Like I keep tellin' the youngsters...there hasn't been anything like, there isn't anything to compare now, and when they're through, there will never be another TOWER OF POWER...period.
@@bidbadbudbod You realize when your only comment is "ok boomer" everyone knows that you are just too stupid to come up with an intelligent response or comeback so you revert to a flippant remark... You might as well say, "hello world I'm a clueless fool" because that is what you sound like with "ok boomer"... Pretty sad considering you are behind a keyboard and could spend as long as you like to come up with some witty or pithy comment and yet all you can think to say is, "ok boomer".
@David Gray Yet another brainless idiot proclaiming their ignorance to the world - good job David you make your fellow basement dwellers proud, don't forget to tell your mommy you love here when you go upstairs. +
Byron Miller I play trombone and I agree with you WHOLEHEARTEDLY!! They make you JUMP UP AND SCREAM!! They are tighter than DICKS' HEADBAND!!! LOVE THIS HORN SECTION AND THE ENTIRE BAND. I listen to the BEST OF TOWER OF POWER in my car whenever I'm driving. ALL of the hits are GREAT!!
I had heard that he had played with them, but this is the only time I've ever actually seen him play with them. I've seen him live with his own band and it was awesome.
The greatest funk band in the world. I've seen them 8 times in 40 years and let me tell you funk in the name of the game. The musicianship has never wavered. Their shows are just incredible. David Garabaldi on drums. Krupta and Castillo in the horn section. Get outta here!
I agree, they do an amazing live show…I shouldn’t have been surprised that “old guys” could comprise such an incredibly tight horn section, after all they’ve been doing this for over 50 years!
That be bop lick laid down by the trumpeter, on one of the most difficult of instruments to play was sick. Then he twirled and holstered it like the gunslinger he was. 8 blazing bars of badassness!
@Lydia Mendoza, Squib Cakes was written by Tower of Power's (then) Hammond B-3 organist Chester Thompson, on the album Back to Oakland. The track features a killer Hammond B-3 solo by CT.
@JohnnieRhodes To be fair, Schaffer is an "adequate" musician. Sort of annoying and smarmy. G.E. Smith was another band director for SNL that road the coat-tails of being married to SNL legend, Gilda Radner and guitarist for Hall and Oats. It's not WHAT you know, but WHO you know. Notice Paul doesn't even darken the door any of those signature Hammond runs that made Chester Thompson the Tower of Power Mayor of Funktown. Jesus, what a talent. He could turn a white man black with that gospolicious B3 beat. Never knew an organ could be a percussion instrument until I heard Chester Thompson play.
Shaffer was having himself a good time here. I thinks he holds back a little on his organ Thompson type groove to let the horn section have the spotlight. Good musical hosting manners...
@@IMCcanTWEESTED Man are you correct about Chester Thompson... There will never be another CT. I've always said that. Now think about this.. Never another CT, never another Garibaldi, Bruce Conte, Doc, Adams, Lenny Williams, and you put ALL THEM TOGETHER... That's why there will never be another TOP. WHAT A BAND. Early-Mid 70s TOP, amazing.
Looks like an East Coast meets West Coast thing, too. These are the horns we hired for many of the Budweiser Radio spots we produced in the eighties in LA, like behind Etta James. When we were recording on the east coast with people like Wilson Pickett and Bo Diddley, we'd have drummers like Steve Jordan and Anton Fig here and Paul Shaffer on keys. Trumpeter here Greg Adams did the Tower of Power arrangements for the Bud Radio spots and was my main contact. On the East coast we'd record David Sanborn, Lew Soloff, Randy Brecker, Vince Giordano on Bass Sax, and many more I can't think of now. Good times.....especially for me, a horndog wannabe, I was fortunately able to give work to and hang out with many of my heroes, like these guys. Amazing musicians, thanks for posting!
Worshipped ToP in my college days (early 70s); I finally heard them live in Sacramento in Summer 2015. They sounded smokin' hot! After 40 years, half the band is still kicking it. You're still a young man.....
Oh dude. So you never got to see early T.O.P. with Lenny Pickett doing his famous....I don't know what you call those dance moves, but I think I saw something like it at an Apostolic Church of God in Christ in San Diego's Logan Heights. Dancing in the Holy Spirit type stuff. I heard them in '72 at Funky Quarters on El Cajon Blvd. I was underage, but they let me sit on the brick planter outside the door for the whole show. Saw them first time in '82 at the Catamaran, Mission Bay. Actually I never saw them without Pickett. He was a show in himself, Big ginger with an afro and more talent than anyone has any right to have.When I heard he was director for the SNL studio band, I watched. Never in a million would I have recognized the modern day Lenny. I thought he looked like Jeff Garlin's older brother. HA! Sorry for ramblin'. I'm so toasted.
