Tower of Power 'Step Up' with New Album & Video

Article Contributed by Fiona Bloom | Published on Thursday, March 26, 2020

The renowned horn-driven soul/RnB/rock/pop/funk outfit Tower of Power (or TOP, as it is more often referred to by its global legion of fans), has been rocking their sound since 1968 - infusing Soul (with a capital S) into the music industry for 52 years. Over 7500 Shows, 444,000 Unique monthly listeners and over 35 million streams and millions of albums worldwide, their fans are rabid! Fast forward, after celebrating their 50th Anniversary with the critically acclaimed 2018 release of “Soul Side of Town”, Tower of Power stirs it up for the launch of their next album - STEP UP. Tower of Power unleashes their newest genre-blending explosion of sound today, March 20, 2020.

Although the 14 tracks of this album were written and arranged in a careful 6-year-long process, the album itself was recorded in the same sessions with Soul Side of Town. When the band, along with GRAMMY®-nominated producer Joe Vannelli, recorded enough great material for two full albums, they decided to split the releases up and keep STEP UP as their launch into the new decade. The record features heartfelt lyrics from Stephen "Doc" Kupka. Now, with clever lyrics, funky arrangements, and tremendous musicality, Tower of Power step up their game with STEP UP. As the third single from the record, the album’s uptempo funky, Look in my Eyes is a feel-good groove that really showcases ToP’s muscality. It’s full of Tower of Power’s signature funky and rhythmical sound: melodic lines flawlessly and soulfully executed by the horn section, notable guitar wizardry laid down by Jerry Cortez, and topped off with a killer keyboard solo by Roger Smith that kicks off the whole song. Emilio Castillo vocal scats throughout which is a first. Rocco and David Garibaldi are locked up infectiously and the solos are some of the best they’ve ever recorded. The song is written by Rocco Prestia and Tom Schuman from Spryo Gyra. The track’s uplifting lyrics and extremely contagious spirit cannot be ignored, and string together the song’s overall vibe for an absolute party track. Almost through the end of the song, Jerry Cortez burns down the house on guitar. Step Up gives us a taste that fulfills the band’s promise of an album that will “move you physically and emotionally,” as predicted by bandleader and founder Emilio Castillo himself. The wait is finally over! March 20, 2020 fans’ appetites are completely gratified.

Stream “STEP UP”

Watch “Look in my Eyes”