TOP was the best of all my teen years, 13 years old when this hit hanging with my first love, now 63 , still jamming, crying & in my feelings. Yes they are that dam good ❤
A lot of others would try but not Lenny... few years ago I was playing an old TOP cd and the cook I was working with (a black guy) was cracking up when this old white boy told him I knew who Lenny Williams was ... we laughed for a good 1/2
This is still the best band I ever saw. Saw them in concert in Portland Oregon back in the 70s at the Paramount. They opened for Cold Blood, the crowd called them out for three encores. Cold Blood was great , however Tower stole the show. They were amazing.
@@marcuspope3387 Chicago couldn't shine Tower Power shoes. This all started with Al Kooper and his first blood sweat and tears album that is a legend: #1 Child is father to the Man. They came out long before the Commodores etc. To listen to the first album by the Electric Flag with Mike Bloomfield.
I MISS GREAT BANDS that MADE RIGHTEOUS MUSIC! Lenny could reach the moon on top of the rhythm these guys laid down for him to sing on. AWESOME doesn’t say enough!
Best concert I ever saw at the Oakland Paramount Theatre in the mid-70’s during their ‘Back To Oakland’ tour. There was one song they played where Lenny Pickett played two saxophones at the same time, it was awesome! 👏 The AWB (Average White Band ) opened for them.
Good song, sometimes we have to leave a lover, not because we don't love her, but forced by circumstances. Although we would rather stay we have to go, and know it. And this song expresses it so well.
Check out Leonid and friends yt they do this song n it’s absolutely gorgeous ❤they live Tower of power , Chicago, Blood sweat n tears, n many other beautiful songs of true musicians and singers
I saw the Tower and Lenny Williams in Tallahassee, Fl . Florida State University, 1970s. My college days were awesome. The entire band was tight and super professional. What a memory!!!
E verdade ouvir essa banda,e como ouvir uma sinfonia ,de betovew .que afinação magnífica ,que obra prima ,como e bom recordar esses as abençoados momentos .
I spent my teenage years starting in the early 70's. We were rockers. We were all about Led Zeppelin, UFO, etc. If somebody else brought up another genre, we'd trash it (so stupid now that I look back). But if somebody brought up TOP, the conversation went silent. We knew how great they were. We just didn't want our rocker cards pulled. Maybe the best band to include horns and that includes Chicago whom I have deep respect for.
East Bay Greasy! Lenny was still my favorite lead singer for them. Will see them next month blocks from where they started at the Fox Theater on Telegraph in OAK.
when I first heard of Tower of power back in High school I was so Amazed by this Group. #1 the talent and instruments. vocals also. especially that high pitch Voice of Lenny Williams. Now to me it's so very hard not to listen to TOP. at any time. BIG Sam
Saw TOP at Toad's Place in New Haven CT in 1980. As great in person as on vinyl. The Horn section, anchored by Steve Kupka on Bari sax was absolutely phenomenal! They are what Horn sections aspire to.
I agree. But Ray Greene was a close second - and I saw them both with TOP. First saw them in April '71. The bill was TOP opening, Bo Diddley next, and Creedence as the headliner. Pretty cool concert for this 13 y.o. kid at the time!
Growing up in the 70s was magical as far as music was concerned. I was inculcated by the great horn-driven bands like Chase, Blood, Sweat &Tears, Chicago, the Ohio Players, Earth, Wind & Fire, Bill Watrous, Tom Scott & the L.A Express... But none had the sound effects, sonic resonance, and longevity of originality like this Oakland soul band, the unique and versatile T.O.P. There's just no other band, with the exception of the great E,W&F that is still going strong and whole having lost a number of original members over the years are still holding onto their trademark sound, still blowing audiences away, making them feel like it's still back in the day!!!😅
It’s 50 years and TOP has continued to be the benchmark for horn bands. Just my personal opinion but I have not heard anything better and few that were as good and still performing.
Um, they ARE a live band. That's the whole point. They've been together for some 50 years, and the people who've stayed with them are guys in the band. Not the singers - they've had at least ten singers over the years.