DUDE. Didn't I hear this piece on the NBA once? Like the NBA finals? I've been looking for this kind of music since I first heard it on Marvel vs. Capcom 2... so glad I found it...
gonna go see these guys on sept. 26 in Washington, DC ... will be my first live visit with them since seeing them in Pgh, Pa in the late 1980s in Oakland section, near U. of Pitt.
Thibault Delattre well it's true Will Lee is a very very excellent bass player... I like his ability to cover most any song or any bassist he's called on to do in Paul Shaffers band ....But Tower of Power's original bass player, Rocco Prestia, have you ever heard him play What Is Hip ? He is so so fast! Straight 8ths throughout the whole song --Never a break one--- amazing! I've Seen Him Live three times... All fingerstyle no pic...Wow!
I like watching this over and over thos never gets old for me I love ot do yall I would loke to see yalls comments hay sor can you poot a heart ❤️ so I could know you responded to my comment thanks you so much sir have a great year and every body that sees this comment have a great year and all on Earth 🌎 2024🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 make the best memories out there yall are the best 👌 peace ✌️ cool 😎 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
This was probably the first lineup I was familiar with. The musicianship is impeccable. But DANG the hair! Thornburg's hair especially so! Holy 80s man!
Greg Adams on trumpet - Lee Thornberg on trumpet- the funky Doctor in bari-sax. Richard Elliott on sax with Castillo- the leader! Paul Schafer is a bad man as well!!
You have not experienced all life has to offer if you had not seen TOP live. They are legendary. The zipper heads in the bogus rock hall fame induction group have negated their accreditation simply because lesser artists are in there and legends like TOP are ignored
All incarnations of TOP are great. Some are just greater. Castillo and Kupka just surround themselves with great musicians. Shaffer's band happens to be great too!
Tightest funk there is no contest ! The whole song I have on Back to Oakland on vinyl!!! yes pretty worn out so had to get the CD too. All sorts of amazing sound coming from everywhere but super tight! No insult meant to James Browns band - also super tight.
That was the ballsiest bebop inspired trumpet solo I've ever heard. Dude was badass and straight gun slinging. How the hell is it possible to play that many notes on an instrument with only three valves if anyone can tell me?????? I just bought one and havinga ball trying to figure it out!
@jazzgod101 no one is downsizing the horns at all. I was just explaining to the gentleman from Germany, that they were just setting in.TOP is my favorite band of all time. since before the voco lights out LP from 1972.
Voco...Light's Out !!! Years ago I bumped into Dusty Street (the dj) who is photographed in the inside of the album with Voco and she told me Voco had a massive stroke before the record was ever finished and she knew what he wanted and finished it herself.
Julie Roden, I think most people will say Lenny Pickett or Tom P. was the best lead tenor sax player but, in My own opinion I think Richard Elliott was the best.
The best horn section ever. Great phrasing, timing and tone!
I have seen them so many times in concert they kick ass every time 🎺🎷🎺🎷🎺😊👍👍👍👍👍
Like I keep tellin' the youngsters...there hasn't been anything like, there isn't anything to compare now, and when they're through, there will never be another TOWER OF POWER...period.
We’ve got the Lucky Chops and it’s just about the second best thing, but you wrote this comment four years ago so they didn’t really exist yet.
ok boomer
@@bidbadbudbod You realize when your only comment is "ok boomer" everyone knows that you are just too stupid to come up with an intelligent response or comeback so you revert to a flippant remark... You might as well say, "hello world I'm a clueless fool" because that is what you sound like with "ok boomer"... Pretty sad considering you are behind a keyboard and could spend as long as you like to come up with some witty or pithy comment and yet all you can think to say is, "ok boomer".
lucky chops are a buncha marchin band mofos...... nothin like these guys......
@David Gray Yet another brainless idiot proclaiming their ignorance to the world - good job David you make your fellow basement dwellers proud, don't forget to tell your mommy you love here when you go upstairs. +
The best horn section In the world then. And still is the best today
Byron Miller
I play trombone and I agree with you WHOLEHEARTEDLY!! They make you JUMP UP AND SCREAM!! They are tighter than DICKS' HEADBAND!!! LOVE THIS HORN SECTION AND THE ENTIRE BAND. I listen to the BEST OF TOWER OF POWER in my car whenever I'm driving. ALL of the hits are GREAT!!
