In 1970, TOP signed a recording contract with Bill Graham's San Francisco Records and quickly released its first album, East Bay Grease. 1972's Bump City and 1973's self-titled release were breakout albums for the band; the latter included possibly their most enduring song, What is Hip?.
Tower of Power has remained active throughout the 1970s, '80s, '90s, and into the 21st century, and is still touring in 2010. Personnel changes have been part of the history and evolution of the band; at least 60 musicians have performed, toured, and/or recorded with the band through the years, including Saturday Night Live musical director Lenny Pickett, drummer David Garibaldi, bassist Rocco Prestia, and bassist and BALCO founder Victor Conte. (His brother Bruce Conte played guitar in the band as well.) Lenny Williams served as lead singer for several years after one of the original singers, Rick Stevens was imprisoned. Rufus Miller performed most of the lead vocals on "East Bay Grease." Former lead vocalist Rick Stevens (real name Donald Stevenson) was sentenced to life in prison on three counts of first-degree murder relating to a botched drug deal, crimes committed after leaving the band. Stevens was paroled on July 20, 2012 after 36 years in prison. Rick Stevens died on September 5th, 2017.
TOP has released 15 albums over the years, the latest being 2003's The Oakland Zone. In addition, the horn section has become well-known as a backing horn section for other artists. The TOP horn section has appeared on many recordings, including some made by the Monkees, Santana, Elton John, John Lee Hooker, Rod Stewart, Jefferson Starship, Heart, Huey Lewis and the News, Lyle Lovett, Poison, Phish, Pharoahe Monch, and Aerosmith.
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(2) The renowned horn-driven funk outfit Tower of Power have been issuing albums and touring the world steadily since the early '70s, in addition to backing up countless other musicians. The group's leader since the beginning has always been tenor saxophonist Emilio Castillo, who was born in Detroit but opted to pursue his musical dreams in Oakland, California. It was in Oakland that Castillo put together a group called the Motowns, which, as their name suggested, specialized in '60s-era soul. In 1967, Castillo teamed up with baritone sax player Stephen "Doc" Kupka, and soon the Motowns were transformed into Tower of Power. (One of the first tunes the duo penned together was "You're Still a Young Man," which would eventually go on to be one of Tower of Power's signature compositions.)
Tower of Power played regularly in the Bay Area throughout the late '60s, as their lineup often swelled up to ten members, including such other mainstays as Greg Adams on trumpet and vocals, Lenny Pickett on sax, and Rocco Prestia on bass. By 1970, the funk outfit had inked a recording contract with Bill Graham's San Francisco Records, resulting in the group's debut the same year, East Bay Grease, which failed to make an impression on the charts as Tower of Power were still trying to find their own sound.
But it soon came together for the group, as 1972's Bump City would touch off a string of classic hit albums, including 1973's self-titled release (which introduced vocalist Lenny Williams and included another of the group's most enduring tunes, "What Is Hip?"), 1974's Back to Oakland, and 1975's Urban Renewal and In the Slot. While Tower of Power remained a must-see live act, as disco became the new trend in R&B the group's original funk-laden style fell out of favor, and disco-oriented albums like 1978's We Came to Play and 1979's Back on the Streets didn't please critics or fans, and the band would go nine years without releasing an album.
Despite it all, Tower of Power -- in particular their horn section -- remained a much in-demand backing group for some of pop/rock's biggest names, including Elton John, Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Huey Lewis, Little Feat, David Sanborn, Michelle Shocked, Paula Abdul, Aaron Neville, Aerosmith, Public Image Ltd., and many others. In 1988, Tower of Power returned to the studio for the album Power, and in 1991 they signed with Epic Records, where they released five albums by the end of the decade.
