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From: TheCaravanBand
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  • Comment removed

  • sitting at a funky gig: that's the stupidest thing I have ever seen!!

  • The sax soloist is Richard Elliot he was with T O P for five years check out his cd,s. He,s a smooth jazz artist now, his solo here was sick off the chain , I met him about about 15 yrs ago in my home town Chicago. He,s quite a musician

  • This makes me scoot so hard.

  • Comment removed

  • That sax player is incredible. Who is it?

    

  • Bari sax sounded like a bassoon

  • Ellis Hall is one bad Mother F'er!!! but he don't belong with Tower of Power... he kinda throws them off,they just don't sound the same

  • Vocals/Keyboards: Ellis Hall

  • Who can name me a tighter band than this?  I dare you!

  • never has been a band as good since topower!!

  • major goosebumps from that sax solo!

    

  • @neilawright Thats Richard Elliot on that horn, best sax since Jr Walker!!

  • @AlexlloydSAX ...don't forget Grover Washington Jr.....

  • im 13 and my band teacher recommended this band to listen for the Bari, and im glad he did, i now realize my low horn is a force to be reckoned with, not just a filler

  • @kperlick123qwerty - Keep developing your skills and you'll get there

  • Brilliant, great band so tight aswell...thanks for the upload now subscribing

  • Pretty sure that's the M-Shop in Ames, IA.

  • How jaded of a musician are you to "dislike" this? Seriously? Tower is pretty much of the epitome of funk. Why would anyone dislike this? I would kill to be there live!!! There is some serious talent on that stage!

  • Dude rocco (bass) is playing unbelievebly fast here. I play this song to warm up every day, I tried to find a faster version, but dude! He is playing 16th notes here, sing them its rediculous!

  • There is only so much oil in this earth, sooner than you think there's gonna be a heavy duty dearth....best lyric ever! TOP rules!

  • The first time I saw TOP in a night club this was the lineup

  • this is what im talking about baby YEEAAHH :-)))))

    Yes this is from 73 i guess may be later.

    Sic palying amazing!

  • Yeah Ellis rocks, ääähh funks it all!

  • Richard Elliot is so awsome, I met him back in his "kittyhawk" days in LA

  • Richard Elliot is so awsome.I met him in his 'Kitty Hawk "days

  • that rabbi can play the hell out of a sax!

  • Its all in the Gulf of mexico by the way......hunners of it!

  • amazing group with good songs

  • I would of fucking shit my pants if I saw that sax solo FUCK YEAH

  • Great sax solo by Richard Eliott

  • Singer is shit

  • @irontailpikachu I don't see Tower Of Power on your CV champ

  • Organist in the hat is the fine keyboardist David Matthews who has accompanied Etta James, among others. Another wonderful, versatile musician from the East Bay.

  • fantstic funk masters

  • Was that keyboard player a "Stevie Wonder" imitator? Can't stop laughing!  :=) Richard Elliott a sweat rag or on drugs.

  • yeah see what you mean!!! lol

  • The keyboard player is Ellis Hall and yes he is blind. Sorry you think it's funny :(. He's still playing and making music in California and he plays a mean bass.

  • oh man.. that sax solo.. from 1:38 onwards i practically came

  • That solo it's perfect. him believe in. pratically the best methods for eject sentiments. i hope you understand =)

  • o_O Yeah. Same here.

  • I thought I used to love only Lenny Pickett who played the original solo on the album until I heard this. Who is this dude? He obviously is not Lenny Pickett. A few members I don't recognize here, including the sax soloist, the lead vocalist and organist in the hat.

  • @gibbo154 haha xDDD

  • @gibbo154 i know great i cant hear doc. k as much as i would have liked to

  • Vocals/Keyboards - Ellis Hall

    Bass - Rocco Prestia

    Keyboards - Dave Mathews

    Guitar - (I cannot verify, the Tele tells me it's Willie James Fulton but the hair tells me it's Steve Monreal - any verification please.)

    Drums - MIck Mestek

    Trumpet 1 - Greg Adams

    Trumpet 2 - definitely not Lee Thornburg any verification again please.

    Baritone Sax - Doc Kupka

    Tenor Sax 1 - Richard Elliot

    Tenor Sax 2 - Emilio Castillo

  • Trumpet 2-Mike Cichowicz

    Guitar-Willie Fulton

  • both of these are correct.

  • wow, how do you know all that?! hahah

  • I've been a solid TOP fan since 1995 and have studied their career very closely.

  • @bpabustan where was Lenny Williams ??

