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.
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!!
@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.
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!
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. +
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!
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.
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 😎 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
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...
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!
@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.
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!
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.
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.
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
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!
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!
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!
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!!
The best horn section ever. Great phrasing, timing and tone!
I have seen them so many times in concert they kick ass every time 🎺🎷🎺🎷🎺😊👍👍👍👍👍
Working with Lee this month - great guy! Great player
Paul does an excellent job! He's got the Chester licks, hand slap'n and Hammond tone down!
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!
Greg adams and Lee Thornberg trumpet gods
Doc,Greg Adams,Lee Thornberg and Richard Elliot are like the Dream Team of horn sections.
Is that Mic Gillette too?
There he goes again! Dave getting the BEST on his show. Awesomeness.
Laying down the Squib!!! ToP always will be one of the finest horn sections out there!!!!
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.
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.
70s era fusion of funk/rock/jazz/soul/blues= Tower Of Power= East Bay Grease sound….simply fantastic.
I miss Lennie Pickett. The long solos he used to take on squib cakes. Loved their concerts. Those were the days!
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?
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🎷🎺🎷🎺🎷😊
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.
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!!
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. +
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!
This is when music was being made by real artists. Thank you T.O.P.!!!!
Relivin' my youth! Even though ToP is still jammin', I say BRING BACK HORN BANDS! RIP Rick Stevens 9/2017
I was just bumpin this one crossing the bay bridge into the city today
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!
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.
I love that baritone sax!
Paul and the band must have been in heaven - musicians know TOP.
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 😎 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
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 .
You said everything I was thanks. Been my favorite since I first heard them in 1974
the worlds funkiest band TOWER OF POWER !!!!! MEGA LIKE.. !!!!
Such a Wicked BAnd performance you can tell every musician in this band was having fun!
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!
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 !
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.
This TV appearance got me hooked on TOP for life. Thanks for posting!
@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.
Just simply Awesomeness!!!
*SPECTACULAR*
No words needed. The Horns say it all.
This is pure joy
Love Gregs playin'!
He played the original flugelhorn solo. And he showed here, he still has chops.
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!
No Doubt About it! Simply the Best!
THE MIGHTY ALL TIME AIR TIGHT TECHNICALLY PROFICIENT HIGH POWERED FUNK BAND T.O.P!
You got that right!
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!
Thanks for this post! Grateful for TH-cam!
One of the most fun bands I've ever seen live!!!
You might like to check out Fishbone if you're into fun. 😀
I actually remember watching (and videotaping) this on Letterman. I believe it was 1987.
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.
Ful gas brass oliti horn section, ludilo uvik fresh.. Genijalni muzičari.. Hvala ❤️...
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.
I love how much ToP hypes bari
The Most Dangerous Band meets TOP ! PURE PLEASURE!!! Always miss Greg Adams these days....
jazzy and Soul n Funk MUSIC FOR 4 DECADES
Not many drummers can get the intro to squib cakes, Anton included.
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
Amazing tune!!!! Great live performances here!!!!
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!
Tower Of Power horns with the Late Night Band! Make even me want to dance!
Greg Adams and Lee Thornburg on trumpet!! Richard Elliott on sax!!! The Doctor on bari-sax!! Emilio the leader on Tenor!!
Extremely well done.
Good combination of musicians.
Short & Tight rendition.
I love seeing Will Lee throwing the damn chart away at the end...tat was some work!~
Richard Elliot!
baritone sax is the sexiest instrument ever created
Richard Elliot killing it as usual.
Those guys really rock!! That's the reason why Tower of Power was so powerful.
Bad Ass horn section!!!
2:06 The "Reed-Splitter"
Going to see these guys in April, love their music, can't wait.
Holy shit the screaming from that saxophonist, though
Listen to the studio version with Lenny Pickett on the solo.
That's Richard Elliot on the sax solo 😯. I didnt know he played with Tower of Power. Wow!!!
the best of the best!!!
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!
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!
A shout for Paul Shaffer, musician's musician.
LOve It grown folks music !
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
Superb!
Fantastici! Mauri 1960
There names are Larry,David, and Rocco-This is only the horn section setting in with [THE WORLDS MOST DANGEROUS BAND!]
love the sax solo!
Greg Adams was getting ready to jump ship.
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!!
the best section!!!!!
This is super cool. Thank you.
Fascinante. Mucha vitalidad musical. Guau!!!!
Best horns ever.
Probably one of the best times on the show...
Dang doc was skinny! Top is the best horn section around.
Ryan Hall not only skinny but young!😂
Those were the coke days!
Love that bari.
Bloody fing awesome...
Holy Cow! Come on, that was freaking cool
Thanks.
It looks a lot like a buddy of mine who did sub on bass with T.O.P. in Chicago.
Tuff ass Barry jack......these horns are the best jack
Wow! Hope you tour! I'd pay!
Awesome!
Where the hell is MiMi? Don't recognize him w/ the 80's hair! Damn listen to Will.....Nails it!