Into the new millennium, Tower of Power kept up their reputation as a strong live band, maintaining a steady touring schedule, and in 2009 they launched their own TOP Records label with The Great American Soulbook, in which they covered a dozen soul and R&B classics in the trademark Tower of Power style. In 2007, Tower of Power celebrated their fourth decade together with a special concert at San Francisco's Fillmore Auditorium, and a year later the show was issued in a special CD/DVD package, simply titled 40th Anniversary. In 2013, Tower of Power took a look back with the release of Hipper Than Hip: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow, which documented a live radio broadcast from 1974. The bandmembers also announced they would be touring in 2013 and 2014 with two other iconic acts from Northern California, Journey and the Steve Miller Band. ~ Greg Prato & Steve Leggett, Rovi
Down To The Nightclub
Tower of Power Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lookin' for a place to party
I jumps into my ride and I hits the road
'Cause there's only one place to go
(Down to the nightclub) Ooh, the women be righteously ready and pretty
(Down to the nightclub) We go bump-ty, bump-ty, bump'
(Bump City)
Watchin' the man with fast feet
He's got the hippest threads and the bad boogaloo
And a big ol' bag of tricks
(Down to the nightclub) Ah, ha, you can get what you want
If you know how to find it
(Down to the nightclub) Ooh, we be slick, slick, slick
Ooh, the people be bumpin' (At Bump City)
The joint be jumpin' (At Bump City)
The mamas be humpin' (At Bump City)
Hey, while the band be pumpin'
'Said the band be pumpin'
The beat be somethin'
Ow! One time y'all!
The night's almost gone and we're still goin' strong,
'Cause the party's been so hearty.
I hope it doesn't show while I'm drivin' down the road
That I had to much to drink.
(Down to the nightclub) Well, if you've got the dough
The liqour will flow
(Down to the nightclub) Tied on a drunk, drunk, drunk
(Down to the nightclub) We go bump-ty, bump-ty, bump
(Down to the nightclub) We be slick, slick, slick
(Down to the nightclub) We go bump-ty, bump-ty, bump
(Down to the nightclub) Tied on a drunk, drunk, drunk
(Down to the nightclub) Well, if you've got the dough, the liqour will flow
(Down to the nightclub) Yeah, yeah, oh, yeah
(Down to the nightclub) Look here, man
You can get what you want if you know how to find it
(Down to the nightclub) see'mon, see'mon, see'mon
(Down to the nightclub) Yeah, yeah, oh, yeah
(Down to the nightclub) Look here, y'all
The women be righteously ready and pretty (Hee-hee)
(Down to the nightclub) Alright, now, now
(Down to the nightclub)
Down to the nightclub
Bump-ty, bump-ty, bump
The lyrics of Tower of Power's "Down to the Nightclub" depict the excitement of a Saturday night and the desire to find the perfect place to party. The singer jumps into his ride and hits the road, driving to the nightclub, which is the only place to be. When he arrives, he sees women who are "righteously ready and pretty," and they all start dancing and bumping to the music. The singer checks out the man with fast feet, who has the hippest threads and the bad boogaloo, and suddenly, the band starts playing. The band pumps up the crowd with their syncopated beats and funky rhythms. The party continues long into the night, and the liquor continues to flow.
Line by Line Meaning
It's Saturday night and I'm just hangin' out
It's the weekend and I'm looking for something to do
Lookin' for a place to party
Searching for somewhere to have a good time
I jumps into my ride and I hits the road
I get in my car and start driving
'Cause there's only one place to go
Because there's only one spot to have a great night
(Down to the nightclub) Ooh, the women be righteously ready and pretty
At the nightclub, the ladies are looking sharp and ready to dance
(Down to the nightclub) We go bump-ty, bump-ty, bump'
We dance to the beat at the club
(Bump City)
The exciting nickname for the nightclub
Sitting by the dance floor checkin' it out
Observing everyone on the dance floor
Watchin' the man with fast feet
Observing the person who's dancing with quick feet
He's got the hippest threads and the bad boogaloo
He's wearing stylish clothes and dancing with flare
And a big ol' bag of tricks
He has many dance moves
(Down to the nightclub) Ah, ha, you can get what you want
If you know how to find it
At the nightclub, you can have a good time if you know where to look
(Down to the nightclub) Ooh, we be slick, slick, slick
At the club, we're looking and feeling good
Ooh, the people be bumpin' (At Bump City)
People are dancing and having fun at the club
The joint be jumpin' (At Bump City)
The party is going strong at the club
The mamas be humpin' (At Bump City)
The women are dancing with energy and enthusiasm at the club
Hey, while the band be pumpin'
The band is playing great music
'Said the band be pumpin'
The band is playing loudly and everyone can hear them
The beat be somethin'
The music is very catchy and people can't help but dance
Ow! One time y'all!
