The band's key formula of Rocco Prestia's rock-solid, sixteenth-note bass lines, punchy horn charts and memorable hooks is present from the opening notes of "You Got To Funkifize," and a few other tunes are just as good (the uptempo blues "Flash In The Pan"). The good news is, Prestia's bass playing is astonishing, and the sound isn't very different from their future successes. Most of the cuts are uptempo funk workouts with group vocals - "Knock Yourself Out," a future concert favorite "Back On The Streets Again," the record's best track - but they do include some tepid slow jams (the closing, flute-led "Sparkling In The Sand," sung by Rick Stevens). On their small-label debut, the band already had plenty of instrumental verve but not much songcraft: Castillo and Kupka wrote all six tunes, but underneath the snazzy horn lines there isn't much substance, which makes the long running times excessive ("The Skunk, The Goose And The Fly"). Hard to find, and probably not worth the trouble. Mann Adams and Thornburg were replaced by Bill Churchville and Barry Danielian and McKinnon was replaced byīy 1999, Mann was replaced by Norbert Stachel ĭanielian was replaced by Jesse McGuire Grillo was replaced by Jeff Tamelier, and Was replaced by Brent Carter Pickett was replaced by David Paul Perez Poncho Sanchez added on congas. In 1993, Pickett returned Steve Grove left, replaced by Replaced by Carmen Grillo, and Nick Milo was added on McKinnon, Elliot was replaced by Steve Grove, Fulton was Replaced by Richard Elliot, and Prestia returned.īy 1991, Hall was replaced by Tom Bowes, Mestek was replaced by Russ
Thornburg Sanders was replaced by Mick Mestek, Russo was Was replaced by Ellis Hall Gillette was replaced by Lee Garibaldi left again, replaced by Mark Sanders. Left, replaced by Marc Russo, Waychesko left, Thompson left, and Hoefer, and Rick Waychesko was added on trumpet. In 1979, Garibaldi returned īruce and Victor Conte left, replaced by Danny Hoefer and Vito In 1978, Prestia left, replaced by Victor Conte McGee Replaced by Edward McGee Garibaldi left, replaced by Ronnieīeck. In 1974īyars left, replaced by Carter Collins. Sax and Chester Thompson was added on keyboards. Lenny Williams Mesquite left, replaced by Lenny Pickett, Replaced by Bruce Conte Stevens left, replaced by In 1972 Miller left, replaced by Rick Stevens, Padron left, and Willy Fulton, guitar David Garibaldi, drums. Greg Adams, Mic Gillette, David Padron, brass įrancis Rocco Prestia, bass Rufus Miller, vocals Which has a solid discography and up-to-date info on former members, though it's relentlessly mercenary.Įmilio Castillo, Steve Kupka, Skip Mesquite, sax If you're looking for web resources, you're stuck with the band's official site, I've also listed the solo projects I know about. The TOP horn section has appeared on a bunch of projects, and is perhaps best known for working with 80s cornball Huey Lewis. You could build an argument that there's nothing in the TOP catalog that James Brown hadn'tĭone better before, and even at their best they were prone to third-rate soul ballads, but when they got hold of a good riff, look out! Highpoint from 1973 to 1975, then abruptly vanishing from the charts while many other funk bands continued to thrive. After forming in the Bay Area in the late 60s, the band went through a zillion lineups, hitting a commercial and critical Jour wrote the lyrics, and trumpeter Greg Adams did most of theĪrrangements. Tunes, first sax Lenny Pickett played most of the solos, the singer du Labor: saxophonists Emilio Castillo and Steve "Doc" Kupka wrote most of the Who split songwriting and arranging credits, TOP had a clear division of Unlike competitors like War and the Ohio Players, Player with a phenomenally fast technique and the brains to use it But they also had a knack for catchy riff tunes, and a bass
TOWER OF POWER BAND MEMBERS PROFESSIONAL
Primarily for its highly professional horn Power - Monster On A Leash - Souled Out - Rhythm & Business - Soul Vaccination: Tower Of Power Live - Oakland Zone - Bumped Up To First Class - Great American SoulbookĪn integrated West Coast funk outfit, Tower Of Power became known Tower Of Power - Back To Oakland - Urban Renewal.
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