Yes. They are sooooooooooo tight!
Their combo with Huey Lewis & The News is LEGENDARY.
Love that baritone sax!
I played tenor sax for years and always toyed with the idea of playing Bari, but I just didn't have the diaphragm for it.
It's really hard to top this even with todays excellent bands and musicians. there remain unique and unto themselves.
Hard to top? It's impossible to top.
@@halfmt4643 be caref
@@lisacipriani6105 ul ……of what?
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🎷🎺🎷🎺🎷😊
Richard Elliot really paved a great career. After TOP he stacked 14 albums. Awesome musicians played with TOP. Very few bands could do that.
I had heard that he had played with them, but this is the only time I've ever actually seen him play with them. I've seen him live with his own band and it was awesome.
He was the weak link
Lee Thornburg - big trumpet sound and even bigger hair! Gotta love the 80s y'all. Great vid!
The greatest funk band in the world. I've seen them 8 times in 40 years and let me tell you funk in the name of the game. The musicianship has never wavered. Their shows are just incredible. David Garabaldi on drums. Krupta and Castillo in the horn section. Get outta here!
I agree, they do an amazing live show…I shouldn’t have been surprised that “old guys” could comprise such an incredibly tight horn section, after all they’ve been doing this for over 50 years!
Paul does an excellent job! He's got the Chester licks, hand slap'n and Hammond tone down!
That be bop lick laid down by the trumpeter, on one of the most difficult of instruments to play was sick. Then he twirled and holstered it like the gunslinger he was. 8 blazing bars of badassness!
Greg Adams.. There are NO substitutes!!
Greg adams and Lee Thornberg trumpet gods
@Lydia Mendoza, Squib Cakes was written by Tower of Power's (then) Hammond B-3 organist Chester Thompson, on the album Back to Oakland. The track features a killer Hammond B-3 solo by CT.
Paul Shaffer.. I always thought he was really underr ated... Dude is a great musician.
@JohnnieRhodes To be fair, Schaffer is an "adequate" musician. Sort of annoying and smarmy. G.E. Smith was another band director for SNL that road the coat-tails of being married to SNL legend, Gilda Radner and guitarist for Hall and Oats. It's not WHAT you know, but WHO you know. Notice Paul doesn't even darken the door any of those signature Hammond runs that made Chester Thompson the Tower of Power Mayor of Funktown. Jesus, what a talent. He could turn a white man black with that gospolicious B3 beat. Never knew an organ could be a percussion instrument until I heard Chester Thompson play.
Shaffer was having himself a good time here. I thinks he holds back a little on his organ Thompson type groove to let the horn section have the spotlight. Good musical hosting manners...
@@IMCcanTWEESTED Man are you correct about Chester Thompson... There will never be another CT. I've always said that. Now think about this.. Never another CT, never another Garibaldi, Bruce Conte, Doc, Adams, Lenny Williams, and you put ALL THEM TOGETHER... That's why there will never be another TOP. WHAT A BAND. Early-Mid 70s TOP, amazing.
the worlds funkiest band TOWER OF POWER !!!!! MEGA LIKE.. !!!!
Looks like an East Coast meets West Coast thing, too. These are the horns we hired for many of the Budweiser Radio spots we produced in the eighties in LA, like behind Etta James. When we were recording on the east coast with people like Wilson Pickett and Bo Diddley, we'd have drummers like Steve Jordan and Anton Fig here and Paul Shaffer on keys. Trumpeter here Greg Adams did the Tower of Power arrangements for the Bud Radio spots and was my main contact. On the East coast we'd record David Sanborn, Lew Soloff, Randy Brecker, Vince Giordano on Bass Sax, and many more I can't think of now. Good times.....especially for me, a horndog wannabe, I was fortunately able to give work to and hang out with many of my heroes, like these guys. Amazing musicians, thanks for posting!
Richard Zempel thanks for watching !
This never gets old!
Worshipped ToP in my college days (early 70s); I finally heard them live in Sacramento in Summer 2015. They sounded smokin' hot! After 40 years, half the band is still kicking it. You're still a young man.....
+Robin Enos I was at the Sac music festival 05/22 for my BD. Drove from Oregon to see my favorite band in all the world TOWER OF POWER.
