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1975 studio album by Tower of Power
Urban Renewal is a
Tower of Power album recorded in 1974 and released in 1975. It was the last to feature lead singer
Lenny Williams , who would leave to continue a successful solo career. Drummer
David Garibaldi left the band temporarily, although he does appear on the song "Willing To Learn," the first single. David Bartlett is the drummer for the rest of the album. Conga player Carter Collins replaced Brent Byars, who left after the previous album
Back to Oakland .
Track listing
"Only So Much Oil in the Ground" (Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Emilio Castillo) - 3:46
"Come Back, Baby" (Bruce Conte, Lenny Williams) - 3:21
"It's Not the Crime" (Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Emilio Castillo) - 1:45
"I Won't Leave Unless You Want Me To" (Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Emilio Castillo, Greg Adams) - 3:28
"Maybe It'll Rub Off" (Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Emilio Castillo, Chester D. Thompson) - 3:15
"(To Say the Least) You're the Most" (
Johnny "Guitar" Watson ) - 2:28
"Willing to Learn" (Emilio Castillo, Stephen "Doc" Kupka) - 4:35
"Give Me the Proof" (David Bartlett) - 2:35
"It Can Never Be the Same" (Bruce Conte, Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Emilio Castillo) - 4:43
"I Believe in Myself" (Emilio Castillo, Stephen "Doc" Kupka) - 2:00
"Walkin' Up Hip Street" (Chester D. Thompson) - 5:50
Production
Emilio Castillo – producer
Tower of Power – producers
Alan Chinowsky – engineer
Tom Flye – engineer
Chris Morris – assistant engineer
Kurt Kinzel – assistant engineer
Bruce Steinberg – album design, liner photography
Recorded and Mixed at
Record Plant (Sausalito, California).
Personnel
Tower of Power
Lenny Williams – lead vocals (1, 2, 4-10)
Chester D. Thompson – acoustic piano,
clavinet ,
organ ,
ARP synthesizer ,
bass pedals , backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 7, 8), arrangements (5, 11)
Bruce Conte – guitars, backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 7, 8)
Francis Rocco Prestia – bass guitar
David Bartlett – drums (1-6, 8-11), backing vocals (8)
Lenny Pickett –
clarinet ,
bass clarinet ,
alto flute , alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, 1st tenor saxophone, all sax solos
Stephen "Doc" Kupka – baritone saxophone
Emilio Castillo – 2nd tenor saxophone, backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 7, 8), lead vocals (3)
Mic Gillette – trombone, trumpet, backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 7, 8), trumpet solo (11)
Greg Adams – trumpet, flugelhorn, arrangements (1-4, 6-10), string arrangements and conductor
Additional musicians
David Garibaldi – drums (7)
Carter Collins –
congas (7)
Gerard Vinci – concertmaster
Bootche Anderson – backing vocals (1, 2, 9, 10)
Marilyn Scott – backing vocals (1, 2, 9, 10)
Pepper Watkins – backing vocals (1, 2, 9, 10)
Charts
Album
Singles
Year
Single
Chart positions
[3]
US R&B
1975
"Willing To Learn"
77
1975
"Only So Much Oil In The Ground"
85
External links
References
Emilio Castillo
Stephen 'Doc' Kupka
Roger Smith
Adolfo Acosta
Tom E. Politzer
Jerry Cortez
Marc van Wageningen
Dave Richards
Pete Antunes
Jordan John
Studio albums Notable singles Live albums Former members Related articles