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Urban Renewal is a Tower of Power album recorded in 1974 and released in 1975. It's also the last album to feature lead singer Lenny Williams, who would leave to continue a successful solo career. Plus drummer David Garibaldi left temporarily, although he does appear on the song "Willing To Learn" which was the first single released on the album. David Bartlett takes the reins as drummer for this album. Also conga player Brent Byars left after the previous album Back to Oakland, with Carter Collins taking over for him on this album.

Urban Renewal
Studio album by Tower of Power
Released	January 1975
Recorded	1974
Studio	Record Plant, Sausalito, California
Genre	Funk, soul
Length	37:46
Label	Warner Bros. Records
Producer	Emilio Castillo
Tower of Power chronology
Back to Oakland (1974) Urban Renewal (1975) In the Slot (1975)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Christgau's Record Guide	B+[1]

Track listing

1. "Only So Much Oil in the Ground" (Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Emilio Castillo) - 3:46
2. "Come Back, Baby" (Bruce Conte, Lenny Williams) - 3:21
3. "It's Not the Crime" (Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Emilio Castillo) - 1:45
4. "I Won't Leave Unless You Want Me To" (Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Emilio Castillo, Greg Adams) - 3:28
5. "Maybe It'll Rub Off" (Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Emilio Castillo, Chester D. Thompson) - 3:15
6. "(To Say the Least) You're the Most" (Johnny "Guitar" Watson) - 2:28
7. "Willing to Learn" (Emilio Castillo, Stephen "Doc" Kupka) - 4:35
8. "Give Me the Proof" (David Bartlett) - 2:35
9. "It Can Never Be the Same" (Bruce Conte, Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Emilio Castillo) - 4:43
10. "I Believe in Myself" (Emilio Castillo, Stephen "Doc" Kupka) - 2:00
11. "Walkin' Up Hip Street" (Chester D. Thompson) - 5:50

Production

• Emilio Castillo – producer
• Tower of Power – producers
• Alan Chinowsky – engineer
• Tom Flye – engineer
• Chris Morris – assistant engineer
• Kurt Kinzel – assistant engineer
• Bruce Steinberg – album design, liner photography
• Recorded and Mixed at Record Plant (Sausalito, California).

Personnel

Tower of Power

• Lenny Williams – lead vocals (1, 2, 4-10)
• Chester D. Thompson – acoustic piano, clavinet, organ, ARP synthesizer, bass pedals, backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 7, 8), arrangements (5, 11)
• Bruce Conte – guitars, backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 7, 8)
• Francis Rocco Prestia – bass guitar
• David Bartlett – drums (1-6, 8-11), backing vocals (8)
• Lenny Pickett – clarinet, bass clarinet, alto flute, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, 1st tenor saxophone, all sax solos
• Stephen "Doc" Kupka – baritone saxophone
• Emilio Castillo – 2nd tenor saxophone, backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 7, 8), lead vocals (3)
• Mic Gillette – trombone, trumpet, backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 7, 8), trumpet solo (11)
• Greg Adams – trumpet, flugelhorn, arrangements (1-4, 6-10), string arrangements and conductor

Additional musicians

• David Garibaldi – drums (7)
• Carter Collins – congas (7)
• Gerard Vinci – concertmaster
• Bootche Anderson – backing vocals (1, 2, 9, 20)
• Marilyn Scott – backing vocals (1, 2, 9, 10)
• Pepper Watkins – backing vocals (1, 2, 9, 10)

Charts

Album

Chart (1975)	Peak position
Billboard Pop Albums[2]	22
Billboard Top Soul Albums[2]	19

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions[3]
		US R&B
1975	"Willing To Learn"	77
1975	"Only So Much Oil In The Ground"	85

External links

• Tower Of Power-Urban Renewal at Discogs

References

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