  • Newburry, Lenny Williams left the band around 75-76 after recording Urban Renewal - the album that contained this song. He started a solo career not long after. His most recent hit (in our country at least - The Philippines) was in 1987 with Kenny G's "Don't Make Me Wait For Love" on Kenny G.'s album "Duotones". He still keeps in touch with TOP once in a while.

  • @bpabustan 1995 .. man you started way late 25 yrs later .. I was around in their beginning and a solid fan, historian not .. I knew that Lenny had left the band onto a solo career and other ventures .. I just thought this video was older .. glad to hear that you are such solid fan .. for me, fan since the early 70's .. love 'em .. they're sizzelin' hot

  • @newberry58

    oops they started in 1968 .. 27 yrs later .. you must be young .. I'm impressed that you would be such a fan !! keep up the good taste .. keep listening !!

  • I'm turning 37 and I am very aware majority of solid TOP fans are older. But I love old school R&B. TOP, Cold Blood, If, Friends Of Distinction, all acts at Philadelphia International are the ITs for me. But truth is, I loved a TOP song since I was a toddler - So Very Hard To Go. I was always amazed that the end chorus has a different key from the rest of the song.

    To cap it off, as long as music is sincere and well thought out, I'm a fan of it be it classical, punk, metal, pop, dance etc......

  • @bpabustan

    Oh, to be 37 again. You name some very good acts. I like the conversation that you and newberry58 discuss about TOP and music in general. As a band, Funkanauts, in the past few years we have performed locally with Lenny Williams and TOP members. They are a great bunch of musicians and likable cats. I, being "over the hill" so to speak have enjoyed TOP since the very beginning. Glad that you like them so well.

  • YOU JAMMED WITH LENNY WILLIAMS!!!!????!!!!! How awesome is that! Lenny Williams for me is the sweetest voice in soul.

    TOP has always musicians of very very high caliber. And I reckon it is always a joy and an education to be on the same stage with them - at the same time.

  • @bpabustan

    Yes, at Arroyo Viejo Park in South Oakland near the Oakland Coliseum (Raider's) in 2007. Agreed, TOP has had many musician's come and go, while the core members kept it all Funky over the years. So many artists are here in the Bay Area, too many to list all but a few who most may not know about are; George Duke, Narada Michael Walden, Con Funk Shun, Rafael Saadiq (ie Charlie Ray Wiggins) and his brother Dwayne Wiggins (Tony! Toni! Tone'!). Nice to be here in the Bay Area.

  • @newberry58

    See my reply to bpabustan, both of you have a great conversation going. Both the "older" cat and the "younger" cat. One thing I failed to mention however is that we, Funkanauts, are part of a large and friendly tight musical local in regards to musical talent found in the Bay Area. Just last night we performed at Yoshi's San Francisco on one stage, while on the other Gil Scott-Heron performed. Now how cool is that?

  • @bpabustan Steve Monreal was a drummer...not a guitar player!

  • @dannyboyAZUSA That clears a lot of things. So the guitar player IS Willie James Fulton.

  • @bpabustan yes... hey bro u know ur stuff when it comes to TOP!!! i can tell u did your homework... good shit dog

  • @dannyboyAZUSA Having all of their albums from East Bay Grease to The Great American Soulbook helps. Been a fan since 1995.

  • @bpabustan tats koo... i kick back and jam with Steve Monreal often,and he said that Richard Elliott is kinda a prick! he said that he was mocking Jr Walker at a gig one time while Jr was playing but we all know Jr is THEE BEST

  • Why did they always make Rocco stand at the back? And, yeah, lobotomised crowd..

  • never ceases to amaze me how in these absolutely COOKING ToP clips the crowd are commatose - can anyone explain that mystery to me?!!! Downers popular going out drugs back then - LIVELY UP YOURSELF PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • someone knowledgabel please - whoose blowing tenor and whos drummin?

  • I think the drummer is Dave Garibaldi.

  • Correct you are, is a young Dave Garibaldi.

  • Incorrect. Definitely not Garibaldi. Maybe Mick Mestek??

  • this is not David Garibaldi, it's Mike Mestek

  • Richard Elliot on tenor....

  • my dad almost kicked the shit outta rocco in '72 cause rocco's GF was after my pops and rocc got all bent outta shape about it, and my dad was locker partners with Greg adams lol.

  • cocaine's a helluva drug....

  • Rocco is a god amongst men!!!

  • Word. Saw them in 2007 in Belleville, Ontario of all places. Him and Garibaldi made me make a mess in my pants! And Larry Bragg is A juggernaut, check him out.

  • mad vocals CT!!!! Sax plater from AWB?!?

  • What's the name of the ten sax player?

  • Not emilio ofc, but the other guy.

  • richard elliot

  • he's amazing :O

  • Holy shit, youse guys kick ass !

  • 1:28 to 1:57...my goodness!!!

