Watching these makes me really proud of my dad 😃 LP turns my ears on, Dave garibaldi has 4 separate brains, and roger is a monster on that Hammond. Great version, though the whole song is always a jam session no matter what lol
I would love to know what the Funky Doctor listens to. Like I'd love to know what made up that brilliant musical mind. You should be proud!! TOP is the best ticket in town!
Bro, your dad has inspired millions with his music. I interviewed Lenny one day for a web Zine I was working for and he told me how your dad came up with some of the most beautiful lyrics ever. I always thought he was one of the most underrated songwriters ever. You should be very proud.
Such great memories of dancing to this band live. Being on the dance committee in '73, we asked TOP to come to Sactown to play our high school dance. We were shocked when they said 'YES'! I felt proud. Having such a respected band come to our little school, but these cats love to play. Final song was Your Still A Young Man, and I grabbed the arm of a girl I had a huge crush on and said let's dance. She was 2 years older, and the girlfriend of the football hero, but, I got to dance with her. I hear that song now and for just a little while I'm right back there, in her arms. Thanks TOP. You're the BEST! The best thing to come out of Oakland
Was having some difficulty getting out of bed today due to pain. Woke up, dear friend had sent me this, and it funked me out of bed with a Crooked smile on my face. F**k the pain, I can do this. Thank you Tower.
It's past 3AM, I should wake up for work in 4 hours, I've only just started playing the xaphoon, and now I want a *tenor* sax. Great. Thank you Lenny Pickett. And my goodness, that was from another planet.
If someone had never watched and listened to a TOP performance this video is a great one to show them. Definitely the best Funky Horn band on the planet. They have been performing since 1968. Only the very best of the best musicians in the TOP line up over the years.
Wow...LP was just on fire. On the 1970's live album he was so bad ass, but this was even better 50 years later! So awesome. Love this band. One of my best friends used to play drums for them. What a rush. Thanks for posting.
hey graham ....these guys have been making me feel good and smile since 1971 ........ saw them live at the cleveland agora ...........thanks for the upload jesse ........ january 4 2023 ...
THIS VERSION BELONGS IN EVERY EMERGENCY ROOM IN THE WORLD.... IF A PATIENT CAN’T WAKE UP WITH THIS ON. ESPECIALLY AT THE END OF THE SONG. ... THERE IS NO HOPE !!!!
My god man... I swear every time I hear Lenny Pickett my day just gets instantaneously awesome. These guys were jammin before he got up there but damn... so good. The stratospheric altissimo circular breathing is so impressive too...
Been digging TOP since 1973 . There’s nothing better as far as true in the pocket soul music. The best. This is the tightest version I’ve seen or heard.
This is THE best and TIGHTEST version of this song that I've ever heard or seen the band do! Larry (the baddest man in the land), Roger burnin' up that B-3, DG driving the machine, Rocco killin' it, Iron Mike and Adolfo tighter than a clenched fist, Doc boom poppin' that Bari, and then Lenny Pickett coming up on stage to finish things off?!?! WOW!
If I am not mistaken,this show was filmed at the Village Underground, across from the Blue Note, in NYC. If it is, I was there with 7 other friends. This was back in 2003. It was a private gig that I was fortunate enough to get invited to! The band was on fire with Lenny Pickett blowing everyone there away! By the way, Will Lee was sitting a few feet from me!
He's just perfectly listenable in these context. Other guys can do what he technically does- but they don't move me like LP does- every time. Even his more obscure, artsy, independent stuff.
It had to be NYC. That's the only place I could imagine seeing Lenny sit in with them in a club. I wonder, do they make a point of never playing NYC on Saturdays, so Lenny might be available? Because, of course, he's usually very busy on Saturday nights.
Could you hear Doc on bari?!! Iron Mike on bone! Adolfo on lead trumpet!! Tom on tenor! Larry Braggs -the most fun vocals in TOP history! The rest of the group gets praised all the time!! Fantastic!!
I remember reading somewhere where a symphony conductor said something like "you never have to ask the horns to play louder". :) This is smoking hot. Funk at its finest.
I guess life on the road for nine years was enough for Lenny. Show me a musician that LOVES being on the road, and I'll show you a guy that loves getting stray tail instead of his regular "thang". Wiki says Lenny left TOP in '83, but I could swear I saw Pickett play the TOP gig in '85 at San Diego's Catamaran Club on Mission Bay. It probably was in '83. I smoked a lot of weed back then and my recall is pretty sketchy.
