New York, NY (Top40 Charts) On June 1, Artistry Music, A Mack Ave Label will release Soul Side of Town, Tower of Power's 25th album- a cranial-crushing funk amalgamation of soul, vintage R&B, groove, pop and rock. It's the centerpiece for a celebratory 50th campaign that includes the re-release of four hard to find independent productions The East Bay Archive Vol. 1 (a 1973 live recording from Boston), Oakland Zone (a 2008 release celebrated for the return of drummer
David Garibaldi after several years away), Great American Soulbook (an all-star affair of soul classics featuring guests such as Joss Stone, Tom Jones, Sam Moore and Huey Lewis), and 40th Anniversary: Live at The Fillmore in San Francisco (a deluxe multi-disc CD/DVD collector's item loaded with great new live renditions of hits plus interviews with alumni past and present).
Soul Side of Town has 14 filler-free songs that delve into the golden canon of classics with a fresh approach to new material picking up the torch in all of the time-tested styles fans respect and love. It's the perfect backdrop for a hair-raising audio experience.
Comprised of fourteen funky vibrant and intricately woven songs that exhibit a wide range in musicality that's both modern and electrifying. From soon to be classics like "Hangin' with my Baby", "Butter Fried" and "
After Hours" to the funky "Stop" and love songs "I Can't Stop Thinking About You", "Love Must Be Patient and Kind", "Let it Go" which is a heart throbber, and "Do it With Soul" for the people providing the soundtrack for generations to come.
Founding member, Composer, Saxophonist
Emilio Castillo reflects " Celebrating 50 years together is a surreal experience. Recording with Producer Joe Vannelli and finishing 28 all new original songs has been a huge project and probably what may be the best work of our career. Touring at the same time while planning the filming of our 50 Year Concert is like being in a whirlwind. People everywhere congratulating us and planning to fly to the concert from all over the world is just amazing. It's all one big blur right now. God what a wonder!!!"
About Tower of Power:
Since its formation in Oakland, California in 1968, Tower of Power has forged a reputation as a crack band of high achieving musicians fluent in all realms of Soul, Rock and Pop music with a sophistication and punch like that of a Jazz big band.
Along with veteran members Castillo, Kupka, Garibaldi and Prestia, T.O.P. consists of guitarist Jerry Cortez, Hammond B3 organist/keyboardist
Roger Smith, 1st tenor saxophonist Tom Politzer, and trumpeters Adolfo Acosta and Sal Cracchiolo. Soul Side of Town is also blessed with not one but two lead singers: outgoing Ray Greene (now in Santana) and incoming Marcus Scott (boldly introduced on several selections, including "Hanging with My Baby"). The 10-piece Tower of Power band is prepared to throw down next year with a celebratory tour that will include sweet spots around the globe.
Soul Side of Town Tracklisting:
East Bay! All Day!
Hangin' With My Baby
Do You Like That
On The Soul Side of Town*
Do It With Soul
Love Must Be Patient and Kind
Butter Fried
Selah
Let It Go
Stop
When Love Takes Control
After Hours
Can't Stop Thinking About You
East Bay! Oakland Style!
*Available for instant download with pre-order on iTunes or available to stream.
Soul Side of Town will be released on CD, Vinyl and Digitally. Album pre-orders are now available across all DSPs.
Tower of Power will be performing at the Fox Theatre in Oakland for two nights on June 1 & 2nd serving as the release celebrations as well as the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl on June 10th and many other dates in Tucson, Atlanta, Chicago, Seattle, DC, Annapolis, St. Louis, Kansas City, NY and other tour dates TBA.
