Most of the Tower Of Power catalog is readily available with the click of a button and ‘Ain’t Nothin’ Stoppin’ Us Now’ is as good a place as any to start discovering one of the San Francisco Bay area’s more interesting groups.
Written by: Eric
ARTIST: Tower Of Power
ALBUM: Ain’t Nothin’ Stoppin’ Us Now
LABEL: Columbia
SERIAL: PC 34302
YEAR: 1976
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Lenny Pickett – tenor & alto sax, lyricon * Emilio Castillo – tenor sax, vocals * Steve Kupka – baritone sax * Mic Gillette – trumpet, trombone, flugelhorn, superbone, bass trombone, baritone horn, vocals * Greg Adams – trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals
Edward McGee – lead vocals * Chester Thompson – organ, bass pedals, rhodes piano, acoustic piano, clavinet, moog, vocals * Bruce Conte – guitar, vocals * Francis Rocco Prestia – bass * Ronnie Beck – drums, vocals
TRACK LISTING: 01 Ain’t Nothin’ Stoppin’ Us Now * 02 By Your Side * 03 Make Someone Happy * 04 Doin’ Alright * 05 Because I Think The World Of You * 06 You Ought To Having Fun * 07 Can’t Stand To See The Slaughter * 09 It’s So Nice * 10 Deal With It * 11 While We Went To The Moon
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
In the 1970’s I heard the name Tower of Power bandied about on occasion and knew their R&B smash hit ‘So Very Hard To Go’ but other than that flawless slice of AM gold, I was clueless.
Until tuning into a ‘King Biscuit Flower Hour’ radio broadcast in the fall of 1978 to hear (and yes, tape) the now legendary ‘Super Jam 2: Journey & Friends’.
This featured the Tower of Power horns extensively. That session, which incredibly has never been officially released in its entirety was a major event for this reviewer and I eventually wore the cassette out.
But also began snapping up cheap ToP albums whenever and wherever I could. I was 17 and if Journey thought they were cool enough to jam with, they were good enough for me.
The Songs
One of my early finds was ‘Ain’t Nothin’ Stoppin’ Us Now’, the first of three albums for CBS and the only release with capable vocalist Edward McGee who sadly seems to have fallen off the map in the decades since.
Fans of the Brecker Brothers, Wild Cherry, Fresh, Sun and the Rubicon albums will find their groove.
Critics at the time were unforgiving and the move into straight-out disco on subsequent LP’s made matters worse. In hindsight I can’t understand why as I always enjoyed the glitterball blend of AOR, funk and pop that was so prevalent in the late 70’s and in my opinion this is a minor gem of the period.
The title track cuts to the chase with driving no nonsense funk while the slower ‘By Your Side’ slides into slick R&B balladry similar to The Spinners and O’Jays who had better luck on the charts. ‘Make Someone Happy’ and the catchy ‘Because I Think The World Of You’ are both immersed in deep-pile disco.
The album’s only single ‘You Ought To Be Havin’ Fun’ brings the Tower brass to the fore and into Chicago and Earth Wind & Fire territory, appearing on the Billboard Hot 100 for the last time at a respectable #68 although well-short of a major hit.
In Summary
In the 40 plus years Tower of Power has been in existence, over 60 musicians have filtered through its ranks which is mind-boggling and with three original members alive and kicking, they still gig to the present day.
Most of their catalog is readily available with the click of a button and ‘Ain’t Nothin’ Stoppin’ Us Now’ is as good a place as any to start discovering one of the San Francisco Bay area’s more interesting groups.
Tower Of Power on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
