Urban Renewal (Tower of Power album)
| Urban Renewal | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 1975 | |||
| Recorded | 1974 | |||
| Studio | Record Plant, Sausalito, California | |||
| Genre | Funk, soul | |||
| Length | 37:46 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. Records | |||
| Producer | Emilio Castillo | |||
| Tower of Power chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   link |
| Christgau's Record Guide | B+[1] |
Urban Renewal is a Tower of Power album recorded in 1974 and released in 1975. It was the last to feature lead singer Lenny Williams, who would leave to continue a successful solo career. Drummer David Garibaldi left the band temporarily, although he does appear on the song "Willing To Learn," the first single. David Bartlett is the drummer for the rest of the album. Conga player Carter Collins replaced Brent Byars, who left after the previous album Back to Oakland.
Track listing[edit]
- "Only So Much Oil in the Ground" (Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Emilio Castillo) - 3:46
- "Come Back, Baby" (Bruce Conte, Lenny Williams) - 3:21
- "It's Not the Crime" (Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Emilio Castillo) - 1:45
- "I Won't Leave Unless You Want Me To" (Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Emilio Castillo, Greg Adams) - 3:28
- "Maybe It'll Rub Off" (Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Emilio Castillo, Chester D. Thompson) - 3:15
- "(To Say the Least) You're the Most" (Johnny "Guitar" Watson) - 2:28
- "Willing to Learn" (Emilio Castillo, Stephen "Doc" Kupka) - 4:35
- "Give Me the Proof" (David Bartlett) - 2:35
- "It Can Never Be the Same" (Bruce Conte, Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Emilio Castillo) - 4:43
- "I Believe in Myself" (Emilio Castillo, Stephen "Doc" Kupka) - 2:00
- "Walkin' Up Hip Street" (Chester D. Thompson) - 5:50
Production[edit]
- Emilio Castillo – producer
- Tower of Power – producers
- Alan Chinowsky – engineer
- Tom Flye – engineer
- Chris Morris – assistant engineer
- Kurt Kinzel – assistant engineer
- Bruce Steinberg – album design, liner photography
- Recorded and Mixed at Record Plant (Sausalito, California).
Personnel[edit]
Tower of Power
- Lenny Williams – lead vocals (1, 2, 4-10)
- Chester D. Thompson – acoustic piano, clavinet, organ, ARP synthesizer, bass pedals, backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 7, 8), arrangements (5, 11)
- Bruce Conte – guitars, backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 7, 8)
- Francis Rocco Prestia – bass guitar
- David Bartlett – drums (1-6, 8-11), backing vocals (8)
- Lenny Pickett – clarinet, bass clarinet, alto flute, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, 1st tenor saxophone, all sax solos
- Stephen "Doc" Kupka – baritone saxophone
- Emilio Castillo – 2nd tenor saxophone, backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 7, 8), lead vocals (3)
- Mic Gillette – trombone, trumpet, backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 7, 8), trumpet solo (11)
- Greg Adams – trumpet, flugelhorn, arrangements (1-4, 6-10), string arrangements and conductor
Additional musicians
- David Garibaldi – drums (7)
- Carter Collins – congas (7)
- Gerard Vinci – concertmaster
- Bootche Anderson – backing vocals (1, 2, 9, 20)
- Marilyn Scott – backing vocals (1, 2, 9, 10)
- Pepper Watkins – backing vocals (1, 2, 9, 10)
Charts[edit]
Album[edit]
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Pop Albums[2] | 22 |
| Billboard Top Soul Albums[2] | 19 |
Singles[edit]
| Year | Single | Chart positions[3] |
|---|---|---|
| US R&B | ||
| 1975 | "Willing To Learn" | 77 |
| 1975 | "Only So Much Oil In The Ground" | 85 |
External links[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: T". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 16, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ a b "Tower Of Power US albums chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2012-12-27.
- ^ "Tower Of Power US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2012-12-27.
