Tower of Power - What Is Hip - 1973

[egurzi]

looks as safe as guam on a price is right gameshow fuck this hellhole

[Nanadsyl]

Tower Power was one of the greatest bands in the 70s and today. They should have had more recognition. I love these guys they are bad!!!

[bassnrifle]

ROCCO's BASS: DUM DUM DUM DUM DUM DUDUDUDUDUDUDUM DUDUDUDUDUM

[SuperFiveAces]

The Tower of Power was hip back in '73 and this sh*t is still hip today in 2012. Nuff said.

[FeakazoidFunkFan]

@juanmitbol: you're very lucky! man!

[carolripani]

The tower is overdosing on talent. Each individual is so damn awesome. It's truly one of the greatest bands ever. Late 60's early 70's can only be described as WHAT IS HIP💗🎵

[ScoopDeville04]

Awww, you never get to David Garabaldi, and you barely get to see Rocco. They are still a great band, the version on 1999's Soul Vaccination is awesome.

[juliorichardsable]

Yeah,Yeah,Yeah!!!

[domenicodd]

Excellent post! I was fortunate enough to have seen this band several times in the 70's......

What great memories.....I'm tellin' ya.....!!

[tedongtr]

Man, I Love this group.

[juliorichardsable]

Just fabulous!!!...the good old days!....is there a way for returning them???... Lol...

[jazzdad47]

The organ player is Chester Thompson. This is the original group. Going to see them live tomorrow night at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis. A bucket list event for my two sons.

[bennygrebisawesome]

damn I wish I was born in the 70's. Instead I was born in 1999 and I am stuck in this horrible nightmare that is filled with terrible music!

[Mychannel377]

lenny IS the voice of TOP subsequently .... the band still great...

but no other singer got it . He Is and will always be my favorite>

His creation alone> Cannot Dupe that ever!

[doeboyphilly]

So Classic

[fastone56]

I don't care what type of music you like , if this doesn't make you move, YOU'RE DEAD

[juanmitbol]

ensh12, check them out now if you get the chance, they haven't lost a step in 40 years!

[15468126813846516548]

this song made me love the organ

[aljcordova]

the keyboard player is Chester Thompson who is now with Santana

[funkykengo]

who is this keyboad player??

[groach22]

bobfunk guru of funkness thanks good call

[habnlab]

OH YEAH!!! This IS hip!!! And always will be!!! Thx for posting it bobfunk!!!

[ScholzDaddy]

Three thumbs up! This is some goooood stuff. TOP will always be hip in my book!

[fatboi31659]

Two thumbs up

[bitppr6]

profound words: sometimes hipness is what hipness ain't...what's hip today might become passe'

[z3c12]

TOP is Hip ！昨晚的演出太牛逼了！

[BriansThing]

This is like one Giant Funk Party!

[TheKingKongBeat]

tttttttttuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnneeee­e!!!!

[forfaka]

I tell you what is hip. These guys.

[liamdmac]

These cats have been around since the late sixties. Originally know nas The Motowns. Used to see them every six months at the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento. NOBODY does East Bay Funk better than T.O.P.!!!

[rbfunkestra]

This is soooo bad, can't believe it! I love it...the organ solo and following breakdown are killing (and everything else)! Thank your for still funking out today:-)

[studman4250]

i wish my jazz band would play this

[Turn2God4Hope]

Combination of Church music, jazz, hip-hop, funk and groove, etc., etc.

Yes, they had some POWER.

Please look at this NEW RnB song entitled--GOD IS GOOD EVEN IF

Just Enter: mark behrens (in the search field)

THANKS.

[MultiplicityMe2]

Ha Ha...man the 70's ruled and still does...

[mrstep2me]

Tight , tight, tight! They were able to reproduce what they did on the record.

[reemanmusic]

My god, I'm dancing in a way I've never danced before....

[ddrums001]

Yeah baby YEAH!! What is hip? T.O.P!!

