#1 · 1972
Classic early 70s funk and soul album capturing Tower of Power’s signature horn arrangements and grooves.
9 tracksWarner Bros. RecordsStereo pressingMultiple vinyl versions
Artist page · 03/07/2026
Tower of Power
Tower of Power is a US funk, soul, and R&B band originating from Oakland, California, founded in 1967. Known for their powerful horn section and groove-driven sound, they are a staple in funk and soul music.
9Albums on Vinyles.com
760Discogs releases
415kLast.fm listeners
About
Tower of Power, Funky horn-driven R&B from Oakland since 1967.
10 key vinyl pressings tracked in real-time, including rare audiophile editions and recent live performances.
Tower of Power formed in Oakland in 1967 and quickly became influential in the funk and soul scenes. The group’s signature sound features a prominent horn section with complex arrangements, combining elements of jazz-funk and rhythm and blues. Their catalog spans classic 1970s albums, live recordings, and recent studio works, offering diverse vinyl options including audiophile 180-gram pressings and colored vinyl editions.
Vinyl enthusiasts can find key titles from their discography such as 'Bump City' (1972), 'Soul Side Of Town' (2018), and 'Step Up' (2020), among others. Recent live albums like '50 Years of Funk & Soul: Live at the Fox Theater – Oakland, CA – June 2018' capture the band's evolving energy and feature tracks across two LPs.
Discography
Tower of Power — Discography
Studio albums, EPs and notable live records, from newest to oldest. Drag the timeline to browse.
Regime Music Group · 2024It's Christmas
Studio
Artistry Music · 202150 Years Of Funk & Soul: Live At The Fox Theater-Oakland Ca-June 2018
Live
Artistry Music · 2020Step Up
Studio
Mack Avenue Records · 2018Soul Side Of Town
Studio
Real Gone Music · 2013Hipper Than Hip: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow (Live On The Air & In The Studio 1974)
Studio
Top Records · 201140th Anniversary The Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco
Studio
Tower Of Power Records · 2009Great American Soulbook
Studio
Or Music · 2003Oakland Zone
Studio
Rhino Handmade · 1999Dinosaur Tracks
Studio
550 Music · 1999Soul Vaccination: Tower Of Power Live
Studio
Epic · 1997Rhythm & Business
Studio
Epic · 1995Souled Out
Studio
Epic · 1993T.O.P.
Studio
Cypress Records · 1987Power
Studio
Genlyd · 1986T.O.P.
Studio
Sheffield Lab · 1981Direct
Studio
Columbia · 1979Back On The Streets
Studio
Columbia · 1978We Came To Play
Studio
Columbia · 1976Ain't Nothin' Stoppin' Us Now
Studio
Warner Bros. Records · 1976Live And In Living Color
Studio
Warner Bros. Records · 1975In The Slot
Studio
Warner Bros. Records · 1974Back To Oakland
Studio
Warner Bros. Records · 1974Urban Renewal
Studio
Warner Bros. Records · 1973Tower Of Power
Studio
Warner Bros. Records · 1972Bump City
Studio
San Francisco Records · 1970East Bay Grease
Studio
Epic · Monster On A Leash
Studio
Studio album
Live / EP
Playlist
Signature tracks
The tracks that sum up Tower of Power's career.
01
What Is Hip?
Hipper Than Hip: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow (Live On The Air & In The Studio 1974) · 2013
02
So Very Hard To Go
Hipper Than Hip: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow (Live On The Air & In The Studio 1974) · 2013
03
Soul With A Capital 'S'
·
04
Diggin' On James Brown
·
05
Soul Vaccination
Hipper Than Hip: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow (Live On The Air & In The Studio 1974) · 2013
06
You're Still a Young Man
Bump City · 1972
07
Only So Much Oil in the Ground
·
08
Souled Out
·
The essentials
The 3 Tower of Power albums you absolutely need
Our pick, validated by the editorial team.
#2 · 2018
Modern funk and soul with roots in Oakland’s sound, available on Mack Avenue Records vinyl pressing.
14 tracksMack Avenue Records2018 pressingLP format
#3 · 2020
A recent studio album demonstrating sustained funk energy and musicianship, pressed in 2020 by Artistry Music.
14 tracksArtistry Music label2020 US pressingLP format
Go further
Artists similar to Tower of Power
Artists who share part of Tower of Power's musical DNA.