Super professional video ! Audio, excellent……camera work, perfect……. editing, first class ! It doesn’t hurt to have the funkiest band in all the land at their tightest !
Now this is the TOP I Remember seeing them in 71 in Hartford I was 5 ft in front of David and They Blew my Socks off my First time hearing them I ran out Bought their alnbum And Lenny Picket did his dance just Fuckin AWESOME I still have chills up my spine The greatest Funk Horn band ever
All I know is TOP actually changes the molecular structure of the world in which they are playing every time they perform. No one does it like the GREATEST SHOW BAND OF THE GREATEST ASSEMBLY OF GIFTED, HARD WORKING MUSICIANS ON THE PLANET. NO ONE CAN COMPETE WITH THE CONTINUED GREATNESS OF WHAT EMILIO AND DOC STARTED OVER 50 YEARS AGO!!! IF YOU’VE NEVER SEEN THEM LIVE, PLEASE DO BEFORE YOU MEET YOUR MAKER. YOU WILL BE ASKED, “…And did you ever see the greatest band I ever assembled, Tower of Power?” You really don’t wanna say, “No”.
Talk about building a solo, everyone take a lesson. There is no heavier pocket anywhere!!!!! L.P. WOW and the rest of this GREAT, GREAT BAND. Jimmy Strassburg
NOW THAT BLEW OFF THE HINGES OFF THE DOOR I'VE BEEN JAMMING TO TOWER OF POWER EVER SINCE I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL BACK IN 1974 THANKS TO MY OLDER BROTHER THAT PLAYED WITH SOME LOCAL BANDS HERE IN FRESNO CALI AS WELL AS COLD BLOOD " WITH
You know, I always am amazed at how high some players can reach, especially with brass and saxophone. To me, for them to reach the written 7th octave, maybe the 8th octave is mind-boggling. But in this case, Lenny Pickett reaches the written 9th octave (think at least 12 ledger lines above the treble staff), it's astounding. To me, it seems almost impossible how they can get that high. But then again, you find ones that are legendary.
Best R&B player, maybe - though Lenny would probably tell you just how much he'd picked up from King Curtis and other old-timers, and how he mostly just plays it slicker and more technical. But when it comes to jazz, there's plenty of guys who could burn on changes that would completely lose him.
That solo from the eight-minute mark to the 12-minute mark: Four minutes of altissimo bliss! I was there that night and when LP finished the solo, the audience couldn't believe that he still had his famous dance moves up his sleeve. It was also nice seeing Rocco live after missing him in NYC due to his health issues for almost ten years (RIP Rocco)!
The baddest thing in get down here in the real world of swinging soul rates with the best of the best the Oakland founded power ever to hit the music world the bartone sax is a kicker
Watching these makes me really proud of my dad 😃 LP turns my ears on, Dave garibaldi has 4 separate brains, and roger is a monster on that Hammond. Great version, though the whole song is always a jam session no matter what lol
Graham! Your dad is the funkiest dad ever!
Your pops is a legend man.
Here's some great photos of your Dad.. www.jimlawrence.net/TOP1976/TOP1976.html
I would love to know what the Funky Doctor listens to. Like I'd love to know what made up that brilliant musical mind. You should be proud!! TOP is the best ticket in town!
Bro, your dad has inspired millions with his music. I interviewed Lenny one day for a web Zine I was working for and he told me how your dad came up with some of the most beautiful lyrics ever. I always thought he was one of the most underrated songwriters ever. You should be very proud.
Such a joy to see Rocco having such a great time, miss him so much!
Such great memories of dancing to this band live. Being on the dance committee in '73, we asked TOP to come to Sactown to play our high school dance. We were shocked when they said 'YES'! I felt proud. Having such a respected band come to our little school, but these cats love to play. Final song was Your Still A Young Man, and I grabbed the arm of a girl I had a huge crush on and said let's dance. She was 2 years older, and the girlfriend of the football hero, but, I got to dance with her. I hear that song now and for just a little while I'm right back there, in her arms. Thanks TOP. You're the BEST! The best thing to come out of Oakland
Was having some difficulty getting out of bed today due to pain. Woke up, dear friend had sent me this, and it funked me out of bed with a Crooked smile on my face. F**k the pain, I can do this. Thank you Tower.
AWESOOOOME!!!!!! God bless you! I hope you’re well!