They sound EXACTLY like their recordings live. For being a bunch old old guys, they STILL perform the tight funk like it was yesterday in their 20's. This music doesn't get old. I picked a genre that has withstood the test of time. Actually sounds better now. Today's music can't even compare to the beautiful sound of real instruments.
Lenny was Great...but I still Love Rick Stevens when he sang "You're Still a Young Man." So tragic he spent most of his life in prison but was finally pardoned after 40+ years in the Pen..
We first saw TOP in Cleveland Ohio at the Agora when they just released East Bay grease. No one knew who they were and maybe 20 people were in the audience. The next time they came back to Cleveland you couldn't get into the club. One of the greatest groups of all time and should be in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. They are real musicians and have "Soul with a capital S."
@@user-jq7xv3tp6p CORRECT if it was about great musicians Tower of Power would've been in the rock 'n' roll Hall of Fame years ago. Now they letting people in that had just one one album and they're not deserving.
Yes R. It Was first called Berklee "school of music" now they call it Berklee "College of music" but trust me it's the same school. I went their and then became a manager for ASCAP. T.O.P. is an ASCAP band. Juilliard is called Juilliard "conservatory of music." So Good God, Hit me band 1,2,3,4, Take it to the bridge. Can you dig it------ I knew that you could. 😎
@@lindabrinkman1713 ... Aw, man! Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to an amazing band. They sound EXACTLY like their studio songs. And they have many. What stands out is their tight, tight funky rhythm. Every instrument combined to a beat that would make any rhythm machine embarrassed. The original bass player (amazing Rocco Prestia) passed away last year. So I suggest you check out their concert schedule and be prepared to get awed. They play alot of concert fairs.
E verdade chega a arrepiar ,voltar a ouvir esses acordes ,hoje véspera de uma eleição ,aqui no Brasil ,que para muitos ou alguns,pode até se imaginar ,que haja alguma mudança, de algumas melhorias ,mais pensando biblicamente ,só pedir muita proteção a ((±DEUS±)) porquê voltar a esses anos ,passados nunca mais feliz de quem os viveu .
Berkeley High class of 72. Lenny Pickett--the one stylin the checked outfit--was a friend and classmate. You've seen him as the musical director at Saturday Night Live for years.
This has got to be one of my favorite T.O.P. songs, although I hardly believe it is Lenny Williams on vocals or even recorded at a live concert as the photo would have you believe. This sounds more like Larry Braggs' style of singing. There are no audible sounds of an audience, so it more than likely is not a live performance. Another thing that I noticed, was @ 3:30 to the end of the song, strings/synths are very audible. T.O.P. did not have a string section, strings were added in the studio. The original recording was in1972-73? Lenny Williams left the band between 1975-76. I have never heard of any re-recording of this song on any album. This is Just my opinion.
TOP was the best of all my teen years, 13 years old when this hit hanging with my first love, now 63 , still jamming, crying & in my feelings. Yes they are that dam good ❤
Lenny, Emilio, Doc, Greg, Chester, David, Lenny P., Rocco, and Mic. The Gold Standard of Soul and Funk!
Can't describe the feelings this song and Lenny stirs up in my memory! Great stuff!
Digo o mesmo. Me transporto.
Nothing beats an original folks, and T.O.P. of the 70s with Lenny on the Mike was the very best of his generation, bar none!😊
A lot of others would try but not Lenny... few years ago I was playing an old TOP cd and the cook I was working with (a black guy) was cracking up when this old white boy told him I knew who Lenny Williams was ... we laughed for a good 1/2
This is still the best band I ever saw. Saw them in concert in Portland Oregon back in the 70s at the Paramount. They opened for Cold Blood, the crowd called them out for three encores. Cold Blood was great , however Tower stole the show. They were amazing.
Let me ask you put these groups in order ewf, commodore, Chicago tower of power
Look at their completion Earth,Wind and Fire,Chicago as good as they as No one beats The White Bros.and Philip Bailey. E,W,F.
A great band for sure. I used to play some hoop with Mic Gillette, who played trumpet for TOP. A good man who died before his time…
@@marcuspope3387 Chicago couldn't shine Tower Power shoes. This all started with Al Kooper and his first blood sweat and tears album that is a legend: #1 Child is father to the Man. They came out long before the Commodores etc. To listen to the first album by the Electric Flag with Mike Bloomfield.
