T.O.P. is a 1993 album by the soul/funk group Tower of Power. It was the last album to feature founding trumpet player and band horn arranger Greg Adams and vocalist Tom Bowes. It also features a reunion with saxophonist Lenny Pickett, who shows up on a few tracks.
The European version of their 1987 album Power was titled TOP (not to be confused with T.O.P.).
Track listing
All songs written by Emilio Castillo and Stephen "Doc" Kupka unless otherwise noted.
"Soul With a Capital 'S'" - 4:59
"It All Comes Back" - 3:55 (Adams, Neil Jason, John McCurry) "Please Come Back (to Stay)" - 5:28 (Castillo, Kupka, Milo) "The Real Deal" - 4:30 "Come to a Decision" - 5:32 (Grillo) "Cruise Control" - 5:04 (Adams, Milo) "The Educated Bump, Part I" - 0:54 "Mama Lied" - 3:35 (Castillo) "Quiet Scream" - 4:21 (Adams) "I Like Your Style" - 4:19 (Castillo, Kupka, Milo) "You" - 4:31 (Grillo, Tom Keane) "South of the Boulevard" - 5:59 "Come on With It" - 4:52 "The Educated Bump, Part II" - 1:02
Personnel
Tower of Power
Tom Bowes – lead vocals, backing vocals
Nick Milo – keyboards
Carmen Grillo – guitars, backing vocals, lead vocals (11) Rocco Prestia – bass Russ McKinnon – drums, percussion Emilio Castillo – tenor saxophone, backing vocals, lead vocals (13) Stephen "Doc" Kupka – baritone saxophone Lee Thornburg – trombone, trumpet, flugelhorn, backing vocals Greg Adams – trumpet, flugelhorn, horn arrangements, flugelhorn solo (6), trumpet solo (9)
Guest personnel
Lenny Pickett – saxophone solos (2, 4, 7, 12, 13, 14) Brandon Fields – saxophone solo (6) Paul Perez – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone Poncho Sanchez – congas (11, 12)
Production
Michael Caplan – executive producer
Emilio Castillo – producer
Carmen Grillo – producer
Maureen Droney – recording
Ken Kessie – recording, mixing
Danny Alonso – additional engineer, assistant engineer
John Jackson – assistant engineer
Randy Long – assistant engineer
Pete Magdaleno – assistant engineer
Pat Rodman – assistant engineer
Louie Teran – assistant engineer
Vlado Meller – mastering
David Coleman – art direction
Nancy Donald – art direction
Mick Wiggins – cover illustration
Rocky Schneck – photography
Studios
Recorded at Rumbo Recorders and Skip Saylor Recording (Los Angeles, California); Pacifique Studios and Track Record Studios (North Hollywood, California); Can-Am Recorders (Tarzana, California). Mixed at Can-Am Recorders Mastered at Sony Music Studios (New York City, New York).