[markbra]

You have got have the Rhythm in your body if you want to play this kind of music with the proper feel. ( tenor player is a very good example)

[morganhill69]

TOP was Hip !

[mimichica26]

so funky i love it, classic ☮ ♥ :0)



[debberDDT]

One of the best, tightest bands - EVER.

[famagana1]

i 'member seeing them in Salinas ,CA back in the early 70's for $3.50 at the Fox Theater. My sister turned me on to them when she was one of the first group of chicanas going to UCSC. U can't walk a straight line, if you're wearing crooked shoes...! I love that verse..

[juanmitbol]

I used to see these guys at a dive called the On Broadway in Oakland in 71-72, monday nights for a ONE DOLLAR cover! Rick Stevens had just joined as the singer, Skip Mesquite was lead tenor, they were killer then now, it was heaven to see them up close in a small club. Now I can't even stay up that late!

[bobfunk11]

@juanmitbol

Can't stay up that late - I know exactly how you feel ..But at least we did do it way back when.... And we still know what's goin' on!

Bob (68)

[ensh12]

@juanmitbol I'm so jealous! I'm 20, in marching band, and this music is the best.  I'd give my little toe to see this live!

[TheStampedehero]

Look at young Doc Krupa He may have been the inspiration for "Wheres Waldo"

[thickpooxbox360]

THIS is hip

[RRaquello]

Boy, that stage sure is crowded. They could've given the band more room to play.

It's interesting that they talk about how music was segregated back in the early days of jazz where white & black musicians weren't allowed to play in the same band. Then for a while they did, like here. Yet now it's all segregated again. Do black & white musicians ever play in the same band now? Doesn't seem that they do.

Really dig the organ on this one. It's super boss.

[nudist0885]

@RRaquello,

Except that you're forgetting about Dave Matthews. For a long time 3 of the 5 members of his band were negroid. I don't follow the band myself so I don't know the current line-up, but for a long time there were 3 negros and 2 caucasians in that group.

[markbra]

@nudist0885 negroid ?

[gabriel4838]

The greatest funk band, if the kids only knew what we were hiding, they would really turn on and turn off the Rap shit, for sure. NO plays like these days, How to hell does the Bari sax blow that thing, he's been doing it for years, his lungs should be an air compressor by now!!!

[Carehuea]

ha, Lenny Picket moves look like the Melbourne shuffle...

[snootsy811]

ONE OF THE BEST HORN SECTIONS EVER, RIGHT IN LINE WITH CHICAGO, BRASS CONSTRUCTION, EARTH,WIND, FIRE.

[Carehuea]

@snootsy811

I agreed. BTW have you checked out the horn section from Irakere?

[59rbreton]

So who went to prison in the early 70's for muder?

[markbra]

@59rbreton Rick Stevens

[TheStampedehero]

This song alone puts them in any hall of music except the odd & wayward RnR HOF.

[mooredonaldg]

Lenny Williams will always be the best

[riceater87]

This song has thoroughly funked me up.

[searcher3]

Lenny Pickett Can you dig it?

[joemunns56]

i think if they had more opportunities for younger people to be in funk bands they would play more brass, guitar or bass instead of the same old orchestra and marching bands

[diisopropylamine]

like 7 brass pieces up front...love it

[RealMenDrinkCoffee]

Lenny Williams on lead vocals.. Oakland/San Francisco Bay Area Soul

[sayumyum]

what ever happened to blac guys and their funkalycious groovin vocals, now they just bitch about the clubs through autotune.

[stevolisa2004]

groovy man!!!!

[samthemusicman1]

Played this w my cover band when it first came out in Canada..Off the charts!!!

[Woilem]

I couldn't dance to that music if they were playing it in front of me. I'd be too gobsmacked to move and I would just watch and listen... Amazing perfomance!

[irishsetterarchie]

This was HUGE!!!

[xphantmx]

aaah! T.O.P.

covered this song with my band a four piece called Hollywood Hotel

what a thrill to get the guys to go along!

good times

[NIKONGUY1960]

I think the tempo is even faster than the original recording and that is a really small stage.

