Monster on a Leash

Monster on a Leash
Studio album by
Tower of Power
Released1991
StudioSchnee Studios and Hollywood Sound Recorders (Hollywood, California).
GenreSoul, funk
LabelEpic[1]
ProducerEmilio Castillo
Tower of Power chronology
Power
(1987) 		Monster on a Leash
(1991) 		T.O.P.
(1993)

Monster on a Leash is an album by the American band Tower of Power, released in 1991.[2][3] It peaked at No. 19 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.[4]

Production

[edit]

Huey Lewis cowrote "How Could This Happen to Me" and "Keep Your Monster on a Leash".[5] Tower of Power employed a 10-member lineup for the recording of the album.[6]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
Chicago Tribune[6]

The Baltimore Sun wrote that "it's not the band's brassy bluster that makes it worth hearing, but the rhythm section's refried soul grooves."[8] The Washington Post opined that "except for a few tracks ... the combination of Tom Bowes's rather generic R&B vocals and some uninspired lyrics is sorely outclassed by the group's surging horn arrangements and incessant dance grooves."[5]

Track listing

[edit]

All songs written by Emilio Castillo and Stephen "Doc" Kupka unless otherwise noted.

  1. "A Little Knowledge (Is a Dangerous Thing)" - 4:24 (Castillo, Dana Meyers, Milo, Zeke Zirngiebel)
  2. "How Could This Happen to Me" - 4:10
  3. "Who Do You Think You Are" - 4:22 (Bobbie Candler, Grillo, Greg Mathieson, Danny Seidenberg)
  4. "Attitude Dance" - 5:36
  5. "You Can't Fall Up (You Just Fall Down)" - 4:55 (Castillo, Skip Knape, Kupka)
  6. "Funk the Dumb Stuff" - 5:27
  7. "Believe It" - 4:35 (Adams, Castillo, Prestia)
  8. "Personal Possessions" - 5:06 (Troy Dexter, Grillo)
  9. "Miss Trouble (Got a Lot of Nerve)" - 4:45 (Castillo, Kupka, David Woodford)
  10. "Keep Your Monster on a Leash" - 4:33 (Castillo, Kupka, Tim Scott, Huey Lewis)
  11. "Someone New" - 4:28 (Adams)
  12. "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" - 5:26 (Milo)

Personnel

[edit]
  • Tom Bowes – lead vocals
  • Nick Milo – keyboards
  • Carmen Grillo – guitars, backing vocals
  • Rocco Prestia – bass
  • Russ McKinnon – drums, percussion
  • Steve Grove – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
  • Emilio Castillo – tenor saxophone, backing vocals, lead vocals (6)
  • Stephen 'Doc' Kupka – baritone saxophone
  • Lee Thornburg – trombone, trumpet, flugelhorn, backing vocals, lead vocals (10)
  • Greg Adams – trumpet, flugelhorn, backing vocals, horn and string arrangements

Production

[edit]
  • Emilio Castillo – producer
  • Al Schmitt – recording, mixing
  • Bob Loftus – assistant engineer
  • Chris Rich – assistant engineer
  • Doug Sax – mastering at The Mastering Lab (Hollywood, California)
  • Michael Caplan – A&R
  • Maureen Droney – production coordinator
  • Jerry Manuel – production manager
  • David Coleman – art direction
  • Nancy Donald – art direction
  • David Michalek – photography

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Andrews, Marke (11 July 1991). "Tower of Power Monster on a Leash". Vancouver Sun. p. F18.
  2. ^ Luhrssen, Dave (28 June 1991). "Tower of Power". The Milwaukee Journal. p. B4.
  3. ^ "Monster on a Leash Tower of Power". Magazine. The Kingston Whig-Standard. 6 July 1991. p. 1.
  4. ^ "Tower of Power". Billboard. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  5. ^ a b Joyce, Mike (31 May 1991). "Tower of Power's Soul Not in Lyrics". The Washington Post. p. N22.
  6. ^ a b "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. 20 June 1991. p. 9.
  7. ^ "Monster on a Leash Review by Alex Henderson". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  8. ^ Considine, J.D. (31 May 1991). "Monster on a Leash Tower of Power". Features. The Baltimore Sun. p. 5.
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