Collectors
For vinyl die-hards
The hidden side of the catalogue: rare pressings, sought-after matrices, Discogs values.
Market values (source: Discogs)
For each reference edition, these cards summarise the state of the global Discogs market. Market position places the average price of a copy between the observed min and max prices. Average price is the price seen for a mint-condition copy. Copies available counts listings currently for sale. Collectors who want it is the number of Discogs users who added it to their wantlist without owning it — a good signal of upcoming demand.
50 Years Of Funk & Soul: Live At The Fox Theater-Oakland Ca-June 2018
Market position
i
Min price 34 €Max price 34 €
Average price
33,93 €
Only 3 copies for sale on Discogs
24 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Step Up
Market position
i
Min price 15 €Max price 15 €
Average price
15,24 €
Only 21 copies for sale on Discogs
30 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Soul Side Of Town
Market position
i
Min price 26 €Max price 26 €
Average price
25,51 €
Only 14 copies for sale on Discogs
21 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Bump City
Market position
i
Min price 2 €Max price 7 €
Average price
4,87 €
Only 17 copies for sale on Discogs
192 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
It's Christmas
Market position
i
Min price 13 €Max price 25 €
Average price
19,14 €
Only 24 copies for sale on Discogs
2 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Notable pressings & editions
Face B
Side B: the hidden stories of Tower of Power
Studio secrets, touring anecdotes and B-sides worth the whole album.
"What Is Hip?" remains one of Tower of Power’s most streamed tracks, with over 520,000 play counts.— Tower of Power listenership data
01Live
50 Years of Funk & Soul: Live at the Fox Theater – Oakland CA, 2018
This 2021 live double LP captures a June 2018 performance in Oakland with 26 tracks including 'What Is Hip?' and 'Soul Vaccination'. The US pressing catalog number is ART7078LP.
02Studio Album
Bump City, 1972 Warner Bros. pressing
An early studio album showcasing the band’s developing funk style, released in 1972 on Warner Bros. Records with a stereo vinyl pressing catalog number BS 2616.
03Vinyl Pressing
Audiophile 180g editions
Tower of Power titles such as 'Back to Oakland' and 'In the Slot' have high-quality 180g vinyl audiophile pressings in colors like black and translucent yellow from Music On Vinyl.
04Band Origins
Founded in Oakland, 1967
Tower of Power originated in Oakland in 1967, quickly establishing a signature sound through their brass-heavy arrangements and tight grooves.
Records by Tower of Power
See all
FAQ
FAQ: Tower of Power on physical formats
The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.
When was Tower of Power formed?
Tower of Power was formed in Oakland, California, in 1967.
What genres does Tower of Power primarily play?
The band primarily plays funk, soul, R&B, and jazz-funk.
Which Tower of Power vinyl albums are important for collectors?
Collector favorites include the 1972 'Bump City' Warner Bros. stereo LP, the 2018 'Soul Side Of Town' Mack Avenue Records LP, and the 2020 'Step Up' Artistry Music LP.
Are there notable audiophile vinyl pressings available?
Yes, several albums like 'Back to Oakland' and 'In the Slot' have audiophile 180g pressings, including colored vinyl versions.
Does Tower of Power have live vinyl releases?
Yes, '50 Years of Funk & Soul: Live at the Fox Theater – Oakland CA 2018' is a live double LP released in 2021 with 26 tracks.
Where can I find Tower of Power vinyl records in France?
France often stocks audiophile and special edition pressings released by labels like Music On Vinyl, including titles such as 'Back to Oakland' on 180g vinyl.
What is the price range for Tower of Power vinyl albums currently?
Prices vary widely, from a few euros for older pressings like 'Bump City' to around 25-33 euros for recent audiophile or live edition LPs.
How has Tower of Power’s lineup influenced their sound?
The band’s distinctive horn section, featuring multiple saxophones, trumpet, and flugelhorn, defines their dynamic funk and soul sound.
Transparency
Sources & method
This page is compiled by the vinyles.com editorial team from public sources and our marketplace.
Our method
- Discographic data from MusicBrainz (dates, countries, activity period).
- Tracklists, artwork and genres retrieved via Discogs Masters.
- Values (low / median / high) and stock from the Discogs Marketplace.
- Audience and similar artists via Last.fm.
- Page updated automatically and reviewed by the editorial team.
Last updated: 03/07/2026