Rick was definitely BEST....most soulful, funkiest, greasiest...a natural gift. Blows ALL the TOP vocalists away. If you'd seen them all LIVE like I have, then you'd KNOW. JFK Richmond, CA. Class of 75.
That's it right there! This was one of the very, very few cover tunes I heard them play back around 1971-73. Frenchy's in Hayward, The Warehouse in Sacramento. It's so good to here Rick Stevens in his element again. Say it loud!
@eyes4mikala Wow. A classic Frank and David breakdown - Mr Fulton still with that thick Tele sound - his comeback w the group had a flanged or phased guitar tone. Anyway thanks, I got ears4this
I'm among the folks who believe that Rick Stevens was THE singer for TOP. Somewhere there's a demo of him singing "What is Hip?" before Lenny. Oh, what could have been....
@@chrisinfiesto835 I love you. You know even more T.O.P old school info than I do! I was just a teen sneaking in clubs to see them. I remember the night this was recorded. My best friend and I wanted to go. Her older sister wouldn't drive us. Lol!
Rick Stevens: vocals Emilo Castillo: 2nd tenor sax Skip Mesquite: 1st tenor sax Stephen Doc Kupka: baritone sax Mic Gillette: trumpet & trombone Greg Adams: trumpet & flugelhorn Francis Rocco Prestia: bass Willie James Fulton: guitar Brent Byars: congas/percussion David Garibaldi: drums This is essentially the line up from the 'Bump City' album from 1972. For the self titled 'Tower Of Power' album (1973)---Rick Stevens is replaced by Lenny Williams, Skip Mesquite is replaced by Lenny Pickett, Willie Fulton is replaced by Bruce Conte and Chester Thompson is added on keyboards
Never heard Tower do this. I’ve only heard Dyke and the Blazers do this. Both versions are funky and soulful.
Rick was definitely BEST....most soulful, funkiest, greasiest...a natural gift.
Blows ALL the TOP vocalists away.
If you'd seen them all LIVE like I have, then you'd KNOW.
JFK Richmond, CA. Class of 75.
That's it right there! This was one of the very, very few cover tunes I heard them play back around 1971-73. Frenchy's in Hayward, The Warehouse in Sacramento. It's so good to here Rick Stevens in his element again. Say it loud!
Good old Frenchys. My underage self spent too much time there!
you can hear Willie Fulton back on guitar playing this tune January 1981 Misty Moon Halifax with Pickett and CT still in the band
R.I.P. Rick Stevens.
Is that Rocco ? He'd tear that up now days !!! He's a Monster on the Bass !!! Dave still putting it down back then too,
Rick Stevens Man one of the best.
A WONDERFUL UPDATE: Rick Stevens is a free man!
Just as I recall...
Oh my! This is hot as hell! Killer find!
Makes me miss Rick Stevens all over again - and bemoaning the lack of congas/percussion in the current lineup.
Damn, this is straight up RAW!
@eyes4mikala
Wow.
A classic Frank and David breakdown - Mr Fulton still with that thick Tele sound - his comeback w the group had a flanged or phased guitar tone. Anyway thanks, I got ears4this
OMG...no tighter horns!! Awesome!!
Is Willie James Fulton still alive? Which one is he in this pic?
Wonder y Brent Byars left? His congas really stood out..... 🤔🤷🏽♂️
THE SOUND THAT STARTED IT ALL....FUNKY FUNKY PHONKY...SUPER FIND
There's no groove like the funky Oakland groove from Tower of Power!!
I'm among the folks who believe that Rick Stevens was THE singer for TOP. Somewhere there's a demo of him singing "What is Hip?" before Lenny. Oh, what could have been....
THAT HAS 2 B L.P. ON SAX!!
@@jdbrentley6637 Skip Mesquite
@@arnoldbedak5738 My band opened many shows for TOP in the early '70s. That is Skip on Sax
Early Tower it is.
STII THE BEST AND I AGREE
Who are these T.O.P Musicians please? Can only recognise Emilio
Original line up except for Rufus Miller. Check out info from the East Bay Grease album
AD C -Mic Gillette coming from Cold Blood 2 replace David Padron.
@@chrisinfiesto835 I love you. You know even more T.O.P old school info than I do! I was just a teen sneaking in clubs to see them. I remember the night this was recorded. My best friend and I wanted to go. Her older sister wouldn't drive us. Lol!
Rick Stevens: vocals
Emilo Castillo: 2nd tenor sax
Skip Mesquite: 1st tenor sax
Stephen Doc Kupka: baritone sax
Mic Gillette: trumpet & trombone
Greg Adams: trumpet & flugelhorn
Francis Rocco Prestia: bass
Willie James Fulton: guitar
Brent Byars: congas/percussion
David Garibaldi: drums
This is essentially the line up from the 'Bump City' album from 1972. For the self titled 'Tower Of Power' album (1973)---Rick Stevens is replaced by Lenny Williams, Skip Mesquite is replaced by Lenny Pickett, Willie Fulton is replaced by Bruce Conte and Chester Thompson is added on keyboards
#towerofpower #funk #groove
actual time signature? a trick really