East Bay Grease

East Bay Grease
Studio album by
Tower of Power
Released1970
StudioMercury Recording Studios, San Francisco
GenreSoul, R&B
Length41:35
LabelSan Francisco/Atlantic
ProducerDavid Rubinson
Tower of Power chronology
East Bay Grease
(1970) 		Bump City
(1972)
Singles from East Bay Grease
  1. "Back on the Streets Again/Sparkling in the Sand"
    Released: 1970

East Bay Grease is the debut album by the soul and funk group Tower of Power, released in 1970.[1] The band was one of the early music groups to be signed by Bill Graham's Fillmore Records, which released the LP.[2][3]

The album shows the band at an early stage of development, trying out several lead singers including Rick Stevens who soon left the band (1972) because of heavy drug abuse.[4] In a retrospective review, music historian Rickey Vincent said the album contained "sloppy and raggedy horn-heavy R&B."[5] Drummer David Garibaldi later said that his playing style was undisciplined during this time, that the album showed his "rough edges". He began private drum lessons with a Bay Area drum teacher named Chuck Brown, and polished his technique in time for the improvements to be heard on 1973's Tower of Power album.[6]

The album was released on CD in 1992 by Rhino Records.

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic [7]

Track listing

All selections written by Emilio Castillo and Stephen Kupka, except "Sparkling in the Sand" by Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka and Lawrence Lopez.[8]

  1. "Knock Yourself Out" - 7:08
  2. "Social Lubrication" - 7:28
  3. "The Price" - 6:09
  4. "Back on the Streets Again" - 5:50
  5. "The Skunk, the Goose, and the Fly" - 5:55
  6. "Sparkling in the Sand" - 9:06

Personnel

Production credit [9]

  • Rufus Miller - lead vocals (except "Sparkling in the Sand")
  • Emilio Castillo - alto saxophone, vocals, extra greasy vocal on "The Skunk, the Goose, and the Fly"
  • David Garibaldi - drums, vibes, background vocals
  • Greg Adams - first trumpet
  • Stephen "The Funky Doctor" Kupka - baritone saxophone, background vocals
  • Skip Mesquite - tenor saxophone, flute, vocals
  • David Padron - second trumpet
  • Frank Rocco Prestia - bass
  • Rick Stevens - lead vocal on "Sparkling in the Sand", background vocals
  • Willie James Fulton - guitar, background vocals
  • Mic Gillette - trumpet, trombone, flugelhorn with solo on "Sparkling in the Sand"[3]
  • Ken Balzell - trumpet
Technical
  • Bruce Steinberg - cover and liner design, artwork, photography

References

  1. ^ Godbey, Matthew (2016-10-26). "Stage & Screen: "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" a not-so-lovely plot". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2017-06-29.
  2. ^ Hall, J.T. (2016-11-16). "Tower of Power Gets Funky In Verona". Syracuse New Times. Retrieved 2017-06-29.
  3. ^ a b "Tower of Power Founder and Trumpeter Mic Gillette Dead at 64". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2017-06-29.
  4. ^ Lentz III, Harris M. (2018). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2017. McFarland. p. 375–376. ISBN 9781476633183.
  5. ^ Vincent, Rickey (2014). Funk: The Music, The People, and The Rhythm of The One. St. Martin's Publishing Group. p. 333. ISBN 9781466884526.
  6. ^ Payne, Jim (2010). The Great Drummers R&B Funk & Soul. Mel Bay Publications. p. 214. ISBN 9781609745820.
  7. ^ Wynn, Ron. East Bay Grease at AllMusic. Retrieved 26 June 2007.
  8. ^ Wynn, Ron. "East Bay Grease - Tower of Power - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  9. ^ "East Bay Grease - Tower of Power - Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-07-21.