Everybody On The Bus

Francis Rocco Prestia, Rocco Prestia | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 19, 1999)
• Original Release Date: January 19, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Lightyear
• ASIN: B00000HY72
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #215,621 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not your regular bass player album., May 23, 2000

By 

Kelvin S. Yew (Singapore Singapore) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Everybody On The Bus (Audio CD)

You're probably thinking to yourself that this, in the tradition of bass player albums, is an exercise in musical self-gratification (to use a more polite phrase). Not so.

The man himself, credited for holding down the bottom end for acclaimed Soul/Funk band Tower of Power delivers what he has been doing best for the past 25 years. His signature style of 16th note muted fingerstyle funk is the driving force for all the songs on the album without once taking a solo.

With fellow TOP regulars Jeff Tamelier on guitar, David Garibaldi and Herman Mathews on drums, Nick Milo on Keyboards and Brandon Fields on Sax, don't expect this outing to deviate too much from the regular TOP formula of dishing up middle-of-the-road-funk, except with less prominent horns. Not to say that this isn't a musically proficient production, but rather the funk element comes off almost too clean and digitized rather than earthy inspired.

Still, the album is a good listen, especially for those familiar with the Bay Area Soul sound of the 70s. Recommended tracks are: Solid like the Rock, the remake of Express Yourself, and Don't need No Changes. In all, a good backdrop for showcasing the bass legend, credited for being an influence by no less than Jaco Pastorius.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding...10 stars!, November 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Everybody On The Bus (Audio CD)

Very impressive bass work and compositions. A must have for T.O.P. fans

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Miss The Bus--Get Your Ticket Now!, February 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Everybody On The Bus (Audio CD)

Hmmm....well, let's see. You've got Rocco (bassist for the legendary soul/funk band, Tower of Power), you've got Bruce Conte, you've got Chester Thompson on keyboards, you've got David Garibaldi and Herman Matthews on drums, you've got Biner, Champlin, Grillo, and the incomparable Brent Carter handling the vocals, you've got Kupka/Castillo collaborating on a couple of the tracks: Hmmm...this is Tower without the Power of the horn section. But what a nice and refreshing change it is! There isn't a throw-away track on this CD, but a couple bear special mention: Brent Carter just really shines on Double Identity and I was especially impressed with Tamara Champlin's vocals on Express Yourself--reminiscent of the Staple Singers. Baby Don't Go features a strong bass line that actually makes you feel the plucking of the guitar strings. I'm So Glad has a unique presence that strikes me every time I hear it. There are also two worthy instrumentals that allow the musicians to shine each in their own right. You ought to get on the bus if you haven't already--it's worth the trip!