The following is from TOP’s website:
Funk icons Tower of Power, known for taking left turns musically, have taken a bit of a detour and recorded a collection of classic soul tunes that they have entitled the “Great American Soulbook”. Included in their latest release are a dozen Soul Essentials, some utilizing original style arrangements, some with a TOP twist, but all with the distinctive Tower of Power sound.
The CD consists of 9 songs produced by Emilio Castillo, Tower of Power’s founder and leader since 1968. Three additional songs were produced by multiple Grammy award recipient, George Duke.
The CD explodes with the first track, “You Met Your Match”, a Stevie Wonder song masterfully handled by Tower of Power’s dynamic lead vocalist Larry Braggs.
Track 2, Sam and Dave’s “I Thank You”, features Tom Jones and Larry in a great rendition of a true soul classic that has stood the test of time with the Tower of Power Horns taking the song to a new level.
Further into the CD Joss Stone joins the party offering up two fine vocal collaborations with Larry Braggs. Joss appears on track 4, “It Takes Two”, and track 10, “(Heaven Must Have Sent) Your Precious Love”. In a quote from Emilio Castillo about Joss Stone he says, “You are an amazing soul singer in a most unusual package. Quite frankly, I was stunned by your performance” We think you will be too.
Sam Moore, who recently appeared at the Fillmore Auditorium with Tower of Power at their 40th Anniversary show, shines on track 7, “Mr. Pitiful”. He brought down the house in San Francisco and his version of “Mr. Pitiful” will bring a smile to the face of anyone who enjoys soul music.
Huey Lewis has been a close friend and a huge fan of Tower of Power throughout his career. On “634-5789” Huey delivers a rock solid soulful performance in a duet with Larry
Larry Braggs, familiar to Tower of Power fans worldwide, serves up incredible vocal performances on “Loveland”, “Me and Mrs. Jones”, “Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel”, and “Who Is He And What Is He To You”.
To satisfy the funky needs of all Tower of Power fans there is a 4 song James Brown medley that covers, “It’s A New Day”, “Mother Popcorn”, “There It Is”, and “I Got The Feelin”.
The track listing is as follows (includes vocalist(s)in bold):
01 You Met Your Match Larry Braggs
02 I Thank You Tom Jones/Larry Braggs
03 Loveland Larry Braggs
04 It Takes Two Joss Stone/Larry Braggs
05 Me And Mrs. Jones Larry Braggs
06 Startime (Tribute to James Brown) Larry Braggs
07 Mr. Pitiful Sam Moore
08 Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel Larry Braggs
09 Since You’ve Been Gone Larry Braggs
10 (Heaven Must Have Sent) Your Precious Love Joss Stone/Larry Braggs
11 634-5789 Huey Lewis/Larry Braggs
12 Who Is He And What Is He To You Larry Braggs
For more information check out Tower of Power at their website.
Listed below is our entire playlist beginnig 04/07/09 (as always this is in artist order, not actual order of play)
Ain’t No Thang-Late Nite Party Boys
Al Green-Let’s Stay Together
Al Kooper-Id Rather Be An Old Mans Sweetheart (Than A Young Mans Fool)
Average White Band-A Love Of Your Own
Back To Basic-Peace And Understanding
Barela-Can You Ever Think
Barry Danielian-Count Your Blessings
Beaufunk-Par-Tay
Betty Wright-Shoorah! Shoorah!”
