Tower of Power

On their self-titled second album, Oakland funk all-stars Tower of Power hit the big-time with their high-octane hit "What Is Hip." Relentless rhythms, neck-breaking basslines and explosive horns set the tone throughout the LP. Also check out the brassy ballad "Clever Girl" and the snappy jam "Soul Vaccination."

Tower Of Power, the third LP by the 11-man Oakland aggregation, earns high marks for both
its up-tempo riff tunes and the ballads that have won the group acceptance on both Top 40
and soul stations. With 1972's quietly desperate "You're Still a Young Man" and last summer's
heart-tugging "So Very Hard to Go," the Tower achieved radio "cross-over" success by
establishing its identity through crisp, unfettered horn arrangements, a cohesive... More >

Come off it, guys. You really lucked out with Lenny Williams and you know it--when he swoops up that way he makes it sound as if Aretha herself ought to cover "This Time It's Real," which isn't likely. So get all those horns out of his face. I know there are five of you, but why not just make fancy with the Pointer Sisters and leave Lenny be? You said it yourselves, or rather, Lenny did: "Sometimes hipness is what it ain't." (Grade - B)