[NIKONGUY1960]

I think the tempo is even faster than the original recording.

[elves4me]

Love em. Gonna see them in WA state in October. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at noon. Gues where I'll be around noon? What IS hip!!! East Bay Grease

[steveguitargunter]

Uhhh-Chester Thompson on keys!!!!! With Santana now!!! The best band of its type I ever heard!!! 

[EpicPanda12]

Jazz band songgg ohhh yeaa trombonesss

[tenorsguy]

theres something about funk that just causes me to get a stank face on, and bob my head uncontrollably. david stays layin down the nastiest beats and hes forever my idol.

[rickschade]

@tenorsguy that's funny. I totally agree's.

[feetupbob]

TOP at their best with Mimi, Doc, Bruce Conte, Mick Gillette, Greg Adams, Garibaldi,Lenny and Lenny..where was this vid shot??? These guys used to play Harrah's Reno a lot in the 80's, used to hang out in dressing room with them...cool dudes!

[stagesnake]

Great clip! But I have to say that this was not from 'before they were born'. They go back to the 60's. This is from their 3rd album with their 3rd lead singer.

[kenikoop]

dressed and moving like that, Lenny Williams ought to have become the Republican representative for El Cerrito. Was he kissing hands or shaking babies?

Lenny sounds great on "Tower of Power", "Back to Oakland" and "Urban Renewal", but MAN, he looks stiff on stage.

I always expected Lenny to have more of a Earth Wind and Fire vibe going on

[doctafonk101]

FONK ROYALTY..

[maveric23100]

I saw this band in Denver in 1974. Wow! My gorgeous girlfriend was with me. The saxophonist with the white tux and tails played out in the audience. What a wonderful night to remember!

[NetworkSongConnect]

fucking cc music

[AJ5166]

Lenny Williams on vocals, David Garibaldi on Drums, and Chester Thompson on organ.... This is my favorite TOP lineup!

[TradeObjectives]

Dave and Roco put more groove into one note, than just about anyone else. Cant listen and not start to move sumpin'.

[evangelistval]

I love Lenny's Suit!

[stretchmorgan]

I love to watch Lenny Pickett dance on these old clips. He really was the soul of that band for me.

[SteveFromEarth]

Tower is the most influencial band because they taught white people to clap on time...:}

[rastas03]

if you can listen to this and sit still your soul is truly dead.

[specitender]

everytime I watch this. All I can watch is Lenny. Awesome

[digdabeats]

TOP... representin the Bay! Best horn section ever. Damn I miss those day's

[rjlnell88]

DAVE GARIBALDI IS NO JOKE

[rjlnell88]

DAVE GARABALDI IS NO JOKE.........

[capedcrusader730]

u can not move forward. unless u know where YOUR REAL MUSIC CAME FROM. STUDY, LEARN LISTEN! then LOVE IT,MAKE IT & then SHARE IT. go back 30yrs. 40, 50,60yrs.. See where real music came from. you might really enjoy it. U HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE.

[playdrums]

@capedcrusader730 My man that is about the greatest most true and inspirational comment I've ever read.

[Oaklandgirlpitlover1]

@capedcrusader730 PREACH BROTHA!!!!!! YOU ARE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TELLING THE TRUTH! LOVE YOU FOR THAT!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!

[bjerkins2000]

@capedcrusader730 Aman.. Brother... im all the way Old School....

[CMClaudio1989]

@capedcrusader730 don't stop at 60 yrs, understand all music and why people like it. Understand how we got from beethoven to cannibal corpse. How we got from drums and vocals to pure electronic music. There is a reason every song ever made was made in the first place. Attempt to understand all of these reasons, and you will learn to love all music.

[gabriel4838]

14 people dont understand music, TOP, tops in funk, what a rhythm section do you believe those 1/16 notes man, what a kick butt horn section too, the bass player can play with me anytime.

[avacack]

Christ lenny thats some mic you got there, a godsta have one..

love all the tower of power stuff but this line for me was the best by far.