BIG HORNS BEE-Vamp Intro (Reprise)
Bill Evans-The Shorty Shuffle
Bing & The Bingtones-Bump At The Pump
Blast-Do it ’till dawn
Blowzone-Pocket Change
Bob James-Maputo
Boscoe-If I Had My Way
Brecker Bros.-Some Skunk Funk
Brian Culbertson-You Got To Funkifize feat Chance Howard
Bull City Syndicate-You Make Me Feel
Candy Dulfer-2 Funky
Chad Rager Groove-Squib Cakes
Charles Wright-Love Land
Chester Thompson-Power House
Chops the Band-Groove Me
Chops the Band-Scrapple And Grits
Chuck Mangione-Feels So Good
Danny Weis-Funk Tracks
Down To The Bone-To The Bone
Dyke & The Blazers-We Got More Soul
East 4th Horns-I’m Gonna Make You Love Me
Edgar Winter’s White Trash-I’ve Got News For You
Eric Miyashiro-Ken’s Bar
Euge Groove-Let’s Get It On
Eva Cassidy-God Bless The Child
Five Alarm Funk-King Arthur
Frank Biner-Diamond Billy´s Uptown Bar – B – Que
Funk Filharmonik-Everybody Get Down
Gene Dozier-Hunk Of Funk
Gota Yashiki-What’s Up Charlie
Greg Adams-Moon Over Palmilla
Hamish Stuart-Makin’ It Up
Heavy Metal Horns-You’re Still A Young Man
Himlaväsen-One Heart Leads To Another
James Brown-I Got You (I Feel Good)
Jay Soto-Slammin’
Jeff Lorber-Gamma Rays
Jim Byrnes-Otto’s Mood
Joe Cocker-The Letter-Live
John Findlay-Intoxicated
John Lee Sanders;The William Ross Orchestra;Stephen ‘Doc’ Kupka-So Now I Have to Drink Alone
Johnny Guitar Watson-Ain’t That A Bitch
Jon Burr Band-Another Kind Of Love
Jules Broussard-Love Won’t Let Me Wait
Kal David-That’s Not Me
Larry Carlton-Friday Night Shuffle
Little Beaver-Listen to My Heartbeat
Little Milton-Some Kind of Wonderful
Little Willie John-Fever
Lonnie Smith-Move Your Hand
Louise Hoffsten-Good For You
Luther Kent-I Wouldn’t Treat A Dog
Lydia Pense & Cold Blood-Back Here Again
Malo-Suavecito
Mandrill-Mandrill
Medeski, Martin & Wood-Note Bleu
Melba Moore-Stormy weather
Mellow Fellows-I’ve Got To Find A Way
Mic Gillette-If
Mick Sterling and the Stud Brothers-Jackie Wilson Said
Molasses-Straight From The Players
Nils Gessinger-Soulmusic
Peter Friestedt-Time To Play
Players Association-Turn The Music Up
Prime Time Funk-Use Me
Rick Braun-Curve Ball
Rocco Prestia-Express Yourself
Roger Smith-Fiesta
Roy Buchanan-Potato Peeler
Sage-Funksway
Santa Fe-Soul Trilogy
Scott Martin-Fried Neckbones
Shilts-Piece By Piece
Sly & The Family Stone-Everyday People
Soul Stew-I’ll Be Around
Stan Getz & João Gilberto-The Girl From Ipanema
Steve Hilliam-Take Ur Pick
Stevie Wonder-Masterblaster
Strokeland Superband-Just As Long As We Have Each Other
Super Funky Express-Super Funky Express
Tad Robinson-Your Love Is Amazing
Ten Wheel Drive-Tightrope
The artists of the New York Trumpet Company-Intercontinental Drift
The Bo-Keys-Back at the Chicken Shack
The Brian Setzer Orchestra-Jump Jive An’ Wail
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band-Sissy Strut
The Groove Hogs-Who Do You Think You’re Foolin?
The Ides of March-Vehicle
The J.B.’s-Push
The Lincolns-Don’t Fight It
The Sons Of Champlin-Welcome To The Dance
The Spyders-I Don’t Care
Tom Jones-Mama Told Me (Not To Come)
Tom Saviano-JP’s Groove
Tom Scott-Reed My Lips
Tommy Castro-High On The Hog
Tower of Power-(Heaven Must Have Sent) Your Precious Love
Tower of Power-Startime (Tribute to James Brown)
Tower Of Power-Time Will Tell
Tower of Power-Who Is He And What Is He To You
Tower of Power-You Met Your Match
Triple Trouble-Mamma Jamma
Van Morrison-Jackie Wilson Said
Various Artists-Down In The Country
Wayman Tisdale-Get Down On It
Wayne Cochran-Goin’ Back To Miami
Wilmer & The Dukes-Get It
Yoichi Murata-Let Me Groove
