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
I Like Your Style
Tower of Power Lyrics
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And that's the day I never will forget
You came into my life
And made everything right
I remember the first time we touched
I never knew that I could love so much
You ignited the flame
I like your style
(I like your style)
I like your smile
(I like it, baby)
I love your heart
And I loved you right from the start
Made a wish upon a lucky star
For someone special just the way you are
That wish came true, when I found
When I found you, baby
Well, I can still see that star shining bright
And with this love there's no end in sight
It's just you and me, because we're destined
We're destined to be, baby
I like your style
(I like your style)
And you know that I like your smile
(I like it baby)
I love your heart
And I loved you right from the start
Each day is new
(I like your style)
Pretty girl when I'm with you, yeah, yeah
(I like it baby)
It's more than on than okay
And gettin' better each and every way, yeah, yeah
There's only one thing that I'd like to do
I want to spend my whole life with you
Till death do us part, because you captured
You captured my heart, baby
I like your style
(I like your style)
And you know that I like your smile
(I like it baby)
Each day is new, yes it is
(I like your style)
Pretty girl when I'm with you
I like your style
(I like your style)
And you know that I like your smile
(I like it baby)
I said you make me feel brand new baby, a brand new baby
(I like your style)
Pretty girl when I'm with you
I like your style
(I like your style)
Tower of Power's song "I Like Your Style" is a romantic ode to a significant other, expressing the singer's admiration and appreciation for their partner's impact on their life. The first verse recalls the first day the singer met their partner, and how that day was unforgettable and transformative. The second verse describes the moment where the passion between the two sparked, as the singer reveals their surprise at how deep their love for their partner became. Every line of the song follows the theme of gratitude and adoration, as the singer lists all the things they love about their partner-"your style, your smile, your heart," highlighting the significance of the relationship and how it's only grown stronger with time. The last verse seals the deal with the singer wanting to spend their whole life with their partner, saying "till death do us part."
In terms of songwriting, "I Like Your Style" is a well-crafted R&B song almost bursting with vitality, soul, and romantic emotion. The effective use of horns and bass guitar is typical of Tower of Power's sound, while the lyrics showcase a different aspect of the group's versatility by injecting a touch of sensitivity and romance to their music. Overall, the lyrics evoke the classic R&B sound of the '70s while still standing out as a timeless declaration of love.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember the first day we met
I have vivid recollections of the day we first crossed paths
And that's the day I never will forget
That day is particularly memorable for me and will stay with me forever
You came into my life
My life changed for the better when you entered it
And made everything right
You have the ability to fix any situation just by being present
I remember the first time we touched
I recall the moment we made physical contact for the first time
I never knew that I could love so much
I did not think it was possible to feel such intense love before meeting you
You ignited the flame
You sparked something inside me that has grown into a passionate love
And I still feel the same
Those initial feelings of love and admiration have not diminished over time
I like your style
I am drawn to the particular way you carry yourself
(I like your style)
I am so smitten with you that I must express it repeatedly
I like your smile
Your smile brings me joy and lightens up my day
(I like it, baby)
These feelings are so strong that I must add a term of endearment
I love your heart
I am deeply enamored with the kind and compassionate person you are
And I loved you right from the start
These feelings of love and attraction began as soon as we met
Made a wish upon a lucky star
I hoped and prayed for someone special in my life
For someone special just the way you are
I envisioned someone like you, who possess every trait that makes you so unique and lovable
That wish came true, when I found
My dream came true when I met you
When I found you, baby
You are the exact person I hoped and wished for
Well, I can still see that star shining bright
The hope and love that came with that wish are still present and strong
And with this love there's no end in sight
Our love has no limits and will go on indefinitely
It's just you and me, because we're destined
Our deep connection and love for each other is bound by fate and meant to be
We're destined to be, baby
Our love is preordained and meant to last forever
Each day is new
Every new day with you is filled with fresh opportunities and possibilities
(I like your style)
I cannot stress enough how much I am drawn to your particular way of being
Pretty girl when I'm with you, yeah, yeah
You make my world a more beautiful and vibrant place just by being there
(I like it, baby)
Once again, I must add a term of endearment to express how I feel
It's more than on than okay
Our relationship is more than just alright: everything is perfect and bright
And gettin' better each and every way, yeah, yeah
Our love continues to blossom and evolve each and every day
There's only one thing that I'd like to do
There is only one thing I wish for in life
I want to spend my whole life with you
I want to commit myself to spending the rest of my life with you, loving you every step of the way
Till death do us part, because you captured
I want to be with you for the rest of my life - until death separates us - because you have won my love completely
You captured my heart, baby
You have my heart and my love, and have since the first moment we met
I said you make me feel brand new baby, a brand new baby
You make me feel alive, renewed and invigorated, like a newborn baby
(I like your style)
Once again, I express my infatuation with your distinct mannerisms and behaviors
Pretty girl when I'm with you
I can't help but feel enamored by you whenever we are together
I like your style
Ultimately, I am completely smitten with the way you present yourself to the world
(I like your style)
This sentiment bears repeating, as it is the core of my feelings towards you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: E. CASTILLO, N. MILO, S. KUPKA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind