TOWER OF POWER * 1979 * Back On The Streets

Pass is - topbots1979

A triple-header from Tower Of Power -- one that features three late 70s albums in one package! Ain't Nothin Stoppin Us Now is a cool Columbia session from the group, and one that features a well-crafted groove throughout! The overall approach is a bit warmer and less jamming than before -- but in ways that really show the group hitting some strong notes on their soul tunes, especially some of the midtempo groovers that are really the big standouts here. The lineup features Chester Thompson on organ and keyboards, Greg Adams on trumpet and vocals, Edward McGee on lead vocals, and Lenny Pickett on saxes -- and titles include "You Ought To Be Havin Fun", "Deal With It", "While We Went To The Moon", "Ain't Nothin Stoppin Us Now", and "Doin Alright". We Came To Play is tight funky work from Tower of Power -- produced by Steve Cropper, but sounding a lot more like Average White Band than on earlier albums -- with a great mix of mainstream funk and warmer, mellow cuts! The group takes advantage of the studio work to let the best funky sides of their instrumentation come to the forefront, and the record's got plenty of great keyboard and guitar riffing, and some well-miked drums that have a nice jazzy flourish on the best cuts. Vocals are a bit weak -- but hey, once Lenny Williams left the group, what were they going to do? Titles include "We Came To Play", "Ying Yang Thang", "Let Me Touch You", "Share My Life", "Bittersweet Soul Music", and "Love Bug". Back On The Streets is heavy funk from Tower Of Power -- almost more back in the group's earlier mode, which might be what they mean by the title! The sound's not exactly "street", but it's got a nice sense of funk on most numbers -- production by Richard Evans and McKinley Jackson that helps keep a focus on the rhythms, and also does a good job of bringing out the best qualities from vocalist Michael Jeffries. Some tracks were recorded in Chicago, and these almost show a bit more sophistication at points -- that warmer Chi-soul sound of the late 70s, although still with a TOP sort of touch. Titles include "Rock Baby", "Our Love", "It Takes Two", "Heaven Must Have Made You", "And You Know It", "Something Calls Me", and "Nowhere To Run".