[fhornboy1]

4:26... thats how I dance. always

[Agoonga]

I conceived my daughter to this song.

[Jenyabasist]

атас!настоящие лабухи!

[MultiGuarddog]

Lenny Lenny. yeah that what Tower Of Power is suppose to sound like.

[jayroddrumz]

Funakalicious!! The Bass player is layin' it doooowwwwwwnnn!

[thecrashinghighways]

@jayroddrumz finally someone who notices a good bass player when they see one.

[eqagj]

@jayroddrumz Roco Prestia is no joke.

[twst1]

@jayroddrumz now i know where Allen Woody got his sound

[Oaklandgirlpitlover1]

@jayroddrumz Yeah but, WHO IS THAT CAT ON THE ORGAN!?

[Carehuea]

@Oaklandgirlpitlover1

Chester Thompson (same name as the drummer) on the organ. Been touring with Santana for ages now...

[dodo13500]

@jayroddrumz

NOBODY can funk it like Rocco!

Lenny Picket is the sax player on Sat Night Live. He has had that gig FOREVER!

[kingofthestoneage5]

@jayroddrumz That's Rocco Prestia. One of the baddest dudes to ever pick up a four string.

[moemaquiii]

@jayroddrumz The rhythm section that ate Cincinnati! :O)

[jir63]

Sweeeeeet!!

[ultravioleta3]

I wanna go back!!!!!!!!!!!

[BrownIrisEyes]

HIP!

Yes it issssss - what it issssss!

Hip, yes it isssss - what it isssss! Hip, yes it issss - what it isssssss!

And sometimes HIP'NESS is - what it ain't!

Heyyyyy! Hey-ay -ay-ay-ay!

Thanks for sharing bobfunk11! You're the best!

[partidoalto1]

Bad ass tune! Rocco Prestia's bass line is dope! One of Jaco's big influences. This band is still one of the funkiest band ever. Garibaldi funk is real!

[MrKeithMJones]

one of the best brass sections ever assembled

[jplent]

Awesome...

[Meatbass666]

Fro's for everybody!!!

[Khaliyl19]

Dang! Whiteboy on the sax is dancin his azz off! (on beat too!, Amazing!)

[tedkay]

@Khaliyl19 His name ! Lenny Piclektt, he's the Veridne White of Horn Playing!~Always Moving and Jamming!~They enjoy themselves while entertaining! what artist today! has these abilities ? I'll tell you NONE!!

[PeterMayer]

@Khaliyl19 he's not a boy...

[scorzi]

First white/mixed group on Soul Train. See? Some of us white people are cool. :-D

[darcness1313]

Fuck you lance Grigsby.

COME AT ME BRO!

[pbrz1r]

it's the riff Paul takes to commercial on Letterman.  : )

[Alayeus]

What's Hip today might become PASSE'.....LOVE IT!!!

[MoniSings]

You gotta love the bands of the 60's and 70's with thirty people up on stage, elbowing each other to play instruments. Straight up party with the Funk!

[tricieg]

sometimes hipness is what hipness aint.....

[MichaelPhung94]

didn't know lebron could sing

[emjee]

YYEEEEEESSSS!!! How FUNKED UP can we have it? WHAT IS HIP DO YOU THINK YOU KNOW!! From Oakland, Calif. T.O.P TEARIN THE ROOF OFF THA SUCKA!!!

I was 13 and LOVIN' IT!

[Larrymh07]

@emjee I was the same age, but was too dumb at the time to appreciate all this great music.

[gman20251]

The Badest horn section EVER !

[owlcu]

Somebody please tell the cameraman where the drummer is.

[dharmaseed]

@owlcu And the bassplayer.

[MrGearguru]

This is hip.

[yedela1]

Gregg Adams is awesome on trumpet !

[savannah505]

Didn't Lenny Pickett kill his coke dealer and go to prison? Helluva band, caught them back in the 70's AWESOME !!!!!!!

