Customer Reviews

Urban Renewal

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Yes Yes Yes. This album is in the top (no pun intended) 4 or 5 funkiest, absoulutely stunning albums ever made by TOP. David Bartlett, the drummer on this album is the best David Garibaldi fill-in, by far. As a matter of fact, at first, it took me a while to even realize that it wasn't Garibaldi himself. The songs here, this band, this line-up, was truly amazing, awe-inspiring, funky and REAL! Emilio Castillo's lead vocal on "It's Not The Crime" is the hippest. Anyone with ears should be blown away by the horn power and sheer funk of songs like "Only So Much Oil In The Ground", "Maybe It'll Rub Off", "It's Not The Crime", or "Give Me The Proof". The ballads "I Won't Leave Unless You Want Me To", and "Willing To Learn" are gorgeous, with vocalist Lenny Williams singing his heart out, as usual, as he does throughout the album. The song "It Can Never Be The Same" is my personal favorite. This song not only has one of Lenny William's most moving vocals ever, but, evolves into one of the most incredibly cool, funky, classic TOP grooves and outsection of any song they've ever done. All in all, there isn't one weak track here. Amazing album from an Amazing Band!

Clearly, one of the monster group's best efforts. Despite missing Garibaldi, the drumming was superb. And the interplay between bass (Prestia) and drums (Bartlett), so critical to the TOP sound, didn't miss a beat. In Lenny Williams' swan song with the group, the public was left with this masterpiece in his wake. The environmentally conscious opener "Only So Much Oil" brings this compilation alive, from the sizzling B-3 opening riffs by Chester Thompson, to Lenny Pickett's amazing sax interlude in the middle, to the backing vocals to Lenny's amazing range throughout the song and on through the entire album. I'd previously thought their best album up to this point was "Back To Oakland", which is still a classic among fans. But I think for quality of music and the band's maturity level and confort zone they were feeling, this album ranks as ONE of their best. I put this on when I want to feel the raw power of horns, vocals, bass, drums, funk, and energy. Even the ballads are strong. Even the mid-tempo filler is a definite winner in "It Can Never Be The Same". The inimitable guitar solo at the end is totally killer. All of it isn't necessarily dance music --- but it's definitely funky!! A total winner of an album and one of the best this fabulous group has ever done.

Urban Renewal is definitely my favorite TOP album... maybe not their most famous... but definitely the classic line-up at its peak.... tight, bumpin' and razor sharp from top to bottom... The year is 1975... Soul might have been going "disco-ey" elsewhere, but TOP was still a cutting edge soul powerhouse. As noted elsewhere, Garibaldi is absent on a few of the tracks... but nothing's missing from the groove... Pretty amazing considering that the Garibaldi/Prestia mix was and always has been a key element of a band best known as a "horn session" group... (actually, except for Prestia and Kupka, and for years Adams, other members of the horn section were constantly changing!) - - The truth though was that aside from their unique sound and arrangements, they weren't just a horn section band... and they didn't just have a tight rhythm section at the time of this recording (and on most of their other recordings.) On this album there's Lenny Williams, one of the greatest soul singers on the planet, whether he's singing funky or sweet soul and the virtually unimitable Chester Thompson on organ. Also, we mustn't forget Bruce Conte's sharp, punchy yet flexible rhythm guitar either - - and there are some unforgettable lyrics. - - The thing, however that holds this album together the most is TOP's ability to BUMP when it comes to funk, but do soul ballads in a BLISTERY way that only they could. - - Put simply, this album is mandatory music listening - - period... begs for repeated listens and gets better with age - - not just another great soul recording, but mandatory listening by a band that churned out hits, and also gained a reputation as "musician's musicians" at the same ime !

In 2008, WEA Japan released the entire WB Tower Of Power catalog in remastered form. All of the albums benefit from new mastering, and are worthwhile acquisitions for fans.

I found all of the remastered material to be superior to the Rhino 2CD "What Is Hip?" 1999 compilation set, except, surprisingly, for the material from the 3rd album, which sounds better on the Rhino.

Amazon does a haphazard job of stocking these remasters, so you may have to seek them from Japan-based retailers. Also, Amazon's prices are at least a third higher than buying direct from Japan, although shipping costs will cut into that percentage.

Here are the links for the `08 remasters:

East Bay Grease
Bump City
Tower Of Power
Back To Oakland
Urban Renewal
In The Slot
Live And In Living Color

Again, it's sad that American consumers have to obtain better sounding CD's from another country. WEA, and now WMG, have long maintained a corporate policy of not upgrading their catalog under the "they're-gonna-buy-it-anyway-so-why-waste-profits" philosophy, no matter that rival Sony has made a lucative business model out of remastering nearly the entire Columbia records catalog. Although this internal policy was mandated by the WEA regimes of the past, Edgar Bronfman, the current WMG chief, has maintained the status quo.

So, Tower Of Power now joins fellow WEA artists Jackson Browne, Ry Cooder, The Doobie Brothers, Tower Of Power, Neil Young, Van Dyke Parks, Little Feat, Van Morrison, America, Annie Haslam, Everything But The Girl, Roberta Flack, Todd Rundgren, Cold Blood and Paul Butterfield, just to name a few, whose catalogs either partially or wholly exist in better audio in Japan than here in the U.S.

It's a pathetic and frustrating situation.

Dammm! Is all I have to say about the Funk on this CD. If you are into the funky stuff ala a little motown - you need to buy this disc. Bartlett -drums- (in place of Garibaldi) proves to be more than a "fill in" for this album. Prestia -bass- and Bartlett mold together so well for some of the tightest, not to mention difficult funk grooves that T.O.P. has delivered. Pickett -Tenor Sax- does not play as much as we would like him to (buy "Live and in Living Color" if you want your dose of Pickett) but, when he does play it is funky with a tinge of humor. My advice, if you like Funk, Horns, Well written music, and something that is gonna make you shake your Bootay.........BUY THIS.

oh yeah, these guys rock, man. funk legends. every other song is a ballad, but we don't mind that because after the intense FUNK of the funky ones, we need a break. buy it buy it buy it. clear enough for you? Tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, and 8 are my five favourite songs in the world ever ever ever. there you go.

This album, along with the "Tower of Power" album, represent the peak of TOP's recorded output. I'd pick either over the somewhat overrated "Back to Oakland." By the way, why have I never heard of Dave Bartlett? He may not be Garibaldi, but he's darn close, and I've never even heard of the guy! Where is he now? Anyway, this album is a must own if you like the funky stuff.

One of the best albums I have

One ex-member (Mic Gillette) feels this is the best work by Tower. Even if it is not THE BEST, it represent some wonderful Tower of Power work.

This is one of the earliest and one of my favourite Tower albums. Amazing to see that they were singing about there only being "so much oil in the ground" back in the 70s.

40 years later, this band is still going strong. I'm going to be seeing them live soon in California.

The singing, horns, rhythm on this album are outstanding. The Hammond organ on the back end is awesome as well!

Get it -- it's great!