description Back to Oakland Overview
Back to Oakland is a 1974 studio album by Tower of Power, named for the California city where the band developed its sound. The record combines funk rhythms, soul vocals, jazz-informed harmony, and dense arrangements for the group's celebrated horn section. With Lenny Williams as lead vocalist, it includes "Don't Change Horses (in the Middle of a Stream)" and "Time Will Tell," balancing forceful ensemble passages with more reflective soul material.
insights Ranking position
Back to Oakland ranks #58 of 204 in the Funk Album ranking, behind Skin Tight, ahead of Lovesexy.
help Back to Oakland FAQ
Which Tower of Power songs are on Back to Oakland?
The 1974 album includes "Don't Change Horses (in the Middle of a Stream)," "Time Will Tell," "Squib Cakes," and the title track. "Don't Change Horses" became one of the band's best-known singles from the Lenny Williams era.
Who sings lead on Back to Oakland?
Lenny Williams is the principal lead vocalist on Back to Oakland, including on "Don't Change Horses." His soulful tenor sits in front of the Tower of Power horn section led by Emilio Castillo and Stephen "Doc" Kupka.
Why is the album called Back to Oakland?
Tower of Power formed in Oakland in the late 1960s, and the title celebrates the city where the band developed its horn-driven sound. The title track reinforces that connection by turning the return to Oakland into the album's central statement.
Is Squib Cakes an instrumental?
"Squib Cakes" is an instrumental showcase written by keyboardist Chester Thompson. Its organ, guitar, rhythm section, and tightly synchronized horns make it one of the album's clearest examples of Tower of Power's jazz-informed funk.
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