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As part of its best-selling anthology series, SoulMusic Records is very proud to present “You Ought To Be Havin’ Fun” a solid 2-CD set by the legendary Tower Of Power, considered one of the premier funk ‘n’soul jazz bands of the past four decades.
As its title implies, this 35-track collection focuses on two specific periods of the internationally-renowned group’s career: Disc One consists of cuts from “Ain’t Nothin’ Stoppin’ Us Now”, “We Came To Play” and “Back On The Streets”, the three albums released by Columbia Records between 1976-1979; while Disc Two is derived from four albums – “Monster On A Leash”, “T.O.P.”, “Souled Out” and “Rhythm & Business”, released by Epic Records between 1991-1997.
Formed initially in 1968 in Oakland, California by horn players Emilio Castillo and Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Tower Of Power’s debut set (“East Bay Grease”) was cut for renowned promoter Bill Graham’s San Francisco Records in 1970; after signing with Warner Brothers in 1971, the horn-dominated band scored a string of hit singles (such as the funk classic, ‘What Is Hip’ and the soul ballads, ‘You’re Still A Young Man’ and ‘So Very Hard To Go’) and best-selling albums for the label (including “Bump City” and “Tower Of Power”, reissued as a 2-CD expanded editions set by SoulMusic Records in 2016 – WSMCR 5146D).
By the mid-’70s, also acclaimed for their exciting live performances, Tower Of Power signed with Columbia Records, self-producing their debut set then working with Stax musical legend Steve Cropper on their second LP and finally with Chicago arranger/producer Richard Evans and Detroit hit-maker McKinley Jackson on their third Columbia album. During the ‘80s, the band toured worldwide extensively before signing a new contract with Epic Records in 1991, resulting in four albums enthusiastically appreciated by TOP’s global audience.
Co-produced by David Nathan and distinguished US writer/musicologist Kevin Goins who provided extensive liner notes which include 2018 quotes from Emilio Castillo and others, YOU OUGHT TO BE HAVIN’ FUN features first class remastering by Donald Cleveland and stellar artwork by Roger Williams.
Tracklist
AIN’T NO STOPPIN’ US NOW – THE COLUMBIA YEARS
1. AIN’T NOTHIN’ STOPPIN’ US NOW
2. BECAUSE I THINK THE WORLD OF YOU
3. YOU OUGHT TO BE HAVIN’ FUN
4. WHILE WE WENT TO THE MOON
5. WE CAME TO PLAY
6. LOVE BUG
7. LOVIN’ YOU IS GONNA SEE ME THRU
8. AM I A FOOL
9. IN DUE TIME
10. AND YOU KNOW IT
11. ROCK BABY
12. HEAVEN MUST HAVE MADE YOU
13. BY YOUR SIDE
14. SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD
15. DOIN’ ALRIGHT
16. IT’S SO NICE
17. JUST MAKE A MOVE AND BE YOURSELF
18. DEAL WITH IT
19. BITTERSWEET SOUL MUSIC
DISC TWO:
SOUL WITH A CAPITAL “S” – THE EPIC YEARS
1. SOUL WITH A CAPITAL “S”
2. PLEASE COME BACK (TO STAY)
3. YOU
4. SOULED OUT
5. RECAPTURE THE MAGIC
6. A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE (IS A DANGEROUS THING)
7. WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE
8. HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN TO ME
9. DIGGIN’ ON JAMES BROWN
10. COME TO A DECISION
11. RHYTHM AND BUSINESS
12. THAT WAS THEN,THIS IS NOW
13. COME ON WITH IT
14. YOU CAN’T FALL UP (YOU JUST FALL DOWN)
15. CRUISE CONTROL
16. UNDERCURRENT