TOWER OF POWER – Urban Renewal (1975-1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

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
Tracklist  :
1 Only So Much Oil In The Ground  3:46
Written-By – Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka
2 Come Back, Baby  3:21
Written-By – Bruce Conte, Lenny Williams
3 It's Not The Crime  1:45
Written-By – Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka
4 I Won't Leave Unless You Want Me To  3:28
Written-By – Emilio Castillo, Greg Adams, Stephen Kupka
5 Maybe It'll Rub Off  3:15
Written-By – Chester Thompson, Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka
6 (To Say The Least) You're The Most  2:28
Written-By – Johnny Watson
7 Willing To Learn  4:35
Congas – Carter Collins
Drums – David Garibaldi
Written-By – Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka
8 Give Me The Proof  2:35
Written-By – David Bartlett
9 It Can Never Be The Same  4:43
Written-By – Bruce Conte, Kuptillo
10 I Believe In Myself  2:00
Written-By – Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka
11 Walkin' Up Hip Street  5:30
Soloist, Trumpet – Mic Gillette
Written-By, Arranged By – Chester Thompson 
Credits
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone [1st], Soloist [All], Flute [Alto], Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Lenny Pickett
Baritone Saxophone – Stephen Kupka
Bass – Francis Rocco Prestia
Concertmaster – Gerald Vinci
Drums, Vocals – David Bartlett
Guitar, Vocals – Bruce Conte
Lead Vocals – Lenny Williams
Organ, Pedalboard [Bass Pedals], Piano, Clavinet, Synthesizer [Arp], Vocals – Chester Thompson
Tenor Saxophone [2nd], Vocals – Emilio Castillo
Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Arranged By [Strings], Conductor [Strings] – Greg Adams
Trumpet, Trombone, Vocals – Mic Gillette