It's past 3AM, I should wake up for work in 4 hours, I've only just started playing the xaphoon, and now I want a *tenor* sax. Great. Thank you Lenny Pickett. And my goodness, that was from another planet.
There is no one on tenor saxophone for Tower of Power than the original and still the best Lenny Pickett simply LP!!
SKIP MESQUITE...was the Original, original Lead tenor sax player...ck out the 1st album!!😊😊
Tom is gooooood really good. They have different playing style.
If someone had never watched and listened to a TOP performance this video is a great one to show them. Definitely the best Funky Horn band on the planet. They have been performing since 1968. Only the very best of the best musicians in the TOP line up over the years.
Wow...LP was just on fire. On the 1970's live album he was so bad ass, but this was even better 50 years later! So awesome. Love this band. One of my best friends used to play drums for them. What a rush. Thanks for posting.
hey graham ....these guys have been making me feel good and smile since 1971 ........ saw them live at the cleveland agora ...........thanks for the upload jesse ........ january 4 2023 ...
I sadly know Rocco is gone, but you most are here ‼️ Rejoice you are ALL ARE HERE‼️ JESUS IS LORD ‼️
THIS VERSION BELONGS IN EVERY EMERGENCY ROOM IN THE WORLD.... IF A PATIENT CAN’T WAKE UP WITH THIS ON. ESPECIALLY AT THE END OF THE SONG. ... THERE IS NO HOPE !!!!
Play it in the morgue and you’ll have cadavers dancing
One of the greatest comments on TH-cam ever!! And so true!!
My god man... I swear every time I hear Lenny Pickett my day just gets instantaneously awesome. These guys were jammin before he got up there but damn... so good. The stratospheric altissimo circular breathing is so impressive too...
Been digging TOP since 1973 . There’s nothing better as far as true in the pocket soul music. The best. This is the tightest version I’ve seen or heard.
I love this & listen to it daily. You cannot tell me this is not David dancing before the Lord‼️
This is THE best and TIGHTEST version of this song that I've ever heard or seen the band do! Larry (the baddest man in the land), Roger burnin' up that B-3, DG driving the machine, Rocco killin' it, Iron Mike and Adolfo tighter than a clenched fist, Doc boom poppin' that Bari, and then Lenny Pickett coming up on stage to finish things off?!?! WOW!
Patrick Gleeson... Listen to the version on "live and in living color" 25 minutes long. Incredible solos by Lenny Picket and Chester Thompson
Agree
Tightest I ever heard the horns on this song. Amazing
@@danielortega3647 And that was recorded around 1974-75!
50+ years of the best funk-soul R&B inspired music money can buy! Gotta love you some TOP! Period.
RIP Rocco. David, our thoughts and prayers are with you...
At 12:30 Rocco looks like he's already in Heaven. RIP Rocco
Could be hard to miss anybody more than we miss him! Thank you Rocco for all the joy and inspiration!
If I am not mistaken,this show was filmed at the Village Underground, across from the Blue Note, in NYC. If it is, I was there with 7 other friends. This was back in 2003. It was a private gig that I was fortunate enough to get invited to! The band was on fire with Lenny Pickett blowing everyone there away! By the way, Will Lee was sitting a few feet from me!
La Bar Bat
No, doc is there, mistake not lbb
Dave & Rocco always knock it out and to have LP show up............too awesome to handle sitting down!!!!!!!!!!!
dave and rocco ....from the beginning .......
LP can squeeze every drop out of that horn until it cries for mercy!
This was great and I can tell they were really having fun. I think that's the first time I've ever seen Rocco smile like that while performing.
That’s right right at about 12:25 I noticed that too, such a joy to see him having so much fun, will never stop missing him!
Me too ….. unfortunately.
Yeah I noticed that too. They were really having fun. I think they knew something really special happened that night and they felt the joy.
Lenny Pickett is a sax monster!
I fell off the edge of my seat when Lenny hit those altissimo. Awesome solo!
Pickett is INCREDIABLE!
One of the best ever.
He's just perfectly listenable in these context.
Other guys can do what he technically does- but they don't move me like LP does- every time.
Even his more obscure, artsy, independent stuff.
@@mikerudick54 Yeah Mike, he joined Tower when he was like 18! Super Soulful & a legend!
I've probably watched this video a thousand times myself. Can't get enough of the TOWER!
