From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
Back to Oakland
Back to Oakland.jpg
Studio album by Tower of Power
ReleasedFebruary 1974
Recorded1974
StudioRecord Plant, Sausalito, California
Kaye/Smith Studios, Seattle, Washington
GenreSoul, funk
Length43:05
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerTower of Power
Tower of Power chronology
Tower of Power
(1973)		Back to Oakland
(1974)		Urban Renewal
(1975)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic4.5/5 stars [1]
Christgau's Record GuideC+[2]

Back to Oakland is the fourth album by Bay Area based band Tower of Power, Released in Spring 1974 on Warner Bros. Records. It was voted by Modern Drummer Magazine as one of the most important recordings for drummers to listen to. The cover photography was by Bruce Steinberg at San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, San Francisco, California.[3]

Track listing[edit]

  1. "Oakland Stroke..." (Emilio Castillo, David Garibaldi, Stephen Kupka) - 0:53
  2. "Don't Change Horses (In the Middle of a Stream)" (Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Lenny Williams) - 4:28
  3. "Just When We Start Makin' It" (Castillo, Kupka, Lenny Williams) - 6:30
  4. "Can't You See (You Doin' Me Wrong)" (Castillo, Kupka, Williams) - 3:00
  5. "Squib Cakes" (Chester Thompson) - 7:49
  6. "Time Will Tell" (Castillo, Kupka) - 3:11
  7. "Man from the Past" (Castillo, Kupka, Williams) - 4:00
  8. "Love's Been Gone So Long" (Bruce Conte) - 4:47
  9. "I Got the Chop" (Castillo, Kupka) - 2:59
  10. "Below Us, All the City Lights" (Castillo, Kupka) - 4:20
  11. "...Oakland Stroke" (Castillo, Garibaldi, Kupka) - 1:08

Personnel[edit]

Tower of Power
  • Lenny Pickett - 1st tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, bass saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, alto flute, piccolo
  • Stephen "Doc" Kupka - baritone saxophone, English horn, background vocals
  • Greg Adams - trumpet, flugelhorn, orchestra bells, background vocals
  • Mic Gillette - trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone, bass trombone, background vocals
  • Bruce Conte - guitar, background vocals
  • Chester Thompson - organ, bass pedals, acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, clavinet, background vocals
  • Emilio Castillo - 2nd tenor saxophone, background vocals
  • Brent Byars - conga drums
  • David Garibaldi - drums
  • Francis Rocco Prestia - bass guitar
  • Lenny Williams - lead vocals

Charts[edit]

Chart (1974)Peak
position
Billboard Top LPs[4]26
Billboard Top Soul LPs[4]13

Singles[edit]

YearSingleChart positions[5]
USUS
R&B		US
Dance
1974"Don't Change Horses (In The Middle of a Stream)"2622—
"Time Will Tell"—6927

References[edit]

  1. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r20340/review
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: T". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 16, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  3. ^ http://www.musicalmaps.com.au/search/label/backtooakland
  4. ^ a b "Tower Of Power US albums chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-06-23. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  5. ^ "Tower Of Power US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-06-23. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)

External links[edit]

  • Tower Of Power-Back To Oakland at Discogs