Tag Archives: Bruce Conte

Tower of Power: Step Up

On March 20, 2020, “Mack Avenue Records” label released “Step Up”, the 22nd Tower of Power album. It was recorded over the course of the 2010s, at “Blue Moon” in Los Angeles, “Track Shack” in Sacramento, and was produced by Joe Vannelli and Emilio Castillo.

Personnel:

  • Emilio Castillo – lead and backing vocals, tenor saxophone
  • Roger Smith – lead vocals, keyboards, Hammond B3 organ
  • Jerry Cortez – guitars, electric sitar, backing vocals
  • Marcus Scott – lead and backing vocals
  • Ray Greene – lead and backing vocals, trombone
  • Joe Vannelli – keyboards, auxiliary percussion, vibes, marimba
  • Tom E. Politzer – alto and tenor saxophone
  • Stephen “Doc” Kupka – baritone saxophone
  • Chuck Hansen – bass saxophone
  • Adolfo Acosta – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Sal Cracchiolo – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Francis Rocco Prestia – bass guitar
  • David Garibaldi – drums
  • Leah Meux – backing vocals
  • Tiwana Porter – backing vocals
  • Melanie Jackson – backing vocals
  • Dave Eskridge – horn and string arrangements

Track listing:

  1. East Bay, All the Way! – David Garibaldi, Francis Rocco Prestia, Roger Smith, Jerry Cortez
  2. Step Up – Emilio Castillo, Roger Smith
  3. The Story of You and I – Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka
  4. Who Would Have Thought – Stephen Kupka, Nick Lane, Lamont Van Hook
  5. Addicted to You – Emilio Castillo, Sydney Justin
  6. Look in My Eyes – Francis Rocco Prestia, Thomas William Schuman, Kevin Henry Whalum
  7. You da One – Francis Rocco Prestia, Thomas William Schuman, Sennie Rudolph Martin
  8. Sleeping with You Baby – Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka
  9. If It’s Tea Give Me Coffee – Stephen Kupka, William Ross
  10. Beyond My Wildest Dreams – Bruce Conte
  11. Any Excuse Will Do – Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka, Lenny Pickett
  12. If You Wanna Be a Winner – Emilio Castillo, David Garibaldi, Francis Rocco Prestia, Roger Smith, Jerry Cortez
  13. Let’s Celebrate Our Love – Emilio Castillo, Mark Dolin
  14. East Bay! Oaktown All the Way! – David Garibaldi, Francis Rocco Prestia, Roger Smith, Jerry Cortez

Papa John Creach: Same

In December 1971, “Grunt” label released the self-titled, debut Papa John Creach  album. It was recorded in 1971 at “Wally Heider Studios” in San Francisco, and was produced by Papa John Creach and Mike Lipskin.

Personnel:

  • Papa John Creach – vocal. electric violin, arranger
  • Grace Slick– vocals
  • Jerry Garcia– guitar
  • John Cipollina, Bruce Conte – guitar
  • Jorma Kaukonen– guitar
  • Rufus Anderson – guitar
  • Bob Wilson – guitar
  • Carlos Santana– guitar
  • Paul Kantner– rhythm guitar
  • Art Hillery – piano, organ
  • Mike Lipskin– organ, piano
  • Gregg Rolie– organ
  • Nick Buck – piano
  • Dave Brown, Jack Casady– bass
  • Bobby Haynes – bass
  • Skip Olsen – bass
  • Douglas Rauch– bass
  • Peter Sears– bass
  • Sammy Piazza – drums
  • Tony Smith– drums
  • Joey Covington– drums, congas
  • Jack Bonus – saxophone
  • Greg Adams– trumpet
  • Mic Gillette– trombone
  • Stan Monteiro – clarinet
  • Los Angeles Brass Section – brass
  • Los Angeles String Section – strings
  • Roger Hamilton Spotts – arranger
  • Ken Hopkins – engineer, mixing
  • Peter Granet – engineer
  • Bill Thompson, Acy Lehman – design, concept
  • Bruce Steinberg – photography

Track listing:

  1. The Janitor Drives a Cadillac – Joey Covington
  2. Louis Blues – W.C. Handy
  3. Papa John’s Down Home Blues – Papa John Creach, Roger Spotts
  4. Plunk a Little Funk – Papa John Creach
  5. Over the Rainbow – Harold Arlen, Y. Harburg
  6. String Jet Rock – Papa John Creach
  7. Danny Boy – traditional
  8. Human Spring – James Reese, Roger Spotts
  9. Soul Fever – Miles Grayson
  10. Every Time I Hear Her Name – Roger Spotts

Tower Of Power: In The Slot

In September 1975, “Warner Bros” label released “In the Slot”, the sixth Tower of Power studio album. It was recorded in 1975, at “Record Plant” in Sausalito, California, and was produced by Emilio Castillo, Hubert Tubss, Bruce Conte, Chester Thompson, Francis Rocco Prestia, David Garibaldi, Lenny Pickett, Emilio Castillo, Steve Kupka, Mic Gillette and Greg Adams.

