Tower of Power - 2/22/1977 The Oakland Stroke, You Ought to be Having Fun, What is Hip

[twixcookie]

True musicians. I have listened to their music since the 1970s. I like anyone with their own sound, their own expression.

[newsmanbluesman]

70 years of blue-eyed soul.. cared for Doc Mimi DG Rocco LP as well as any

[newsmanbluesman]

Lenny Pickett - all the hip things a white boy could hope to be, since the days of Doc Pomus, Jack Kerouac, damn Milton Mezz Mezzrow

[MrMallymal68]

These cats were so bad and tight with precision that if James Brown wanted to give the JBs sometime off, they could fill in with no problem!

[ibanezgeorge]

2:18

[TiqueO6]

Rocco from 7:15  some nice stuff! 10ths, etc.

[twixcookie]

@TiqueO6 Yep, he is quite the bassist. I think he plays bass like percussion. IMO.Awesome. Feel the beat.

[twixcookie]

Lenny sang this better.

[twixcookie]

Lenny Pickett...



[searcher3]

@twixcookie Can you dig it!?

[twixcookie]

@searcher3 I have been digging them since the 70s. I am just a bit younger than them, I guess. I didn't listen to much funk or jazz. I didn't care for most horn groups, as it felt like the horns were forced. With TOP, they are so fluid and they did what they wanted to do. They weren't as big as Chicago, but Chicago sold out to the recording industry to get that. TOP remained true to their own style. That speaks volumes for real musicians.

[paupur]

So funky and fast, Rocco couldn't play the original Oakland Stroke bass part. Ron Beck kicks ass, especially on What Is Hip. By far the funkiest version I've ever heard. And I've been following TOP since the Whiskey A Go Go. When they play it today it sounds like it's a half speed. But with their new singer, Rocco, and Garibaldi, the band still sounds better than ever.

[robj1men]

The Brass Section is still around. The best

[jef4him]

I'll bet the sound guys in the TV studio were older folks that pioneered broadcast sound. They had to make everything sound great through a three inch TV speaker. Hear how relaxed and tight the band is. Must've been refreshing after playing clubs night after night. Great clip!

[bkrider19]

@funnymatt Here's another example of difference. At 5:40 Beck does something Buddy Rich often did: put silence just before accentuating a brass figure. Quite different from DG.

[bkrider19]

@funnymatt No drummer is any other drummer. But Beck is in the same class or rank of ability as Garibaldi, no doubt there. What's my proof? That he drives TOP. Check out the single stroke roll (16th note triplets) at 30 second mark. Garibaldi never did that in any of his TOP recordings. Of course that alone is not proof that Beck is as good or better; it just shows Beck's different approach and consummate skill. I'm a big DG fan, but different drummers have different gifts.

[b017ni3]

@huntersivins - From the time I was 4 years old, until I was 17 years old I went to school with Chester Thompson's son...I thought that was his dad, but I didn't know where to look to be sure...thank you, I'm so glad I read down to your comment...they are STILL the baddest band in all the land!!

[sorik20]

70s and they have a black vocalist, tower of power you just gained another respect from your fellow man

[funnymatt]

@sorik20 I believe their first 4 vocalists were fantastic black singers. Then Tom Bowes was there for much of the 80s, and he was their only white singer, and since they've had two other great black singers.

[bkrider19]

Ron E. Beck on drums (identified on stage at 8 minutes). His solo isn't so hot, but he plays behind the band with impeccable skill. It doesn't get tighter than this folks.

[funnymatt]

@bkrider19 He was good, but he's no David Garibaldi. I liked his vocal work on the "We Came to Play" album, though.

[bkrider19]

Ron E. Beck on drums (identified on stage at 8 minutes).

[bkrider19]

Who is this drummer? He's just as good as Garibaldi, but I don't know him at all. Very impressive.

[bkrider19]

Ha ha! Around 1 minute mark we suddenly arrive on the set of Saturday Night Live.

[kmmaniaco]

Another thing, whatever passes for music today does not have any fine men like this out front singing their hearts out! For sure!

[TejanoStlye]

Lenny Picket (black tux) recently did the solo on Katy Perrys hit song T.G.I.F....boy will never stop playing!!!

