Urban Renewal, Tower of Power, Music CD

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Urban Renewal


1	Only So Much Oil In The Ground 3:46
2	Come Back, Baby 3:21
3	It's Not the Crime 1:45
4	I Won't Leave Unless You Want Me To 3:28
5	Maybe It'll Rub Off 3:15
6	(To Say The Least) You're The Most 2:28
7	Willing to Learn 4:35
8	Give Me The Proof 2:35
9	It Can Never Be The Same 4:43
10	I Believe In Myself 2:00
11	Walkin' Up Hip Street 5:50

Biography

Editorial Reviews

Tower of Power was very much in its prime in 1974, when the Bay Area outfit tore up the soul charts with the outstanding Urban Renewal. Lenny Williams, a passionate, wailing, gospel-influenced dynamo of a singer, had joined Tower the previous year, and he worked out remarkably well; whether digging into tough funk or romantic ballads, Williams is in top form. Funk doesn't get much more invigorating than horn-driven gems like "Maybe It'll Rub Off," "Give Me the Proof" and "Only So Much Oil in the Ground" (a commentary on the mid-'70s energy crisis), and soul ballads don't get much richer than "Willing to Learn" and "I Won't Leave Unless You Want Me To." Tower (an influence on everyone from L.T.D. to the Average White Band) recorded a number of essential albums in the '70s, and Urban Renewal is at the top of the list. Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

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Urban Renewal


1	Only So Much Oil In The Ground 3:46
2	Come Back, Baby 3:21
3	It's Not the Crime 1:45
4	I Won't Leave Unless You Want Me To 3:28
5	Maybe It'll Rub Off 3:15
6	(To Say The Least) You're The Most 2:28
7	Willing to Learn 4:35
8	Give Me The Proof 2:35
9	It Can Never Be The Same 4:43
10	I Believe In Myself 2:00
11	Walkin' Up Hip Street 5:50

All Music Guide

Tower of Power was very much in its prime in 1974, when the Bay Area outfit tore up the soul charts with the outstanding Urban Renewal. Lenny Williams, a passionate, wailing, gospel-influenced dynamo of a singer, had joined Tower the previous year, and he worked out remarkably well; whether digging into tough funk or romantic ballads, Williams is in top form. Funk doesn't get much more invigorating than horn-driven gems like "Maybe It'll Rub Off," "Give Me the Proof" and "Only So Much Oil in the Ground" (a commentary on the mid-'70s energy crisis), and soul ballads don't get much richer than "Willing to Learn" and "I Won't Leave Unless You Want Me To." Tower (an influence on everyone from L.T.D. to the Average White Band) recorded a number of essential albums in the '70s, and Urban Renewal is at the top of the list. Alex Henderson

Product Details

Format: CD
Original Release: 1975
Release Date: 09/14/1993
Label: WARNER BROS / WEA
Catalog No.: 2834
UPC: 075992634922
Sales Rank: 75,121

Album Credits
Performance Credits
Tower of Power		Primary Artist, Primary Artist
Lenny Williams		Vocals
Chester Thompson		Organ, Synthesizer, Piano, Vocals, Background Vocals, Clavinet, bass pedals
Marilyn Scott		Background Vocals
Bootche Anderson		Background Vocals
David Bartlett		Drums, Vocals
Emilio Castillo		Tenor Saxophone, Vocals, Background Vocals
Carter Collins		Conga
Bruce Conte		Guitar, Vocals, Background Vocals
David Garibaldi		Drums
Mic Gillette		Trombone, Trumpet, Vocals, Background Vocals
Lenny Pickett		Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Alto Flute, Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone
Francis "Rocco" Prestia		Bass
Gerald Vinci		Concert Master
Pepper Watkins		Background Vocals
Stephen Kupka		Baritone Saxophone
Greg Adams		Trumpet, Conductor, Flugelhorn

Technical Credits
Tower of Power		Producer
Chester Thompson		Arranger
Emilio Castillo		Producer
Alan Chinowsky		Engineer
Tom Flye		Engineer
Bruce Steinberg		Art Direction, Cover Design
Greg Adams		Arranger, String Arrangements