Lenny Pickett can wail on that tenor. And he can STILL do the Pickett Dance!!
He hits notes higher than a friggin flute. And perfectly in tune. Incredible.
@@mikerudick54 Higher than a piccolo too! 11:41
This is the Oakland Zone CD release party at the Village Underground in NYC on May 5, 2003. What a memorable and unforgettable night!
It had to be NYC. That's the only place I could imagine seeing Lenny sit in with them in a club. I wonder, do they make a point of never playing NYC on Saturdays, so Lenny might be available? Because, of course, he's usually very busy on Saturday nights.
Burcbje - I was there with you my friend. Hope life is treating you well.
Jason
Man From the Past
Could you hear Doc on bari?!! Iron Mike on bone! Adolfo on lead trumpet!! Tom on tenor! Larry Braggs -the most fun vocals in TOP history! The rest of the group gets praised all the time!! Fantastic!!
I remember reading somewhere where a symphony conductor said something like "you never have to ask the horns to play louder". :) This is smoking hot. Funk at its finest.
Who the HELL could give this a thumbs down?
DEEZ BOYZ JUST ROCKED THE FREAKIN HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Most drummers solos have me wishing they had stopped earlier. DG's leave you begging for more!
Iron Mike- hands-down the best lead trumpet they ever had💥🔥🎺
Lenny P still got the goods!! And T.O.P. Was TIGHT that night!!
Lenny Pickett...Insane! The best on earth!!!
What every sax player should look up to!!!!!!!!!!!!
LP made this lineup so special… along with DG, Rocco, Mimi, and the Doc
What gets me is how Doc just kind of Dominates the stage, without really doing much.
Emilios so happy with Lenny sitting in!
Adolfo and Mike B. Doc, Tom, Emilo-then Pickett?!! Larry Braggs- his phrasing and improv-great stuff!!
I KNOW THEM FOR OVER 50 PLUS YEARS 💕💕💕😊😊😊
The most fun you can have with your clothes on.
These two trumpet players are two of my favs in ToP
It's Greg Adams and Lee Thornburg for me.
Awesome videos Cathe and Alex! Bravo!!
LOVE that sax and that crazy dance! - timeless. I wish LP was still with TOP. SNL has to be a great gig.
I guess life on the road for nine years was enough for Lenny. Show me a musician that LOVES being on the road, and I'll show you a guy that loves getting stray tail instead of his regular "thang". Wiki says Lenny left TOP in '83, but I could swear I saw Pickett play the TOP gig in '85 at San Diego's Catamaran Club on Mission Bay. It probably was in '83. I smoked a lot of weed back then and my recall is pretty sketchy.
36 years on SNL and has NEVER missed a show.
Tightest version of this track. They were on fire my God!! And Lenny is just a monster/beast.
Tower of Power best singers where Rick Steven's and Lenny Williams .Lenny Williams is from my Alma Mater Fremont high school in OAKTOWN
Super professional video ! Audio, excellent……camera work, perfect……. editing, first class ! It doesn’t hurt to have the funkiest band in all the land at their tightest !
SERIOUS JOYFUL JAM‼️😬TOP i Have loved you from the beginning ‼️ KEEP ON KEEPING ON‼️
Now this is the TOP I Remember seeing them in 71 in Hartford I was 5 ft in front of David and They Blew my Socks off my First time hearing them I ran out Bought their alnbum And Lenny Picket did his dance just Fuckin AWESOME I still have chills up my spine The greatest Funk Horn band ever
All I know is TOP actually changes the molecular structure of the world in which they are playing every time they perform. No one does it like the GREATEST SHOW BAND OF THE GREATEST ASSEMBLY OF GIFTED, HARD WORKING MUSICIANS ON THE PLANET. NO ONE CAN COMPETE WITH THE CONTINUED GREATNESS OF WHAT EMILIO AND DOC STARTED OVER 50 YEARS AGO!!! IF YOU’VE NEVER SEEN THEM LIVE, PLEASE DO BEFORE YOU MEET YOUR MAKER. YOU WILL BE ASKED, “…And did you ever see the greatest band I ever assembled, Tower of Power?” You really don’t wanna say, “No”.
Talk about building a solo, everyone take a lesson. There is no heavier pocket anywhere!!!!! L.P. WOW and the rest of this GREAT, GREAT BAND. Jimmy Strassburg
Tears in my eyes when I hear Rocco. Every time.
