If I were to take a guess, I’d say the person you know who would most likely be familiar with this album, would be a member of your high school marching band. That has been the case for me anyway. No, it is not because its music that only some sort of nerd would like, but because this album, along with most other Tower of Power albums, has some of the most impressive horn arrangements in music’s history. Tower of Power’s five-man horn section and five-man rhythm section provide a diverse backdrop for lead vocalists Lenny Williams’ soulful voice as they craft the flawless “Urban Renewal”.

The factor that stands out while listening to this album is the assortment styles Tower of Power cover. While the album is predominantly, and quite obviously, a funk album, the band often fall out of their James Brown-esque sound on songs like “Maybe It’ll Rub Off” and without warning mellow out and play a smooth soul ballad like “Willing to Learn”. The album starts off with Tower of Power playing in the manner their fans are probably most familiar with, as track number one, “Only So Much Oil in the Ground” is a slick funk groove driven by a fast paced bass line along with a constant organ riff supplied the band’s keyboardist Chester Thompson. Tower of Power’s world famous horn arrangements also make appearances throughout the song and there is a saxophone solo within the first half of the song. A commentary of the mid 70s oil crisis, it is easily the most meaningful on the album. “Only So Much Oil in the Ground” and “Walkin’ Up Hip Street”, a nearly six minute long instrumental, are the best of the fast-paced songs on “Urban Renewal”.

The slower soul cuts on the album will sit well with any fans of R&B released around the same time. Songs like “Come Back Baby” and “I Won’t Leave Unless You Want Me To” are very similar to mid ’70s recordings from Stax or song by the likes of Al Green or Jerry Butler, the only difference is the emphasis on the horns. “Willing to Learn” is the best of these songs, and possibly the best song on the album. The song is a ballad in 3/4 time with minimal instrumentation leading up the chorus which has Lenny Williams competing with the blaring horn section. Of all songs, this is the one song that best displays Williams’ incredible voice which would allow for him to have a successful solo career after parting ways with Tower of Power after this album.

With their mainstream success and obvious talent as displayed on this album, it is clear why Tower of Power’s horn section has been a go to section for well known and respected acts like The Brothers Johnson, Carlos Santana, and in recent years, rapper Pharoahe Monch. Their influence on the music industry immediately following this release was undeniable. Evidence of this is the music of the Average White Band which is clearly strongly influenced by Tower of Power. Their album “Cut the Cake”, released the year following the recording of “Urban Renewal” is almost a replica of this album, not to take away from their own talent and innovation as a group. That factor is what make the album essential to any music fan interested in what shaped R&B music during the 1970s, and its quality is what would make it a valuable addition to the music collection of any fan of music at all.

by Phil