[SimpsonSound]

NOooo! That was Rick Stevens. :-( 3 counts of 1st degree murder. :-( He got LIFE!!! That happened not long after he left the band in 72 or 73.

[SuperFiveAces]

I saw Tower of Power at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle around 1975 or 1976. Man it was killer as you can see in this video. The two Lenny's kick AZZ that's what funk and soul can do so don't listen to the fake listen to the real deal like TOP back in the day.

[nocanpau]

gotsta move like the Pickett  !!!

[faelpastorius]

roccoooooooooooooooooooooooooo­ooooooo o melhor

[Spankeedoodle]

this WAS music

[DrScholla]

yeah brother u r HIP (:)

[mrvicmaca]

Those were the days and this is the best funk horn band ever! Ha, Lenny Picket in tails...too bad he left TOP, but you can still catch him leading the SNL band. Check out his monster solo on TOP Live and In Living Color. I've always loved Rocco's bass work, too.

[Gretgor666]

Excellent. Catchy and talented at the same time? DO WANT :D

[biggmayne1]

I heard this song for the first time yesterday in my Jazz Band class in college and I love it! I'm going to try to sing this. Wish me luck!

[Larrymh07]

@biggmayne1 I don't believe in luck, so tear it up my friend!

[tylercox2]

b4 they were born? thats impressive! 

[bigcityballer]

Tightest horn section ever. EVER!!

[DmitriMironov]

yes :-)

It's a best sounding FUNK TOP ever :-)

My favorite album :-)

Brass just killing. Just sic syncopations :-) i love it :-)

Amaizing arangements! No computers no sequencers.

no Trance only true music! yeah! :-))

[groovetactics]

Love it!

[231272oscar]

Great

[jeff7729]

forget about it, these guys are the best, stupid good

[sgpnc]

Hipnotic

[tkdkid100]

LENNYYYYY!!!!!!

[midnitekey]

Almost too much. It's a shame Williams left before they disbanded after Direct. The band never sounded the same to me after Direct. Sounded like Emilio's 90's funk bunch. I mean soul with a Capitol S is a good song but it's no what is hip or so hard to go, or soul vacination.

[midnitekey]

Me and a childhood friend were both lucky enough to separately find these guys records in our dads record collections when we were in like 3rd grade (1992) it was actually how we became friends... Anyway this band has been my favorite of all music ever since. Inspired me to become a musician. I saw them in 02' right after they got garabaldi back. It was cool but nothing like this. The Lenny duo is unstoppable. That horn line is so powerful that when mixed with Lenny Williams vocals it's almost

[consultnga]

What I'm feeling this evening.

[MrJGrau]

and Chester Thompson!

[atpiskai]

hahah love lenny's dancing!

[bluesobsessed]

@atpiskai I see these guys twice a year at Toad's in New Haven, CT. for 30 years!!!

[RUdERAsTamaNNa]

@atpiskai is the man whit the sax???

[atpiskai]

@RUdERAsTamaNNa yep

[markbra]

Yes!!

[trk327]

i played with dave girialbaldi yesterday!!

[bassboneplayr]

@trk327 Nice.

[Dustinwheeeee]

@trk327 you are a lucky bastard. I adore that man. He and Rocco worked so well together.

[trk327]

@Dustinwheeeee the word "badass" is not used enough in the english language. :)

[myklmusic]

Real music, real Musicians playing real instruments and everything!

That's what I'm talkin' about.

SomeBody call Kanye and tell that SOB to take notes and stop fakin'!

[vlunney]

@myklmusic

afuckinMEN!!!!!:)

[TheFlicka28]

@myklmusic Man, I am SO with you!!!

[thefinkiewicz]

@myklmusic im all about real music, real instruments and all that. i hate todays music thats why im watching a top video

but dont hate on kanye, at least he is sampling great old music

hate on wayne cuz he a bitch

[emz33]

@myklmusic If they ever invent a time machine, the first place im visiting is the mid 60s and staying there till the 80s.

[papakilatube]

@myklmusic hells yeah!