship, Heart, Huey Lewis and the News, Spyro Gyra, Lyle Lovett, Poison, Phish, and Aerosmith. The song, "So Very Hard To Go" was featured in the soundtrack of the film City of God.
Tower of Power has also made special guest appearances in the albums of other major recording solo artists. In 1993, the band was featured in Luis Miguel's album Aries, in a cover of "Attitude Dance" titled "Que Nivel de Mujer." Most recently, Tower of Power has been featured on Josh Groban's Awake album, during an instrumental break in Machine. Copyright © 2007 Answers Corporation. All rights reserved