Customer Reviews

Very Best of Tower of Power: The Warner Years

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If I were the one who compiled the songlist for this album, I would have left out most of the songs that were not either on Bump City or the album simply entitled Tower of Power. But those who assembled this compilation probably figured they had to include at least one cut off of each of TOP's Warner Brothers releases. Despite that, the greatest number of cuts on this compilation come from the two albums I think are TOP's finest.
I am not a big fan of funk, but I am a fan of a powerful horn section in any band and TOP certainly gives you that. Cuts 3 through 9 on this CD show Tower of Power at its hard driving, syncopated, funky best. I can't get enough of such no-holds-barred funk attacks like Bump City, What Is Hip?, and Soul Vaccination. Man, are those horns tight! You're Still A Young Man and So Very Hard To Go are classic R&B romantic tunes that still sound fresh today.
TOP holds its own against the best black funk groups; folks who don't already know it are always surprised to find out that TOP is mostly white and as such, is one of the few white R&B groups to have a sizeable black fan base.
What knocks a couple of stars off this is the inclusion of some of the later recordings which are lusher but don't have the bite of TOP's best albums that gave the band its signature sound. Despite that, this CD is a decent sampler of a wide array of TOP recordings and is well worth owning.

First, let me say if you're a true TOWER OF POWER fan, you probably already have all these tunes on LP, tape or CD- - its not like they're impossible to find... further, if you're a real bonified 110% greased up true blue Towerhead, odds are the more comprehensive ANTHOLOGY boxed set (available through Amazon) is more up your alley, however, this is still a fantastic CD for the curious as well as for more "evangelical" Tower of Power fans who want to share the funk - - A great (and economical) gift to pass on for those in need of a soul injection and a bit of funkification in their life, and definitely a nice mix. Yeah, I know someone is going to note the absence of certain faves, but I think undoubtedly to the uninitiated, this CD makes a great and enjoyable point of departure rather than being a "first and last definitive TOP CD" - - The fact is Tower of Power's output in the '70s was not only voluminous, but substantive, and this CD makes a nice little sampling, especially for those who are only familiar with "What Is Hip" and "Down To The Nightclub" - - of course, there's really only one way to hear TOP, and thank heaven odds are they'll be heading to a town near you real soon ! (If you like this CD check out COLD BLOOD's Greatest Hits CD too !)

A lot of hardcore TOP fans will disagree with this, but I was never happy with Live and In Living Color because of the songs it left out and because the horns on You're Still a Young Man just don't sound as good as the studio version. TOP: The Warner Years has the studio versions of all my favorites, just the way I heard them on the radio in the early and mid 70s. If that's what you're looking for, then buy this one!

Okay, so you maxed out on your James Brown/JB's selections, you're sick to death of Sly Stone, and you're not drugged up enough to enjoy Parliament. What's a boy to do but go back in time and dig through the rubble of the 70s!

Although TOP never really made it that big, they still released a fair amount of material that passed by largely underrated even today. Certainly they should get more props than the Ohio Players (unless you enjoy low-rent funk) or Earth, Wind, and Fire. Tunes like "You've Got To Funkifize", "Soul Vaccination", "What Is Hip", and "Down To The Nightclub" will have you smiling in no time.

Although not the best of the genre, the TOP had horns to spare, and they made the most use of them by far. A great way to get into a great band, but do yourself a favor and check out the TOP live album to see how good they sounded in concert.

...don't pass Tower of Power by. This band is smokin.' They have it all, great vocals, great compositions, great horns and arrangements. I would have loved to see Man From The Past on this one, but overall a very solid collection. So Very Hard To Go is top notch material - one of my all time favorites and they have so many great tunes - Below Us All The City Lights, Down To The Nightclub, What Is Hip, This Times It's Real, Only So Much Oil. Easily one of the best bands from the 70's. Got to have this one!

This Greatest Hits album is great. For more great albums refer to my list.
1. Live and in Living Color- Great 10 min. sax solo in Knock Yourself Out by Lenny Pickett (the guy from Saturday Night Live)
2. Soul Vaccination:Live- Tower is one of the best live bands around.
3. Bump City- 2nd Album,You got to Funkifize,Down to the Nightclub.
4. Tower of Power- self titled 3rd album, What is Hip?
5. Back to Oakland- Squib Cakes, AWESOME INSTRUMENTAL!!!
6. Urban Renewal- Lenny Williams shows his soul with Willing to Learn
7. East Bay Grease- 1st Album, Knock Yourself Out is my favorite song
8. T.O.P.-Tower's comeback album, Soul with a Capitol S
9. In the Slot- Great instrumentals, Greg Adams shows his genius
10.Rhythm & Buisness- So I got to Groove, cool song
11.Souled Out- Listen to Diggin' on James Brown
12.Monster on a Leash
13.Oakland Zone
14.Direct
15.Power
16.Ain't nothin stoppin us now- these last three albums all stink
16.We came to play
16.Back On the streets

Total kick booty music ! Is there ANY other horn section better than this one ? Don't think so ! These guys rock on album and they REALLY rock in concert ! If you've never seen T of P live then you haven't been fulfilled .There are NO bad songs on this CD ...every one is a classic .

This band is one of the greatest bands of all-time, and most people don't even know it. Their Top Ten songs are:
1. "What is Hip?"
2. "Down to the Night Club."
3. "Soul Vaccination".
4. "Only so much Oil in the Ground".
5. "Your still a Young Man".
6. "Diggin' on James Brown".
7. "Clever Girl".
8. "Attitude Dance".
9. "Oakland Zone".
10. "Page One".

This is the first CD I have ever owned of Funk music and only bought in on suggestion from my band teacher because of the supposed great horn section. After listening to this CD, it is definitely true. This is a very good CD, most of the songs I like, but there are a few that stand out, including "You Got to Funkifize", "What is Hip", and "Soul Vaccination". The last tune my high school jazz band is playing that right now. I recommend this CD strongly.

This compilation is too heavy on the self tittled album and too light on Back to Oakland,Urban Renewal and In the Slot.As for the reviewer who said the tunes all sound the same,it's because of the selection.Do yourself a favor and get everything from the self tittled album through live in living color.Then if you become a true fan get Bump City and East Bay Grease.That's all the essentials.