Oh dude. So you never got to see early T.O.P. with Lenny Pickett doing his famous....I don't know what you call those dance moves, but I think I saw something like it at an Apostolic Church of God in Christ in San Diego's Logan Heights. Dancing in the Holy Spirit type stuff. I heard them in '72 at Funky Quarters on El Cajon Blvd. I was underage, but they let me sit on the brick planter outside the door for the whole show. Saw them first time in '82 at the Catamaran, Mission Bay. Actually I never saw them without Pickett. He was a show in himself, Big ginger with an afro and more talent than anyone has any right to have.When I heard he was director for the SNL studio band, I watched. Never in a million would I have recognized the modern day Lenny. I thought he looked like Jeff Garlin's older brother. HA! Sorry for ramblin'. I'm so toasted.
Doc,Greg Adams,Lee Thornberg and Richard Elliot are like the Dream Team of horn sections.
Is that Mic Gillette too?
70s era fusion of funk/rock/jazz/soul/blues= Tower Of Power= East Bay Grease sound….simply fantastic.
There he goes again! Dave getting the BEST on his show. Awesomeness.
Working with Lee this month - great guy! Great player
Such a Wicked BAnd performance you can tell every musician in this band was having fun!
You said everything I was thanks. Been my favorite since I first heard them in 1974
TOP makes me so happy!
No word or groups of words can describe what I just heard! I Love You Tower of Power Horn Section!
Relivin' my youth! Even though ToP is still jammin', I say BRING BACK HORN BANDS! RIP Rick Stevens 9/2017
DUDE. Didn't I hear this piece on the NBA once? Like the NBA finals? I've been looking for this kind of music since I first heard it on Marvel vs. Capcom 2... so glad I found it...
Saw this band early 70's , Winterland SF . Tight is all I can say .
I love how Will Lee threw his chart up in the air after the end . I bet it was tough
I love how the bass player throws his sheet music in that air at the end!
THE MIGHTY ALL TIME AIR TIGHT TECHNICALLY PROFICIENT HIGH POWERED FUNK BAND T.O.P!
You got that right!
Laying down the Squib!!! ToP always will be one of the finest horn sections out there!!!!
I miss Lennie Pickett. The long solos he used to take on squib cakes. Loved their concerts. Those were the days!
This is when music was being made by real artists. Thank you T.O.P.!!!!
This TV appearance got me hooked on TOP for life. Thanks for posting!
gonna go see these guys on sept. 26 in Washington, DC ... will be my first live visit with them since seeing them in Pgh, Pa in the late 1980s in Oakland section, near U. of Pitt.
One of the most fun bands I've ever seen live!!!
You might like to check out Fishbone if you're into fun. 😀
I was just bumpin this one crossing the bay bridge into the city today
Will Lee is really good on bass too! Great performance!
Thibault Delattre well it's true Will Lee is a very very excellent bass player... I like his ability to cover most any song or any bassist he's called on to do in Paul Shaffers band ....But Tower of Power's original bass player, Rocco Prestia, have you ever heard him play What Is Hip ? He is so so fast! Straight 8ths throughout the whole song --Never a break one--- amazing!
I've Seen Him Live three times... All fingerstyle no pic...Wow!
Will lee is a legit unsung hero
@@Vinnybrain yo! Check out JOE DART! my god!
They used to come to the Monterey County Fair every year. We'd make sure to get tickets for them every year. Hopefully they return in 2021. The best!
Thanks for this post! Grateful for UA-cam!
I like watching this over and over thos never gets old for me I love ot do yall I would loke to see yalls comments hay sor can you poot a heart ❤️ so I could know you responded to my comment thanks you so much sir have a great year and every body that sees this comment have a great year and all on Earth 🌎 2024🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 make the best memories out there yall are the best 👌 peace ✌️ cool 😎 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
No words needed. The Horns say it all.
Tower Of Power horns with the Late Night Band! Make even me want to dance!
Paul and the band must have been in heaven - musicians know TOP.
Holy shit the screaming from that saxophonist, though
Listen to the studio version with Lenny Pickett on the solo.
This was probably the first lineup I was familiar with. The musicianship is impeccable. But DANG the hair! Thornburg's hair especially so! Holy 80s man!
No Doubt About it! Simply the Best!
Amazing tune!!!! Great live performances here!!!!
Ful gas brass oliti horn section, ludilo uvik fresh.. Genijalni muzičari.. Hvala ❤️...