Cold Blood with Lydia Pense and Tower of Power are the two most powerful horn bands of all time! saw both of them many, many times....
I was Sweet 16 in 1973 When This Song Became a Hit. Thanks For This.
What A Magnificent Piece of ,Time .only then. Let’s hope we may have these memories forever Thanks To Tower Of Power . Still kicking
I was a senior at Illinois State University in 1969 and Tower of Power played at the University Union. Great Concert indeed !
Rocco Prestia was a fantastic bass player. He was absolutely perfect in this band. I think he was God's gift to funk bass playing.
2nd half of the 1950s-1970s....best music ever produced in history.
Of course Lenny🎙️ Williams with Tower of Power and they had one of the baddest horn 🎺🎷🎺sections there was.
Lenny Williams owns this song with his great singing.
amazing song band and era, Lenny still brings goosebumps and a tear
You got that right!
First heard these guys in 1973..after that it was a rap!
I MISS GREAT BANDS that MADE RIGHTEOUS MUSIC! Lenny could reach the moon on top of the rhythm these guys laid down for him to sing on. AWESOME doesn’t say enough!
Is there even a band or singer out now that can walk on the same water as these guys? I can think of NONE!
@priscillawilson9703 Walk the same waters? They can't stand on the beach and point to it. A missing formula for music, now.
Best concert I ever saw at the Oakland Paramount Theatre in the mid-70’s during their ‘Back To Oakland’ tour. There was one song they played where Lenny Pickett played two saxophones at the same time, it was awesome! 👏 The AWB (Average White Band ) opened for them.
Good song, sometimes we have to leave a lover, not because we don't love her, but forced by circumstances. Although we would rather stay we have to go, and know it. And this song expresses it so well.
My older cousins would play this. They where so hip. So every time I hear this it reminds of them. Thanks for sharing.
When I heard this song it brought back so many memories. I started to cry.
Same…. Tears! Joyful!
Me too....my husband LOVED THIS SONG. ❤️💔💔😔❤️
Me too reminds me
Of
Oakland as a kid when everything was cool and simple
Check out Leonid and friends yt they do this song n it’s absolutely gorgeous ❤they live Tower of power , Chicago, Blood sweat n tears, n many other beautiful songs of true musicians and singers
I saw the Tower and Lenny Williams in Tallahassee, Fl . Florida State University, 1970s. My college days were awesome. The entire band was tight and super professional. What a memory!!!
E verdade ouvir essa banda,e como ouvir uma sinfonia ,de betovew .que afinação magnífica ,que obra prima ,como e bom recordar esses as abençoados momentos .
Ruby Diamond Auditoreum!!
@@fretfix1 YESSSSSS! You know the place💯
Lenny Williams is really one of the very best at what he does. Listen!
Two bands rocked my world, starting back in the late 60s. Tower of Power and Earth, Wind, and Fire! ToP will always be on top of my charts!
Might be the best song ever.
The best singer by far Tower of Power ever had
I spent my teenage years starting in the early 70's. We were rockers. We were all about Led Zeppelin, UFO, etc. If somebody else brought up another genre, we'd trash it (so stupid now that I look back). But if somebody brought up TOP, the conversation went silent. We knew how great they were. We just didn't want our rocker cards pulled.
Maybe the best band to include horns and that includes Chicago whom I have deep respect for.
OAKLANDS FAVORITES ... SAW THEM 4-5X ... ALWAYS GREAT ... LENNY VOCALS ... THE HORNS!
East Bay Greasy! Lenny was still my favorite lead singer for them. Will see them next month blocks from where they started at the Fox Theater on Telegraph in OAK.
That’s Lenny with his own band. Still the godfather of soul. There’s not just one, there are several.
I think I'm tough until I listen to this
This rendition is fabulous... thanks for posting one of the best songs ever recorded.
Dig this jam. When music was music and meaningful.
