Rhythm and Business is an album by the American band Tower of Power.[2] It was released in 1997.[3][4] The band promoted the album by playing the Red Sea Jazz Festival, among other concert dates.[5]
| Rhythm & Business | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1997 | |||
| Label | Epic[1] | |||
| Producer | Emilio Castillo | |||
| Tower of Power chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production edit
The album was produced by bandmember Emilio Castillo.[6] The band had decided not to chase any kind of market trend, and instead record what it wanted.[2] Castillo, Stephen Kupka, and Frances Rocco Prestia were the only founding members who played on Rhythm & Business.[7] The title track is about the state of 1990s R&B and the music industry.[8]
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [9] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [10] |
| Los Angeles Daily News | [11] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [12] |
The Boston Globe wrote that "the implausibly soulful baritone sax of Stephen 'Doc' Kupka, Castillo's partner since 1969, is highlighted on 'Spank-A-Dang' and 'East Bay Way'."[13] The Los Angeles Daily News noted that "Tower of Power has never lost the ability to turn up the heat on slippery funk grooves and soulful ballads."[11]
The Blade deemed the album "plain old funk and soul," writing that, "at times, it's like listening in on a jam session as the horns blare and the drums pound."[14] The Sunday News called it "a funky soul assembly of churning Hammond organ, snappy chicken-scratch rhythm guitar, ear-bending wah-wah guitar, high-powered thumb-popping funk bass, soaring gospel-tinged soul singing and those nasty, legendary, extraordinary Tower of Power horns."[15] Christina Cole, of the Anchorage Daily News, listed the album among the best of 1997.[16]
AllMusic wrote that "these guys know all there is to know about R&B and on Rhythm & Business they combine their musical passion, knowledge and abilities into that one-of-a-kind Tower of Power sound."[9]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "So I Got to Groove (Stephen Kupka, Emilio Castillo, Herman Matthews)" | 5:44 |
| 2. | "Crazy for You (Marlon McClain, Kupka, Castillo)" | 4:37 |
| 3. | "East Bay Way (Kupka, Castillo, Jeff Tamelier)" | 4:48 |
| 4. | "Unconditional Love (McClain, Kupka, Castillo, Nate Phillips, Wayne Jackson)" | 6:58 |
| 5. | "You Do the Math (Kupka, Tamelier, Jim Pugh)" | 4:47 |
| 6. | "The More You Know (Kupka, Castillo)" | 5:49 |
| 7. | "Recapture the Magic (Kupka, Castillo)" | 5:33 |
| 8. | "What's Your Trip (McClain, Kupka, Castillo)" | 5:40 |
| 9. | "Rhythm and Business (Kupka, Castillo, Matthews, Michael Caplan)" | 4:08 |
| 10. | "Don't Knock Me Down (Kupka, Castillo, Ken Kessie)" | 3:40 |
| 11. | "That Was Then and This Is Now (Kupka, Castillo, Nick Milo)" | 4:35 |
| 12. | "It Really Doesn't Matter (Castillo, Tony Flores)" | 4:35 |
| 13. | "Spank-A-Dang (Matthews, Milo)" | 5:44 |
References edit
- ^ "Tower of Power Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ a b Charleston, Rita (17 Mar 1998). "'Tower of Power' 'just keeps on doing it' over 3 decades". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 4B.
- ^ Thompson, Dave (May 11, 2001). Funk. Hal Leonard Corporation.
- ^ Findlay, Prentiss (11 Sep 1997). "Blues hero B.B. King festival headliner". The Post and Courier. p. E2.
- ^ Rodan, Steve (22 Aug 1997). "All that jazz". Arts. The Jerusalem Post. p. 2.
- ^ "New line-up, same groove: Tower of Power returns". Happenings. Intelligencer Journal. 29 May 1998. p. 2.
- ^ Harden, Mark (September 25, 1998). "Horns of plenty: Tower of Power's sound the choice of numerous rockers". The Denver Post. p. E21.
- ^ McDonald, Sam (27 June 1997). "Hampton Jazz Festival 30th Anniversary". Daily Press. Newport News. p. A6.
- ^ a b "Rhythm & Business". AllMusic.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 228.
- ^ a b Shuster, Fred (26 Sep 1997). "Sound Check". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L24.
- ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 1159.
- ^ Keller, Jon (30 Oct 1997). "Recordings". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 27.
- ^ Allen, Jr., Eddie B. (October 26, 1997). "'Rhythm and Business'". The Blade. p. G4.
- ^ "Horns of Power and plenty". Sunday News. May 24, 1998. p. H6.
- ^ Cole, Christina (January 2, 1998). "'97 Will Be Remembered for Musical Avalanche". Anchorage Daily News. p. H7.