[tristen322]

@TejanoStlye

That actually was kenny G. Lenny would never play anything so lame.

[TejanoStlye]

@tristen322 opps i just read on wiki discography sheet that he played the sax solo on the albums credits...and sure he would play it...his name isnt on the line and its big money.

[twixcookie]

@TejanoStlye I think he is a genius in his own right. A lot of those musicians in the 70s gave up having any real secure income or life for a long time, to do what they wanted to do. They had it in their blood.

[lvperalta]

damn, LP's having so much fun!

[WhatTheFlyinFudge]

Lenny's afro was made from strands of Chuck Norris' hair, and it is powering all of the amps in this live recording.

[SingingStringsMusic]

Is there/has there ever been a tighter, funkier band?

KILLIN' it!

[catphish454]

@SingingStringsMusic to answer your question sir...NO...:)

[tucaronick]

LENNY PICKET WAS HAVING FUN HAVING THE TIME OF HIS LIFE CAUSE HE KNEW WHO HE WAS WITH...THE BADDEST BAND ON LAND!!!!! I WOULD B JUMPIN UP AND DOWN TOO!!! HAHAHAHA BUT IAM A DRUMMER!!! THE ONE WHO MAKES U JUMP UP N DOWN!!.................WAT IS HIP?.......TOP!!

[BusMaster007X]

This is who we were.

Who we are now is 'What is Hip!'

[Plangentry]

that sounds like classical music to chuck norris

[mazzo99]

These cats were tight!

[Rebsfan100]

and the best bass player on the planet, Francis Rocco Prestia

[BlueManLou]

Cool video. Any idea what this was shot for? This is the baddest band in the land. Always was, always will be.

[mrusmcdoc53]

Looks like Edward McGee on lead vocals and Lenny PIckett with that shaggy afro...

[smoothie6ft3]

Lenny Pickett was actin a FOOL in this performance. He has since calmed down as now hes the director for the SNL Band (Saturday Night Live).

[twixcookie]

@smoothie6ft3 Heh...he is a musician. He feels the music. 

[thelbronius]

Leeeeeehhhhhhhhhneeeeeee!

[rudymartinez]

the baddest conglomeration of horn players ever assembled anywhere--LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE INCOMPARABLE TOWER OF POWER!!!

[hyphiegirl12]

The Oakland Stroke! Town Business

[mppaiges]

yeah but the drummer can't play Garibaldi's Oakland Stroke, nobody can...yeeesh...

[thelbronius]

Are all the recordings from this concert sped up? These seem so fast, they're almost frantic. It just feels fast...

[rlperezyt]

@thelbronius Cocaine!



[thelbronius]

@rlperezyt HA

[tucaronick]

@rlperezyt .LOL!!!!!



[markgalloway]

This is a total ass whoopin'!!! You want a little funk? Well do ya?  Do you know what funk is?.....Well, now you do.

[DrumTchr]

Ron E. Beck - drums

[01birdman]

Just saw them this past Saturday. They are still the baddest band in the land. There ain't another horn section that can touch this one.

[mrsgolf]

this is the best - nobody comes close to this now nor ever has. baddest band in the land

[ridingroy]

@mrsgolf After 40 yrs of playing pro and listening I'd say you are right ! These guys kicked everybody's ass and they still do !!!!

[digdabeats]

Now that's how we did it in the Bay Area !! Miss those day's !

[huntersivins]

Chester Thompson on the Hammond B=3.

[hellrockisthe1]

This sounds nothing like the Oakland Stroke...

[invisiblebridge]

Trumpet player ROCKS that cape.

[Yamah12a]

it dont matter bout what colour you are!! this is reall music

[kaufmann6988]

MASTER Chester Thompson :-)

[onomusic808]

yes, that is Chester Thompson

[b3tto007]

is that Chester Thompson on keyboards???

[Markeygirl]

These are all the comments??TOP transcend and mark the time of amazkng music and above all, for those coming up or experiencing music that didn't happen 5 minutes ago... this is the root of the root...listen and absorb, These guys are still around and can blow your socks off!!

[richstout]

OMFG!! Great.

[shawtunez]

LOL, it's the "Oakland" Stroke, not "Open" Stroke!