Look at the Doctor, Emilio, and Rocco (RIP). So very hard to go! I was an East Bay boy when Emilio and Rocco landed in Oakland in 1968.
Picture the band was a guest of the usc band 1974 rose bowl 50 yrs ago. It was cool
My God , that is some solid gold soul . I saw them in Kc back in the 70's . Again three encores. 😊
This is the most intensely honest and real songs ever sung
when I first heard of Tower of power back in High school I was so Amazed by this Group. #1 the talent and instruments. vocals also. especially that high pitch Voice of Lenny Williams. Now to me it's so very hard not to listen to TOP. at any time. BIG Sam
Love Tower Of Power..
Saw TOP at Toad's Place in New Haven CT in 1980. As great in person as on vinyl. The Horn section, anchored by Steve Kupka on Bari sax was absolutely phenomenal! They are what Horn sections aspire to.
Never the same TOP without Lenny ....
I agree. But Ray Greene was a close second - and I saw them both with TOP. First saw them in April '71. The bill was TOP opening, Bo Diddley next, and Creedence as the headliner. Pretty cool concert for this 13 y.o. kid at the time!
agree about ray greene. i guess carlos santana made him an offer he couldn't refuse.@@321snoot
The NFL shoulf have had them at their half time show What a band pro musicians thanks TOP for makung me feel my heart and soul.
Growing up in the 70s was magical as far as music was concerned.
I was inculcated by the great horn-driven bands like Chase, Blood, Sweat &Tears, Chicago, the Ohio Players, Earth, Wind & Fire, Bill Watrous, Tom Scott & the L.A Express...
But none had the sound effects, sonic resonance, and longevity of originality like this Oakland soul band, the unique and versatile T.O.P.
There's just no other band, with the exception of the great E,W&F that is still going strong and whole having lost a number of original members over the years are still holding onto their trademark sound, still blowing audiences away, making them feel like it's still back in the day!!!😅
LENNY 💕😊💕
It’s 50 years and TOP has continued to be the benchmark for horn bands. Just my personal opinion but I have not heard anything better and few that were as good and still performing.
Their sound was Great. So many memories.l
So True
Got tickets to see them in Spokane for their Holiday and Greatest Hits Show. Can’t wait.
The good ole days for sure.
Was lucky to see Tower of Power live in concert around 3 times❣ What an experience and treat that was. Thanks for the memories ❤🙏
I was born in the 60ty and I remember hearing this song and then it pop up on my page I ❤this song
Look at how they have a live band! Those were the days!
Um, they ARE a live band. That's the whole point.
They've been together for some 50 years, and the people who've stayed with them are guys in the band. Not the singers - they've had at least ten singers over the years.
And they had no synthesizers straight up band
They sound EXACTLY like their recordings live.
For being a bunch old old guys, they STILL perform the tight funk like it was yesterday in their 20's.
This music doesn't get old. I picked a genre that has withstood the test of time. Actually sounds better now. Today's music can't even compare to the beautiful sound of real instruments.
This one brings a tear.
This is song that touches you deep in your soul takes me back to my teenage years in Maryland 🩵🩵👍🏼
I heard this when I was 7. A beautiful song with the true meaning of LOVE.
Video? Am I missing something? Great song! Great band! Great still!
Solid. It don't get any better than this. Music at it's purest.
Vonda Phipps absolutely right.
SO much better then the talentless thug rap music that's prevalent in todays black community.
What a great song
Thank you for posting this gem; love TOP. I was a kid in the 70’s & loved their music.
I still do. ❤️👍🏻
I remember when this song hit the charts. I always loved the chord changes in the horn section. Checkit out and see if you agree.✊😏
Lenny was Great...but I still Love Rick Stevens when he sang "You're Still a Young Man." So tragic he spent most of his life in prison but was finally pardoned after 40+ years in the Pen..
Pride of Oakland.
We first saw TOP in Cleveland Ohio at the Agora when they just released East Bay grease. No one knew who they were and maybe 20 people were in the audience. The next time they came back to Cleveland you couldn't get into the club. One of the greatest groups of all time and should be in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. They are real musicians and have "Soul with a capital S."
