Your essential Tower of Power recordings

jarrelainen · Veteran Member Joined: 20 Aug 2003 Posts: 264

Which is your personal favourite TOP recording?
and why do you rank it like you do?

Thanks for your help, I'm looking to buy some of their recordings soon...
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PhxHorn · Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2003 6:34 pm Post subject:

Just my opinion, but

Monster on a Leash
T.O.P.
Tower of Power ('73)

And the most recent one, Oakland Zone, is pretty good, too. Both trumpets came from Maynard's band.

fuzzyjon79 · Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2003 8:34 pm Post subject:

I LOVE the live CD! Soul Vaccination! It rocks!
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jarrelainen · Veteran Member Joined: 20 Aug 2003 Posts: 264

Thanks!
I only have "T.O.P" and "Ain't nothing gonna stop us now" CDs with them, so all suggestions are welcome.
I've heard them twice live, and both times were very good!
It's impressive how good they sound live.

/JK
_________________
Bach Strad LR180 37 with NB 64 4*
B&H Imperial with mouthpiece ?

redface · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2003 12:18 am Post subject:

If you're looking to buy some of their stuff there is an anthology (2CD) called `What is Hip?' in which TOP selected their best tracks.

There is an awesome live album called `soul vaccination', it is absolutely fantastic.

Emb_Enh · Veteran Member Joined: 29 Oct 2002 Posts: 455

essential recording?...gotta be MONSTER ON A LEASH ...I just love that one...

check here also...for stuff on MIC GILLETTE...

http://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/viewtopic.php?topic=11387&forum=15&9

Roddy o-iii<O

fuzzyjon79 · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2003 12:48 am Post subject:

You might also want to check out Souled Out... it is also one of my favorite CD's!
_________________
J. Fowler
"It takes a big ole' sack of flour, to make a big ole' pan of biscuits!"

PhxHorn · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2003 1:27 pm Post subject:

I have to disagree on the live one, Soul Vaccination. Even after they spent time in the studio patching up the recording, the horns (esp. the trumpets) are so horrifically out of tune, that I just can't listen to it.

Pete · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2003 7:56 am Post subject:

"Bump City". It's the first one that I bought, and I believe that it was Tower of Power's first major recording back in the early 70's, and had hit singles of "You're Still a Young Man",and "Down to the Nightclub". I bought it because I recognized Mic Gillette's name on the album. He had played with the group Cold Blood before TOP.

Pete

Pedro · Heavyweight Member Joined: 26 Nov 2001 Posts: 539

Of the recordings I own, I would also have to say "Monster on a Leash". The tunes, the grooves, the recording process, Greg, Thorny and the gang and is Russ McKinnon laying some SERIOUS grooves driving the band or WHAT!!! I love Dave Garibaldi but hats off to Russ on this one!!!

OCTA-C · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2003 12:14 pm Post subject:

I have a boot-leg video from a TOP concert on a German TV music show(kinda' like American Bandstand) recorded sometime in 1991-93? Great sound, great songs and great energy!
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FlugelFlyer · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2003 8:29 am Post subject:

"Tower of Power, the WB years" is a great anthology of the early Tower of Power when they were a hit band. Their new CD, "Oakland Zone", is a very nice CD though the music sounds more modern. Bogart and Acosta are tremendous trumpeters, but I personally preferred the old sound of Gillette and Adams in the trumpet section, but that's just my personal taste.

trumpet manor · Veteran Member Joined: 26 Jun 2003 Posts: 102

[quote]
On 2003-08-24 03:48, fuzzyjon79 wrote:
You might also want to check out Souled Out... it is also one of my favorite CD's!

Right on, Fuzzy!! Also one of my all time fav recordings. Great songs, great playing and singing. Can listen to it over and over.....

bophead · Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2003 2:12 pm Post subject:

Live and in Living Color near the top of the list. Early TOP with Greg Adams, Mick Gillette, Dave Garibaldi, Chester Thompson and Lenny what's his name were the best. The recent stuff just isn't the same.

FlugelFlyer · Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2003 3:29 pm Post subject:

I think the lineup in their prime was Mic Gillete-tpt, Greg Adams-tpt, Doc-Bari, Emilio Castillo-Tenor/lead vocals, Lenny Picket-Tenor, Bruce Conte-Geetar, Chester Thompson-B3, Frances Rocco-Prestia--Bass, David Garibaldi-Drums, Brent Byers-bongos, Lenny Williams-Lead Vocals

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[*Edit:] Figured out the bongo player's name and added Lenny Williams as lead vocals. Dern I'm smrrt

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[ This Message was edited by: FlugelFlyer on 2003-10-09 22:00 ]