    I want mooore!

  • TASTY

  • Comment removed

  • sick solo by elliot

  • I hope that someone posts Ellis Hall's version of "Credit" which I saw them do at the old Chestnut Caberet in Philly. Ellis even did some Bass Playing that night. And yes he is a BAD ASS!!!

  • thank god 4 youtube

  • *greg adams (red shirt, far left - trumpet)

    *steve kupka aka "doc" (third from left, in hat - baritone sax)

    richard elliot (bearded, tenor sax, next to doc)

    *emilio castillo (tenor sax, grey vest, on right)

    mic mestic - drums

    *rocco prestia - bass

    *original members

    ellis hall - keys, vocals

  • please, what's the name of the 2nd organ player (with the hat)

    thanks !

  • Dave Mathews - Keys (in white hat)

  • dave mathews - organ ( in hat)

  • Curious, just wonder how Buddy Rich would have been able to play along with this stuff. I'm thinkin' he might have done with a little practice in learning this style. Would have been fun to hear, anyway.

  • Yup looks like Richard Elliott to me too!

  • The keyboard player is Ellis Hall and he is a BAD ASS singer and Multi-Instrumentalist . . . and yes, he is blind. Great band . . . often imitated NEVER duplicated!

  • That keyboard player's name was ELLIS HOBBS (I think). He's not doing an Eddie Murphy impression. He's actually BLIND for real, but he's was an incredible player. I don't know whatever happened to him.

  • Ha! Ha!  Why is that lead singer doing an Eddie Murphy impression of Buckwheat?.It's comical! That is some terrible and incomprehensible vocal phrasing. Whaddya' mean you don't see Emilio and Doc? They are on the "Horn Line" with Greg Adams at the end. What were you smoking? Doc is easily recognizable - anywhere he goes.

  • you are fucking dumb

  • WTF, why are people in the audience sitting down?!

  • back in the day there were no seats you either stood up or passed out

  • That guy with the sax is just awesome !

  • It's not Lenny Pickett. In fact I don't see Emillio or Doc Kupka. Who are these guys?

  • Beats me... I was saying that this guy was awesome, but I don't know their names.

  • I'm pretty sure the tenor sax soloist is Richard Elliot.

  • Peak oil prescience from the funk-meisters

  • sax solo got the crowd moving. love this band

  • Mr saxman your great

  • His name is Mic Mestek. I always loved working with him.... Cor

  • the drummer looks like vinnie colaiuta

  • can someone please tell me who the drummer is?i am sure it isnt but it sure looks like phil gould out of level 42.

  • It is the young David Garibaldi

  • WRONG!! Do you even know what Garibaldi looks like??

  • chester thompson was their organ player (not the drummer!)

  • but that man is not chester thompson!

  • Jimmy Smith was great - but this funk organ player beated him! ;)

  • love the sax lead in line at 1.28. Epic band!!

  • lov ehtis tune, and love this band amazing!

  • this is the shit!! xx

  • one of the best funk bands eveeeeeer

    and song is also great

  • EI helvete, Groovaa niin saatanasti

  • Totta!! Perkele

  • Hahaha. Did you just swear in Finnish!?

    Haha I had to double take.. I actually thought that organ player was Stevie Wonder for a second..

  • Yep thats finnish. How did you find out?:D

  • Haha my Finnish friend taught me =).

    Also my favorite band is from Finland and their singer loves to shout that word on stage, haha.

  • Ok. So you have finnish friends? Do you know where they live? Like Northern or etc. :)

  • i cry that the bass isn't as audible

  • How can the audience stay sitting??? That's funky as a monkey...

  • I know. I saws this version of TOP in the early 80s at a bay area nightclub. The walls were sweating!

  • Definetly one of the greatest bands to come out of the Bay Area ever. Having my band (Funkanauts, we are on YouTube) perform with TOP and opening for them and Lennie Williams has been a pleasure that we will only be more than happy to do again and again. Funk on TOP.

  • Hell Yeah, One of the best on YouTube...

    Is there a full video of this concert?

  • This concert was at Iowa State University (Ames, Iowa) in 1985. The DVD is/was for sale via the Amazon UK site. It's pretty awesome.

  • thinking how this version is faster than the studio version, the thought of just how fast rocco prestia can play scares me

  • well, it´s not the speed that makes it so cool. there are faster cats around...

  • That tenor sax player who does that solo is a machine!

  • yea thats richard elliot...jus one of the many great sax players who played with TOP

  • me encanta este tema! he decubierto esta version hace dos dias y no puedo parar de escucharlo!!

  • i love it!

