(APRIL 27, 2018) – On June 1, Artistry Music, a Mack Avenue label will release Soul Side of Town, Tower of Power’s 25th album- a cranial-crushing funk amalgamation of soul, vintage R&B, groove, pop and rock. It’s the centerpiece for a celebratory 50th Anniversary campaign that includes the re-release of four hard to find independent productions: The East Bay Archive Vol. 1 (a 1973 live recording from Boston), Oakland Zone (a 2008 release celebrated for the return of drummer David Garibaldi after several years away), Great American Soulbook (an all-star affair of soul classics featuring guests such as Joss Stone, Tom Jones, Sam Moore and Huey Lewis), and 40th Anniversary: Live at The Fillmore in San Francisco (a deluxe multi-disc CD/DVD collector’s item loaded with great new live renditions of hits plus interviews with alumni past and present).
Soul Side of Town has 14 filler-free songs that delve into the golden canon of classics with a fresh approach to new material picking up the torch in all of the time-tested styles fans respect and love. It’s the perfect backdrop for a hair-raising audio experience.
Comprised of fourteen funky vibrant and intricately woven songs that exhibit a wide range in musicality that’s both modern and electrifying. From soon to be classics like “Hangin’ with my Baby”, “Butter Fried” and “After Hours” to the funky “Stop” and love songs “I Can’t Stop Thinking About You”, “Love Must Be Patient and Kind”, “Let it Go” which is a heart throbber, and “Do it With Soul” for the people providing the soundtrack for generations to come.
Founding member, Composer, Saxophonist Emilio Castillo reflects, “Celebrating 50 years together is a surreal experience. Recording with Producer Joe Vannelli and finishing 28 all new original songs has been a huge project and probably what may be the best work of our career. Touring at the same time while planning the filming of our 50 Year Anniversary Concert is like being in a whirlwind. People everywhere congratulating us and planning to fly to the concert from all over the world is just amazing. It’s all one big blur right now. God what a wonder!!!”