Monster on a Leash
| Monster on a Leash | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1991 | |||
| Studio | Schnee Studios and Hollywood Sound Recorders (Hollywood, California). | |||
| Genre | Soul, funk | |||
| Label | Epic[1] | |||
| Producer | Emilio Castillo | |||
| Tower of Power chronology | ||||
| ||||
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]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| 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.
- "A Little Knowledge (Is a Dangerous Thing)" - 4:24 (Castillo, Dana Meyers, Milo, Zeke Zirngiebel)
- "How Could This Happen to Me" - 4:10
- "Who Do You Think You Are" - 4:22 (Bobbie Candler, Grillo, Greg Mathieson, Danny Seidenberg)
- "Attitude Dance" - 5:36
- "You Can't Fall Up (You Just Fall Down)" - 4:55 (Castillo, Skip Knape, Kupka)
- "Funk the Dumb Stuff" - 5:27
- "Believe It" - 4:35 (Adams, Castillo, Prestia)
- "Personal Possessions" - 5:06 (Troy Dexter, Grillo)
- "Miss Trouble (Got a Lot of Nerve)" - 4:45 (Castillo, Kupka, David Woodford)
- "Keep Your Monster on a Leash" - 4:33 (Castillo, Kupka, Tim Scott, Huey Lewis)
- "Someone New" - 4:28 (Adams)
- "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]
- ^ Andrews, Marke (11 July 1991). "Tower of Power Monster on a Leash". Vancouver Sun. p. F18.
- ^ Luhrssen, Dave (28 June 1991). "Tower of Power". The Milwaukee Journal. p. B4.
- ^ "Monster on a Leash Tower of Power". Magazine. The Kingston Whig-Standard. 6 July 1991. p. 1.
- ^ "Tower of Power". Billboard. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- ^ a b Joyce, Mike (31 May 1991). "Tower of Power's Soul Not in Lyrics". The Washington Post. p. N22.
- ^ a b "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. 20 June 1991. p. 9.
- ^ "Monster on a Leash Review by Alex Henderson". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- ^ Considine, J.D. (31 May 1991). "Monster on a Leash Tower of Power". Features. The Baltimore Sun. p. 5.
