Tower Of Power, the third LP by the 11-man Oakland aggregation, earns high marks for both its up-tempo riff tunes and the ballads that have won the group acceptance on both Top 40 and soul stations. With 1972's quietly desperate "You're Still a Young Man" and last summer's heart-tugging "So Very Hard to Go," the Tower achieved radio "cross-over" success by establishing its identity through crisp, unfettered horn arrangements, a cohesive rhythm section (featuring subtle interaction between drummer David Garibaldi and Latin percussionist Brent Byars) and, on the more recent hit, the urgent vocal of new member Lenny Williams.

"Just Another Day," the album's closing selection, is similar to "So Very Hard" in structure, feeling and the addition of muted strings. Reedman Stephen Kupka, who co-composes the majority of the group's book with saxophone section mate Emilio "Mimi" Castillo, underscores Williams' vocal with simple, lovely oboe obligatos.

As for the Tower's more rocking side, "What Is Hip?" (which bears more than passing melodic resemblance to Sly's "Sing a Simple Song") is a rousing opener with tricky rhythmic stops that the band cuts with the precision of a crack military drill team going through its paces. And "Get Yo' Feet Back on the Ground," with its Isley Brothers "It's Your Thing" bass line, has a skip-along syncopation over which guitarist Bruce Conte strings out the sort of succinct, well-organized lines that characterize Tower's solo work.

A few shortcomings crop up. The material of Kupka and Castillo is occasionally highly derivative and lacking in a distinct personality. And the recording, which sounds a bit thin in spots, does not fully capture the power of the group's concert and club appearances.

Otherwise, Tower Of Power is a satisfying collection by a veteran band that frequently breathes new life into the overworked soul-dance-riff genre, especially in the ballad format. (RS 146)

JAMES ISAACS