  • i remember this woderful and scary talented monster!!!(vocalist/hammond organ)that's Ellis.... badass mothafunkier from LA scene. i feel better now! LOVE TOP!!!

  • FOR REAL!!! I am pretty sure i met this keyboardist on a club date(causual)FROM L.A.I seem to recall he is blind. THIS IS GOT TOO BE GUY!!! IN L.A. ANYBODY TO CONFIRM THIS IS ACCURATE? I FORGET HIS NAME...IT WAS A WHILE AGO!

  • Something Fulton. Can't remember his first name.

  • i dont know the names of the various t.o.p singers. i do know this guys bloody good though. regardless of if someone has done it better... this is fucking funky...

  • Richard Elliot owns this song!!

  • I'm sorry, Lenny Williams IS THE ONLY PERSON that can do this song justice....... This guy is okay but this is Lenny all the way.

  • You are so right! Never a singer with TOP like Lenny Williams!

  • Lenny Williams is a one off. But I like the band now with Larry. Best fit since. No knock on the other guys, He`s just that good! As for this song, it was made for someone like Richard to sing it. Some guys are better belters and some are better crooners. Larry Braggs seems to have all the bases covered.

  • yeah...you "really" know what you're talking about.

  • Richard Elliot owns this song!!

  • He may not have the silky voice of Lenny Williams, but he does a good rough kicking funky voice. He is playing the keyboard not lip syncing as you'll see if you watch the whole DVD, he is amazing on 'Don't Change Horse', as for Stefanie's version, the horn section is almost there but to me she shouts and this is far superior. But just my opinion.

  • kee ryst....look at all the comments...can you just enjoy? Listen and stop criticizing...please...peace and music.

  • The singer is Ellis Hall, yes blind. He is still recording albums and does a ton of work you'd recognize on commercials and movie soundtracks. I've seen him live as a solo act and he is very entertaining.

  • Yes, he really reminds me of Ray Charles, beamed to 70's-80's ... from the 60's ...

  • this is good, but search for the montreaux version on youtube, larry braggs tears this guy a new one

  • it´s a matter of taste...both versions are cool in their own way.

  • what ?! This is the original Version of Stefanies song?? WTF :D

    I like her Version more than this..!

    Impressive! (Stefanie Heinzmann, look for it and find your fav ;)

  • This is the original version - and it is the best version. I would call 'Tower of Power' one of the founders of Funk - the perfect groove! However, Stefanies version is also great, else TheCaravanBand would not have it added to the video response (Thank you, BTW!)

    Regards, InVivoTV.

  • dont think so.. in my opinion TOP does fit more together.. it just grooves more. but don't wonder, cause they play a lot togethers

  • yea, this little soulfunk queen hits all — a voice wonder!

  • search "Stefanie - Only so much oil in the ground"

    a real good interpretation from a 18 years jung girl with a powerful voice

  • Looks like Eddie Murphy doing an imitation of Stevie Wonder on Saturday Night Live

  • Yes, search for "stefanie oil in the ground" (without the quotes) and listen to Stefanies version. Worth a listen!

  • agree!

  • Check out this rookie's LIVE performance of the sound,ID:

    v=AAWI-PHM600

    She's barely 18, swiss and started her carreer wining a german TV music casting show, last week. Your comments?

  • I saw this version of TOP a coupla times. The vocalist is blind. Wonder what happened to him?

  • Doc is my idol.

  • Have you ever heard of bari sax player named St. Clair Pinckney? I'm willing to bet that he is Doc's idol.

  • got this on dvd! this is absolutely insane! rocco never takes a break by the sound of things!

    16s king!

  • DO YOU COPY

  • The singer is actually Stevie Wonders younger brother...he blundered into the session...thats why he´s called "Blunder Wonder"!

  • Yea, right.

  • The singer is no Lenny Williams that's for sure. Kick as tune though!

  • i agree completely, he's no match, but the songs awesomeness completely overrides it!

  • Live At Iowa State University

  • buy this dvd and you will see how this singer can play bass

    awesome

  • what's the title of the dvd? and where can i buy it?

  • hot damn i love funk! nothing like a good horn section on top of some funky rhythm

  • Richard Elliot is a bad ass tenor player!! no doubt!!!

  • Richard Elliot gets down in this song sick!!!!

  • This rhythm and timing cannot be taught.

  • ha, so cool to watch!

    does somebody has vids from the very beginning?

    amazing song and real fun to play!

    their groove cant be copied though...

  • Wow, your reaction is cool too1! Great bass job man.

  • helemal bedankt :)

  • Haha :D

  • The vocalist is "lip sinking the keyboard". (not playing. His vocals don't help here. Other than that, they're hot (as usual). Has anyone got the new DVD yet? Mine's ordered but havent received it yet.