Monster on a Leash

Monster on a Leash
Studio album by Tower of Power
Released	1991
Studio	Schnee and Hollywood Sound Recorders (Hollywood, California).
Genre	Soul, funk
Label	Epic [1]
Producer	Emilio 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

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

Professional ratings

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

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

• 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

• 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

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