Tower of Power (album)

Tower of Power is the third studio album by American soul and funk band Tower of Power. Released in May 1973 by Warner Bros. Records, the album peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Top LPs chart in 1973.

Background

Tower of Power marked the debut of Lenny Williams being the lead vocalist. 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. Some tracks for the album, such as "What is Hip" were recorded at Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco, California in 1973.

Release & Reception

Tower of Power was released in May 1973 by Warner Bros. Records. 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" which 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?".

Track listing

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

"What Is Hip?" − 5:08
"Clever Girl" − 2:56
"This Time It's Real" − 2:54
"Will I Ever Find a Love?" − 3:51
"Get Yo' Feet Back on the Ground" − 4:52
"So Very Hard to Go" − 3:41
"Soul Vaccination" − 5:13
"Both Sorry Over Nothin'" − 3:25
"Clean Slate" − 3:22
"Just Another Day" − 4:34

Personnel

Tower of Power

Lenny Williams – lead vocals
Chester Thompson – organ, backing vocals
Bruce Conte – guitars, backing vocals
Francis Rocco Prestia – bass
David Garibaldi – drums
Brent Byars – bongos, congas
Stephen "Doc" Kupka – baritone saxophone, oboe, backing vocals
Lenny Pickett – clarinet, flute, first tenor saxophone, backing vocals
Emilio Castillo – second tenor saxophone, backing vocals
Mic Gillette – trombone, trumpet, flugelhorn, baritone horn, backing vocals
Greg Adams – trumpet, flugelhorn, string arrangements and conductor, backing vocals

Additional musicians

Jay Spell – acoustic piano
Bruce Steinberg – harmonica

Production

Tower of Power – producers
Emilio Castillo – supervising producer
Jim Gaines – recording, mixing
Alan Chinowsky – mix assistant
Bruce Steinberg – design, illustration, photography