| Direct | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live album by Tower Of Power | ||||
| Released | 1981 | |||
| Genre | Soul, funk | |||
| Label | Sheffield Lab | |||
| Producer | Larry Brown | |||
| Tower Of Power chronology | ||||
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Direct is a 1981 live in-studio album by Tower of Power. It was their only album for the direct-to-disc record label Sheffield Lab. It also marked the return of original guitarist Willie James Fulton, not heard from since 1972's Bump City, and the last album to feature saxophonist Lenny Pickett. Mark Sanders plays drums on this album. Between this album and their 1987 comeback album Power they would record the sessions that later became the Dinosaur Tracks CD. Besides that, save for the original single release of "Simple As That" (from the same Dinosaur Tracks sessions), this would be their last new release until 1987. It contained mostly songs from their previous albums but included new stuff as well.
Direct would later be released with alternate takes on CD as Direct PLUS in 1997.
SIDE ONE
1. Fanfare/And You Know It
("Fanfare" written by Greg Adams, "And You Know It" written by Emilio Castillo and Stephen Kupka)
"And You Know It" originally recorded for Back on the Streets (1979)
2. You're Gonna Need Me
(written by Albert King)
New track
3. Squib Cakes
(written by Chester Thompson)
Originally recorded for Back to Oakland (1974)
SIDE TWO
1. That's Why I Sing
(written by Chester Thompson)
New track, later re-recorded during the Dinosaur Tracks sessions in 1983
2. What Is Hip?
(written by Emilio Castillo and Stephen Kupka)
Originally recorded for Tower of Power (1973)
3. Never Let Go Of Love
(written by Greg Levias, Hilary Thompson, and Michael Jeffries)
New track, later re-recorded during the Dinosaur Tracks sessions in 1983