Personnel:

  • Hubert Tubbs- lead vocals
  • Bruce Conte – guitar, backing vocals
  • Chester Thompson – organ, bass pedals, acoustic piano, clavinet, ARP String Ensemble, backing vocals
  • Francis Rocco Prestia – bass guitar
  • David Garibaldi- drums
  • Lenny Pickett- soprano, alto and tenor  saxophone, piccolo, clarinet, contrabass clarinet, lyricon
  • Emilio Castillo – tenor saxophone, backing vocals
  • Steve Kupka- baritone saxophone
  • Mic Gillette- trumpet, trombone, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet, bass trombone, backing vocals
  • Greg Adams- trumpet, flugelhorn, string arrangements, conductor
  • Bootche Anderson, Marilyn Scott, Pepper Watkins, David Bartlett, Ron Beck, Frank Biner, Roger Rifkind – backing vocals
  • Tom Flye, Alan Chinowsky – engineer
  • Cris Morris – engineer assistant
  • Bruce Steinberg – design, photography
  • Ellie Oberzil – design assistant

Track listing:

  1. Just Enough and Too Much – Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka, Frank Biner
  2. Treat Me Like Your Man – Lenny Williams, Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka
  3. If I Play My Cards Right – Frank Biner, Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo
  4. As Surely as I Stand Here – Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Chester Thompson, Emilio Castillo
  5. Fanfare-Matanuska – Greg Adams
  6. On the Serious Side – Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka
  7. Ebony Jam – Chester Thompson
  8. You’re So Wonderful, So Marvelous – Frank Biner, Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo
  9. Vuela Por Noche – David Garibaldi, Bruce Conte, Greg Adams, Francis Rocco Prestia
  10. Essence of Innocence – Chester Thompson
  11. The Soul of a Child – Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Bruce Conte, Emilio Castillo
  12. Drop It in the Slot – Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka

Tower Of Power: Same

In May 1973, “Warner Bros” label released the self-titled, third Tower of Power album. It was recorded in 1973, and was produced by Greg Adams, Brent Byars, Emilio Castillo, Bruce Conte, David Garibaldi, Mic Gillette, Stephen” Doc” Kupka, Lenny Pickett, Francis ”Rocco” Prestia, Jay Spell, Bruce Steinberg, Chester Thompson and Lenny Williams.

Personnel:

  • Lenny Williams– lead vocals
  • Bruce Conte– guitar, backing vocals
  • Greg Adams– trumpet, flugelhorn, backing vocals, string arrangements, conductor
  • Stephen “Doc” Kupka– oboe, baritone saxophone, backing vocals
  • Lenny Pickett– clarinet, flute, tenor saxophone, backing vocals
  • Emilio Castillo– tenor saxophone, backing vocals, production supervisor
  • Francis “Rocco” Prestia– bass guitar
  • David Garibaldi– drums
  • Brent Byars – bongos, conga
  • Mic Gillette– trombone, trumpet, flugelhorn, baritone, backing vocals
  • Jay Spell – acoustic piano
  • Bruce Steinberg – harmonica, art direction, design, photography, illustrations, cover design
  • Chester Thompson – organ, keyboards, backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Emilio Castillo and Stephen “Doc” Kupka, except where noted.

  1. What Is Hip? – Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka, David Garibaldi
  2. Clever Girl – Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Willie Fulton
  3. This Time It’s Real – David Bartlett, Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka
  4. Will I Ever Find a Love?
  5. Get Yo’ Feet Back on the Ground – Willie Fulton
  6. So Very Hard to Go
  7. Soul Vaccination
  8. Both Sorry Over Nothin’ – Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Lenny Williams
  9. Clean Slate – Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Willie Fulton
  10. Just Another Day – Bruce Conte

Tower of Power: Urban Renewal

urban_renewal

In January 1975, “Warner Bros” label released “Urban Renewal”, the fifth Tower of Power album. It was recorded in 1974, at “Record Plant” in Sausalito in California, and was produced by Emilio Castillo.

Personnel:

  • Lenny Williams: lead vocals
  • Bruce Conte: guitars, backing vocals
  • Chester Thompson: keyboards, organ, acoustic piano, clavinet, backing vocals, bass pedals
  • Francis “Rocco” Prestia: bass guitar
  • David Bartlett: drums
  • David Garibaldi: drums
  • Carter Collins: congas, percussion
  • Greg Adams: trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Emilio Castillo: tenor saxophone, backing vocals
  • Mic Gillette: trumpet, trombone, backing vocals
  • Stephen Kupka: baritone saxophone
  • Lenny Pickett: clarinet, bass clarinet, alto flute, baritone, tenor & soprano saxophones
  • Bootche Anderson: vocals
  • Marilyn Scott: vocals
  • Pepper Watkins: vocals
  • Greg Adams, Chester Thompson – arrangements
  • Alan Chinowsky, Tom Flye – engineer
  • Lee Herschberg – mastering

Track listing:

  1. Only So Much Oil in the Ground – Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo
  2. Come Back, Baby – Bruce Conte, Lenny Williams
  3. It’s Not the Crime – Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo
  4. I Won’t Leave Unless You Want Me To – Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo, Greg Adams
  5. Maybe It’ll Rub Off – Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo, Chester Thompson
  6. (To Say the Least) You’re the Most – Johnny “Guitar” Watson
  7. Willing to Learn – Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka
  8. Give Me the Proof – David Bartlett
  9. It Can Never Be the Same – Bruce Conte, Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo
  10. I Believe in Myself – Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka
  11. Walkin’ Up Hip Street – Chester Thompson