TOWER OF POWER — Tower Of Power (1973-1990) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The Tower of Power finally found their ideal lead singer on this album. Lenny Williams came aboard and gave them both the up-tempo belter and convincing balladeer they had previously lacked. They landed their biggest single hit, "So Very Hard to Go," and also had two other top tunes in "What Is Hip" and "This Time It's Real." The arrangements and production were also excellent, and the horn section was at its explosive best. Ron Wynn
Tracklist :
1    What Is Hip?    5:03
 Emilio Castillo / David Garibaldi / Stephen "Doc" Kupka
2    Clever Girl    2:52
 Emilio Castillo / Stephen "Doc" Kupka
3    This Time It's Real    2:52
 David Bartlett / Emilio Castillo / Stephen "Doc" Kupka
4    Will I Ever Find A Love?    3:48
 Emilio Castillo / Stephen "Doc" Kupka
5     Get Yo' Feet Back On The Ground    4:51
 W. Fulton
6    So Very Hard To Go    3:37
 Emilio Castillo / Stephen "Doc" Kupka
7    Soul Vaccination    5:10
 Emilio Castillo / Stephen "Doc" Kupka
8    Both Sorry Over Nothin'    3:22
 Emilio Castillo / Stephen "Doc" Kupka / Lenny Williams
9    Clean Slate    3:20
 Emilio Castillo / Stephen "Doc" Kupka
10    Just Another Day    4:38
 Bruce Conte
Credits :
Arranged By, Conductor [Strings], Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Vocals – Greg Adams
Bass – Francis Rocco Prestia
Congas, Bongos – Brent Byars
Drums – David Garibaldi
Guitar, Vocals – Bruce Conte
Lead Vocals – Lenny Williams
Organ, Vocals – Chester Thompson
Producer [Production Supervision], Saxophone [2nd Tenor Sax], Vocals – Emilio Castillo
Saxophone [1st Tenor Sax], Flute, Clarinet, Vocals – Lenny Pickett
Saxophone [Baritone Sax], Oboe, Vocals – Stephen Kupka
Trumpet, Trombone, Flugelhorn, Baritone Horn, Vocals – Mic Gillette

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