With long-standing stints in Tower of Power and Santana, Chester Thompson just might be the most decorated and distinguished keyboardist in all of rock and R&B, let alone of the Bay Area musical scene. It’s little wonder that this 1971 album, then, is one of the rarest and most coveted albums on the highly collectible Black Jazz Records label—it’s Thompson’s debut record, cut a couple of years before he joined Tower of Power, with a smokin’ band featuring fellow Black Jazz recording artist Rudolph Johnson on sax along with ace drummer Raymond Pounds (Pharoah Sanders, Stevie Wonder, Pointer Sisters) and trombonist Al Hall (Johnny Hammond, Freddie Hubbard, Eddie Harris). And, yes, Powerhouse comes by its title honestly…it’s jazz, all right, but injected with a jolt of electricity courtesy of Thompson’s Hammond B-3, and with just four tunes spread out over two sides, it’s pretty much a nonstop groove. Newly remastered, and with liner notes featuring quotes from fellow Tower of Power member Dave Garibaldi and Bay Area keyboardist Todd Cochran a.k.a. Bayeté that testify as to Chester Thompson’s greatness. Blue with black swirl pressing limited to 750 copies!
Release date:
June 6, 2025
Label:
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Nagaoka MP-110H Cartridge
Features a high-quality elliptical stylus that provides excellent tracking and minimizes distortion, delivering a detailed sound reproduction with an output voltage of 5.0 mV
-
Audioengine A2 Plus
Precision-engineered 2.75-inch woofers and a 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter, featuring built-in DAC and Bluetooth connectivity for seamless integration.
-
Nobsound Little Bear T7 Tube Preamp
Delivers rich, warm audio through its high-quality vacuum tubes, featuring multiple inputs and adjustable gain
-
Cartridges - Top Picks
A selection of turnatble cartridges that provide great performance and sound quality
-
Phono Preamps - Top Picks
A selection of the best phono preamps for your turntable setup
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Margarita Witch Cult Strung Out In Hell
Heavy Psych Sounds
July 11, 2025 -
Gordi Like Plasticine (Translucent Sea Blue)
Mushroom Music
August 8, 2025 -
Borracho Ouroboros
Ripple Music
August 8, 2025 -
Margo Price Hard Headed Woman
Loma Vista Recordings
August 29, 2025 -
Tim Minchin Time Machine
Bmg
July 25, 2025 -
Modern Nature The Heat Warps
Bella Union
August 29, 2025 -
Zach Top Ain't In It For My Health [2xLP]
Leo33
August 29, 2025 -
The Cold Stares The Southern Part 2
Deko Music
July 18, 2025 -
Various Artists The Black Album
Cleopatra Records
August 8, 2025 -
NØ MAN Glitter and Spit
Iodine Recordings
July 18, 2025 -
James K Friend [2xLP]
AD 93
September 5, 2025 -
Amorphis Borderland [2xLP]
Reigning Phoenix Music America, LLC
September 26, 2025 -
Billianne Modes of Transportation
No Wonder Inc.
August 15, 2025 -
Common Holly Anything Glass (White)
Keeled Scales
August 1, 2025