I actually remember watching (and videotaping) this on Letterman. I believe it was 1987.
The Most Dangerous Band meets TOP ! PURE PLEASURE!!! Always miss Greg Adams these days....
This is pure joy
Extremely well done.
Good combination of musicians.
Short & Tight rendition.
Dang doc was skinny! Top is the best horn section around.
Ryan Hall not only skinny but young!😂
Those were the coke days!
Richard Elliot killing it as usual.
Greg Adams and Lee Thornburg on trumpet!! Richard Elliott on sax!!! The Doctor on bari-sax!! Emilio the leader on Tenor!!
The guy on flugel horn-- his first line was amazing.
greg adams on the flugal horn. He is now with East Bay Soul. Amazing horn player and musician.
Greg Adams . with TOP fpr 25 yrs
To all you kids out there in band class. Tell your teacher you want to cover Squib Cakes. It is so much fun to play.
Going to see these guys in April, love their music, can't wait.
Greg Adams on trumpet - Lee Thornberg on trumpet- the funky Doctor in bari-sax. Richard Elliott on sax with Castillo- the leader! Paul Schafer is a bad man as well!!
Love Gregs playin'!
He played the original flugelhorn solo. And he showed here, he still has chops.
I love how much ToP hypes bari
Just simply Awesomeness!!!
Where the hell is MiMi? Don't recognize him w/ the 80's hair! Damn listen to Will.....Nails it!
You have not experienced all life has to offer if you had not seen TOP live. They are legendary. The zipper heads in the bogus rock hall fame induction group have negated their accreditation simply because lesser artists are in there and legends like TOP are ignored
All incarnations of TOP are great. Some are just greater. Castillo and Kupka just surround themselves with great musicians. Shaffer's band happens to be great too!
Those guys really rock!! That's the reason why Tower of Power was so powerful.
Tightest funk there is no contest ! The whole song I have on Back to Oakland on vinyl!!! yes pretty worn out so had to get the CD too. All sorts of amazing sound coming from everywhere but super tight! No insult meant to James Browns band - also super tight.
That was the ballsiest bebop inspired trumpet solo I've ever heard. Dude was badass and straight gun slinging.
How the hell is it possible to play that many notes on an instrument with only three valves if anyone can tell me??????
I just bought one and havinga ball trying to figure it out!
I love seeing Will Lee throwing the damn chart away at the end...tat was some work!~
That's Richard Elliot on the sax solo 😯. I didnt know he played with Tower of Power. Wow!!!
the best section!!!!!
Fascinante. Mucha vitalidad musical. Guau!!!!
LOve It grown folks music !
*SPECTACULAR*
love the sax solo!
Superb!
Not many drummers can get the intro to squib cakes, Anton included.
2:06 The "Reed-Splitter"
A gaggle of old heads just being funky af!
This is super cool. Thank you.
Holy Cow! Come on, that was freaking cool
jazzy and Soul n Funk MUSIC FOR 4 DECADES
Probably one of the best times on the show...
Richard Elliot!
Greg Adams was getting ready to jump ship.
@jazzgod101 no one is downsizing the horns at all. I was just explaining to the gentleman from Germany, that they were just setting in.TOP is my favorite band of all time. since before the voco lights out LP from 1972.
Voco...Light's Out !!! Years ago I bumped into Dusty Street (the dj) who is photographed in the inside of the album with Voco and she told me Voco had a massive stroke before the record was ever finished and she knew what he wanted and finished it herself.
Thanks.
It looks a lot like a buddy of mine who did sub on bass with T.O.P. in Chicago.
Fuck me this is so fucking dope fuuuuck wow
the best of the best!!!
There names are Larry,David, and Rocco-This is only the horn section setting in with [THE WORLDS MOST DANGEROUS BAND!]
And Richard Elliott before he went solo
My second religion,a well oiled machine of Soulness.
Julie Roden, I think most people will say Lenny Pickett or Tom P. was the best lead tenor sax player but, in My own opinion I think Richard Elliott was the best.
Love that bari.
Bloody fing awesome...
Wow! Hope you tour! I'd pay!
A shout for Paul Shaffer, musician's musician.
Tower of Power? JB Horns? Goddamn!!! Help me out here!!!
that's the way I roll Stephen !
Best horns ever.
@mbfavreau- it's Lee Thornburg on trumpet here, Adams on flugelhorn...you are correct on the rest of the section.