“Funk The Dumb Stuff” by Tower of Power

Legendary Oakland band Tower of Power stepped into the ‘90s still funkin’ hard as hell, dropping cold jams like “Funk The Dumb Stuff.” The funk level on this electrifying track is off the charts. Rocco Prestia drives the groove with an absolutely filthy bass line that’s bolstered by Russ McKinnon’s dynamic drumming. The track boasts a superb horn arrangement, masterfully performed by TOP’s supertight horn section, with Steve Grove delivering a killer sax solo. Emilio Castillo ably handles lead vocals, and Carmen Grillo further maximizes the funk with a nasty guitar lick.

The song is about someone who talks a big game and puts on a fake front to convince everyone that they have it all together, but in reality, it’s the opposite. Underneath the cocky façade and false bravado lies an insecure individual with a chip on their shoulder. The song’s narrator doesn’t have the time or the patience to entertain this type of foolishness, hence, the title “Funk The Dumb Stuff.”

The track was written by Emilio Castillo, Rocco Prestia, and Stephen “Doc” Kupka. It’s included on TOP’s 1991 album Monster on a Leash, released on Epic Records. Castillo produced the collection, which peaked at # 19 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.

Here’s the full personnel for Monster on a Leash: Tom Bowes (lead vocals), Steve Grove (alto and tenor saxophone), Emilio Castillo (tenor saxophone, backing vocals, lead vocal on track 6), Francis Rocco Prestia Jr. (bass), Lee Thornburg (trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone, backing vocals), Carmen Grillo (guitar, backing vocals), Nick Milo (keyboards), Greg Adams (trumpet, flugelhorn, backing vocals), Russ McKinnon (drums, percussion), and Stephen “Doc” Kupka (bariton saxophone).

Tower of Power performing "Funk The Dumb Stuff" at a 1992 concert in Japan

"Funk The Dumb Stuff" is available at Amazon