Soul With a Capital S: Best of Tower of Power [Original recording remastered]

Amazon.com
Although they scored in the mid-'70s with hits like the sublime "So Very Hard to Go" and the cynical funk-monster classic "What Is Hip?," Oakland, California's Tower of Power always seemed to find more respect among their musician peers than the public at large. Indeed, they spent the '80s without a record label. This collection helps fill a glaring gap in the band's history and should go a long way toward burnishing their ongoing legacy. Culled from TOP's late-'70s post-Warner releases on Sony and subsequent '90s tenure at Epic, the tracks here showcase a band whose powerhouse groove and legendary chops seldom faltered during a period beset by problems both business and personal. With the core writing team of tenor saxist/vocalist Emilio Castillo and baritone sax anchor Stephen "Doc" Kupka still turning out gems like the upbeat "Attitude Dance," the funk-fueled "So I Got to Groove," and the gospel-tinged "Ain't Nothin' Stoppin' Us Now," the band's shifting lead singers and personnel changes maintain the consistency that has helped make them a legend. If the dated "Funk the Dumb Stuff" and perhaps one ballad too many undercut the collection a bit, powerful 1998 live renditions of the two aforementioned Warner hits, along with their contemporary hit, "You're Still a Young Man," showcase TOP's still-awesome stage presence. Old school maybe; magna cum laude for sure. --Jerry McCulley

Soul With a Capital S: Best of Tower of Power,Tower of Power,Sony,Funk,Pop,Quiet Storm,R&B,Soul/R & B,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues

Average customer rating:

You Want Funk and Horns and Tightness- Check This Out
It is . . . What it is . . . .Love it or Leave it
The Legacy Continues
Tower Of Cheese?

Soul With a Capital S: Best of Tower of Power
Tower of Power
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music

Quiet Storm | R&B | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Very Best of Tower of Power: The Warner Years
T.O.P.
Rhythm & Business
Souled Out
Monster on a Leash

ASIN: B000063CNF
Release Date: 2002-03-26

Tracks:

Attitude Dance
Soul With A Capital 'S'
Souled Out
So I Got To Groove
Diggin' On James Brown
Funk The Dumb Stuff
I Love That Girl So Much
You Ought To Be Havin' Fun
And You Know It
Ain't Nothin' Stoppin' Us Now
We Came To Play
So Very Hard To Go (Live)
You're Still A Young Man (Live)
What Is Hip? (Live)

Amazon.com

Although they scored in the mid-'70s with hits like the sublime "So Very Hard to Go" and the cynical funk-monster classic "What Is Hip?," Oakland, California's Tower of Power always seemed to find more respect among their musician peers than the public at large. Indeed, they spent the '80s without a record label. This collection helps fill a glaring gap in the band's history and should go a long way toward burnishing their ongoing legacy. Culled from TOP's late-'70s post-Warner releases on Sony and subsequent '90s tenure at Epic, the tracks here showcase a band whose powerhouse groove and legendary chops seldom faltered during a period beset by problems both business and personal. With the core writing team of tenor saxist/vocalist Emilio Castillo and baritone sax anchor Stephen "Doc" Kupka still turning out gems like the upbeat "Attitude Dance," the funk-fueled "So I Got to Groove," and the gospel-tinged "Ain't Nothin' Stoppin' Us Now," the band's shifting lead singers and personnel changes maintain the consistency that has helped make them a legend. If the dated "Funk the Dumb Stuff" and perhaps one ballad too many undercut the collection a bit, powerful 1998 live renditions of the two aforementioned Warner hits, along with their contemporary hit, "You're Still a Young Man," showcase TOP's still-awesome stage presence. Old school maybe; magna cum laude for sure. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

You Want Funk and Horns and Tightness- Check This Out.......2007-02-07

Tower of Power is a national treasure. If you have none of their release's in stock, or just want to get tuned into this wonderful, tight knit band that has totally withstood the test of time, this is the TOP release to get. It's funky, live, studio, soulful and from various era's of their long standing existence.
This is a must for your soul musical library.

It is . . . What it is . . . .Love it or Leave it.......2003-06-04

Tower of Power is one of the Top "Show Bands" of our time. Even as Emilio & "The Doctor" show their grey, the energy still radiates at high levels.

For that reason, it's difficult to put this band in a studio and have the same experience that comes from one of their shows.
Missing is the sweat and gyration of the crowd, smell of stale beer, and trance that comes from "all that FUNK".

I "half listen" to most of the early cuts, and then "turn up" the live versions. This CD is worth the price, if only for the classic "What is Hip?"

Thank you Tower of Power

The Legacy Continues.......2003-02-24

The great Tower of Power continues their great soul and funk legacy with this disk. After the great "Warner" years, this album compiles some of the best songs from 1976-today. Featuring, upbeat funk such as "Diggin on James Brown", "So I've Got to Groove", "Funk the Dumb Stuff", and plenty more. Although no David Garabaldi, still great grooves, and the same great Tower sound.

Tower Of Cheese?.......2002-05-30

I bought "The Warner Years" Tower Of Power CD and loved it. Hearing "What Is Hip?" for the first time was like getting hit by a truck full'a funk. I was very disappointed when I listened to "Soul With A Capital S" because these songs are nothing like the older T.O.P. recordings. They're weak and cheesy by comparison. I felt silly listening to songs like "Funk The Dumb Stuff" because the song was so lame! Bad lyrics, boring song. The bass playing & horns are still good, but the drums are kinda standard and these songs don't get you moving like the jaw-dropping classics on the Warner CD....Obviously the later T.O.P. recordings weren't that great.