NOW THAT BLEW OFF THE HINGES OFF THE DOOR I'VE BEEN JAMMING TO TOWER OF POWER EVER SINCE I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL BACK IN 1974 THANKS TO MY OLDER BROTHER THAT PLAYED WITH SOME LOCAL BANDS HERE IN FRESNO CALI AS WELL AS COLD BLOOD " WITH
COLD BLOOD IS NO JOKE !
LYDIA PENCE.... WOW !
One of their best live performances. DG is on really on point. Well hell yeah, of course!
You know, I always am amazed at how high some players can reach, especially with brass and saxophone. To me, for them to reach the written 7th octave, maybe the 8th octave is mind-boggling. But in this case, Lenny Pickett reaches the written 9th octave (think at least 12 ledger lines above the treble staff), it's astounding. To me, it seems almost impossible how they can get that high. But then again, you find ones that are legendary.
Amazing as always! Great to see Lenny sit in with them
DG the master of the groove.
He is the locomotive the drives the TOP train.
Dave's a BEAST!!
La banda es de las mejores en los últimos 50 años y el solo de Lenny Pickett es descomunal !
These guys were on fire that night, The best ever!
Man, this was a sick jam and LP was riding the pocket in style. Very few, if any cats can match that!!
Good thing this was the last song, anything after this would have been anticlimactic. Fantastic.
please upload the rest of this amazing show!!
11:20 higher, and higher, and higher. Up to a triple altissimo E!
Live, these guys move me to tears!
What a drummer...!!!
Rocco"s STACOTTO BASS playing makes Tower of Power.
Cant believe what I just heard from LP, that was not real, was it?
Lenny Picket.. The best tenor player EVER!
without breathin.......lenny pickett!!!
Best R&B player, maybe - though Lenny would probably tell you just how much he'd picked up from King Curtis and other old-timers, and how he mostly just plays it slicker and more technical. But when it comes to jazz, there's plenty of guys who could burn on changes that would completely lose him.
GROVER WASHINGTON Jr would go freaktiod on it or SONNY ROLLINS,Pete Christlieb to name a few!!
sjcurry57 Brecker? James Carter?
That solo from the eight-minute mark to the 12-minute mark: Four minutes of altissimo bliss! I was there that night and when LP finished the solo, the audience couldn't believe that he still had his famous dance moves up his sleeve. It was also nice seeing Rocco live after missing him in NYC due to his health issues for almost ten years (RIP Rocco)!
Larry Braggs. Nuf said. Best TOP singer ever.
naw that would REALLY have to go to Lenny Williams although Larry Braggs is very good too!!
Fantastic, just amazing.
These guys never disappoint...My kind of groovin all day long.
Супер-коллектив, на все времена....
Thanks, Lenny. I need a new iPhone, now. Screen cracked in my face.
OMG across the board!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Killer Version!
I seen TOP play this in 73 and DOC would be knocking himself out dancing.
WHEW !! THE ONE AND ONLY ... TOP !!
TOP still the bomb they are tight go on with your bad self Tower Of Power still kicking Much butt rock it out TOP oh yeahhhj
When only the BEST will do - TOP!!!!!!!
Holy manoly. Where is the rest of this performance? What a sax solo! Still the best dancer, too. Better than a pair of paddles, indeed.
Great solo by Lenny Pickett sitting in!
I Still Love Lenny P!
メッチャいいわ
@9:15 gets me every time. Got me doing my shoulder dance.
The baddest thing in get down here in the real world of swinging soul rates with the best of the best the Oakland founded power ever to hit the music world the bartone sax is a kicker
My home boys from OAKTOWN. I had the pleasure of working on Emilios Mercedes in trade school
TOP knocks me out!!
one of the best of this tune!
There will never be another ROCCO!
Awesome performance!
LP needed a mic with a wider frequency response :)
El mejor Solo De Tenor de todos los tiempos con notas sobre agudas
Tower of power-simply the best 😊😊😊😊😊
Can you imagine trying to follow this act?
300% energetic music! Awesome band!
TOP is numero uno!
Something great arrives again today!
Lenny out here playing a solo for dogs
Sweet fancy Moses !
TOP YOU ARE THE ULTIMATE BOMB KEEP ON KEEPIN ON
Wow!
wow...Lenny did "THE" dance..
Good goodness sakes alive! Nine thumbs down up there? Must be deaf and blind!
Lenny being Lenny. 🎷