An exclamation or shout of excitement
The night's almost gone and we're still goin' strong,
The night is almost over but everyone is still having fun
'Cause the party's been so hearty.
Because the party has been so great
I hope it doesn't show while I'm drivin' down the road
That I had to much to drink.
I hope I don't seem like I had too much alcohol while I'm driving home
(Down to the nightclub) Well, if you've got the dough
The liqour will flow
If you have money, you can keep buying drinks at the club
(Down to the nightclub) Tied on a drunk, drunk, drunk
Getting drunk at the club
(Down to the nightclub) We be slick, slick, slick
At the club, we're looking and feeling good
(Down to the nightclub) We go bump-ty, bump-ty, bump
We dance to the beat at the club
(Down to the nightclub) Tied on a drunk, drunk, drunk
Getting drunk at the club
(Down to the nightclub) Well, if you've got the dough, the liqour will flow
If you have money, you can keep buying drinks at the club
(Down to the nightclub) Yeah, yeah, oh, yeah
Going to the club is a lot of fun
(Down to the nightclub) Look here, man
You can get what you want if you know how to find it
At the nightclub, you can have a good time if you know where to look
(Down to the nightclub) see'mon, see'mon, see'mon
Encouraging someone to come to the club
(Down to the nightclub) Alright, now, now
Excitedly saying to go to the club
(Down to the nightclub)
Down to the nightclub
Going to the club
Bump-ty, bump-ty, bump
Dancing to the beat at the club
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DAVID GARIBALDI, EMILIO CASTILLO, STEVE KUPKA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Iris
It's Saturday night and I'm just hangin' out
Lookin' for a place to party
I jumps into my ride and I hits the road
'Cause there's only one place to go
(Down to the nightclub) Ooh, the women be righteously ready and pretty
(Down to the nightclub) We go bump-ty, bump-ty, bump'
(Bump City)
Sitting by the dance floor checkin' it out
Watchin' the man with fast feet
He's got the hippest threads and the bad boogaloo
And a big ol' bag of tricks
(Down to the nightclub) Ah, ha, you can get what you want
If you know how to find it
(Down to the nightclub) Ooh, we be slick, slick, slick
Ooh, the people be bumpin' (At Bump City)
The joint be jumpin' (At Bump City)
The mamas be humpin' (At Bump City)
Hey, while the band be pumpin'
'Said the band be pumpin'
The beat be somethin'
Ow! One time y'all!
The night's almost gone and we're still goin' strong,
'Cause the party's been so hearty.
I hope it doesn't show while I'm drivin' down the road
That I had to much to drink.
(Down to the nightclub) Well, if you've got the dough
The liqour will flow
Tied on a drunk, drunk, drunk
(Down to the nightclub) We go bump-ty, bump-ty, bump
(Down to the nightclub) We be slick, slick, slick
(Down to the nightclub) We go bump-ty, bump-ty, bump
(Down to the nightclub) Tied on a drunk, drunk, drunk
(Down to the nightclub) Well, if you've got the dough, the liqour will flow
(Down to the nightclub) Yeah, yeah, oh, yeah
Look here, man
You can get what you want if you know how to find it
(Down to the nightclub) see'mon, see'mon, see'mon
(Down to the nightclub) Yeah, yeah, oh, yeah
(Down to the nightclub) Look here, y'all
The women be righteously ready and pretty (Hee-hee)
(Down to the nightclub) Alright, now, now
(Down to the nightclub)
Down to the nightclub
Bump-ty, bump-ty, bump
Moonlitverse
Never gets old. Never!
Luke Fashaw
Back in junior high all the way through high school one could not wait until the next album came out. They were and are still the best.
monty s
one of the best horn sections ever put together .
Fifi Trixiebelle
GREATEST BAND EVER!!!! AND KILLER HORN SECTION!
Charles Meeker
TOP. Great horns, funky arrangements. Fabulous party music. Can't sit this one out.
Dupi's Disasterpiece
Incredible tune. What a banger.
Robert Rindler
Still good after all these years!
Cleni Maria Accorsi
Minha terceira leitura da Dança da Morte! Adoro.
Jon Helmstadter
Good music holds up forever
Mz BadDog
Best band. EVER. Straight outta the Bay Area.. and im proud to say im from there.. I have front seat tickets for their concert in February