Urban Renewal (Tower of Power album)

Urban Renewal
Studio album by Tower of Power
Released	January 1975
Recorded	1974 at Record Plant, Sausalito, California
Genre	Funk, Soul
Length	37:46
Label	Warner Bros. Records
Producer	Emilio Castillo
Tower of Power chronology
Back to Oakland (1974) Urban Renewal (1975) In the Slot (1975)

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Review scores
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Urban Renewal is a Tower of Power album recorded in 1974 and released in 1975. It's also the last album to feature lead singer Lenny Williams, who would leave to continue a successful solo career. Plus drummer David Garibaldi left temporarily, although he does appear on the song "Willing To Learn" which was the first single released on the album. David Bartlett takes the reins as drummer for this album. Also conga player Brent Byars left after the previous album Back to Oakland, with Carter Collins taking over for him on this album.

Track listing

1. "Only So Much Oil in the Ground" (Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Emilio Castillo) 3:46
2. "Come Back, Baby" (Bruce Conte, Lenny Williams) 3:21
3. "It's Not the Crime" (Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Emilio Castillo) 1:45
4. "I Won't Leave Unless You Want Me To" (Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Emilio Castillo, Greg Adams) 3:28
5. "Maybe It'll Rub Off" (Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Emilio Castillo, Chester Thompson) 3:15
6. "(To Say the Least) You're the Most" (Johnny "Guitar" Watson) 2:28
7. "Willing to Learn" (Emilio Castillo, Stephen "Doc" Kupka) 4:35
8. "Give Me the Proof" (David Bartlett) 2:35
9. "It Can Never Be the Same" (Bruce Conte, Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Emilio Castillo) 4:43
10. "I Believe in Myself" (Emilio Castillo, Stephen "Doc" Kupka) 2:00
11. "Walkin' Up Hip Street" (Chester Thompson) 5:50

Production

• Produced by Emilio Castillo
• Arrangements: Greg Adams, Chester Thompson
• Engineer: Alan Chinowsky, Tom Flye
• Mastering: Lee Herschberg

Personnel

Tower Of Power

• Lenny Williams: lead vocals
• Bruce Conte: guitars, backing vocals
• Chester Thompson: keyboards, organ, acoustic piano, clavinet, backing vocals, bass pedals
• Francis "Rocco" Prestia: bass guitar
• David Bartlett: drums (except "Willing To Learn")
• David Garibaldi: drums on "Willing To Learn"
• Carter Collins: congas, percussion
• Greg Adams: trumpet, flugelhorn
• Emilio Castillo: tenor saxophone, backing vocals
• Mic Gillette: trumpet, trombone, backing vocals
• Stephen Kupka: baritone saxophone
• Lenny Pickett: clarinet, bass clarinet, alto flute, baritone, tenor & soprano saxophones

Additional musicians

• Bootche Anderson: vocals
• Marilyn Scott: vocals
• Pepper Watkins: vocals

Charts

Album

Chart (1975)	Peak position
Billboard Pop Albums[1]	22
Billboard Top Soul Albums[1]	19

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions[2]
		US	US R&B
1975	"Willing To Learn"	-	77
1975	"Only So Much Oil In The Ground"	-	85

External links

• Tower Of Power-Urban Renewal at Discogs

References

1. "Tower Of Power US albums chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2012-12-27.
2. "Tower Of Power US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2012-12-27.