TOP isn't in the RR HOF? They sure leave a lot of sure things out. Jeez.
@@ciarraibuzz YES they put in the Go-gos who only had one album but not TOP
Still have East Bay Grease on vinyl...
The Rock and Roll Hall is not about great musicians. It's straight garbage getting in now.
@@user-jq7xv3tp6p CORRECT if it was about great musicians Tower of Power would've been in the rock 'n' roll Hall of Fame years ago. Now they letting people in that had just one one album and they're not deserving.
I seen then at contra Costa College in San Pablo, CA. For free in the early 70's drinking boomfarm wine and smoking rag weed.
Red Mountain Burgundy and weed we grew ourselves.....great combo.
Beautiful version...
👏👏👏Greatness!
Its a dream come true.
Picture looks like the Half time of Super Bowl. What a great singer and Band.
Sure does!
Rose Bowl
I think the picture was taken at the Rose Bowl.
1974 rose bowl usc Ohio st i was there in the 8th grade
Que saudades um período bom que se foi mas está música faz relembrar o tempo da infância
Wore their teeshirt overseas as a young LT during Vietnam
Lived across the street from Rocco. Saw the guys all the time. Pretty cool!
Great base playing
Going to see them tonight - Center section, Row 1, Seats 1 & 2 - YAY!!!!
Bet they were 👍 I saw the Leonid and friends yt Chicago tribute band do this song last month in Kc and they were fantastic
Yes R. It Was first called Berklee "school of music" now they call it Berklee "College of music" but trust me it's the same school. I went their and then became a manager for ASCAP. T.O.P. is an ASCAP band. Juilliard is called Juilliard "conservatory of music." So Good God, Hit me band 1,2,3,4, Take it to the bridge. Can you dig it------ I knew that you could. 😎
The best classic 👌 🙌 ✨️ 😍 👏 ❤️ the song 🎵 excellent 👍 and great work and ❤❤😂Honduras ♥️ belleza anoz hermozoz ❤❤
Lenny Williams 🔥🔥🔥and the horns 🔥🔥🔥
I SAW TP IN WATERBURY, CT WITH LENNY WILLIAMS SINGING!!!! IM FROM MERIDEN, CT
I'd love to hear them live
@@lindabrinkman1713 ... Aw, man! Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to an amazing band. They sound EXACTLY like their studio songs. And they have many. What stands out is their tight, tight funky rhythm. Every instrument combined to a beat that would make any rhythm machine embarrassed.
The original bass player (amazing Rocco Prestia) passed away last year. So I suggest you check out their concert schedule and be prepared to get awed. They play alot of concert fairs.
E verdade chega a arrepiar ,voltar a ouvir esses acordes ,hoje véspera de uma eleição ,aqui no Brasil ,que para muitos ou alguns,pode até se imaginar ,que haja alguma mudança, de algumas melhorias ,mais pensando biblicamente ,só pedir muita proteção a ((±DEUS±)) porquê voltar a esses anos ,passados nunca mais feliz de quem os viveu .
O que essa música tem a ver com ELEIÇÕES ? Pode me dizer ?
i think my favorite TOP ERA, CT on B3
Check out Leonid and Friends cover of this classic tune..oh, by the way, they're Russian..and they do killer Chicago covers as well..spasibo!
I remember this this song easy listen music.
Tremendous, underrated band!! Oaktown...
Hmmm 🤔 never heard this version before. Many lead singers for TOP but can’t touch Lenny.
Sensacional !
Best band ever.
Maravilhosa essa música!
So American. Our music....
I believe that photo is from the 1974 Rose Bowl Game, USC vs. Ohio State.
Linda canção!!!
Recuerdos
Great version! Thank you for posting.
LW, can’t touch this!
❤
Nice smooth clear sound. I'm not familiar with this version! Thanks!
Top!!!
Thanks for posting this classic song ;-)
big up to San Francisco BALBOA HIGH SCHOOL class of ' 1974 .
Berkeley High class of 72. Lenny Pickett--the one stylin the checked outfit--was a friend and classmate. You've seen him as the musical director at Saturday Night Live for years.
*_Video_* by Rick M? Nice job, Rick!
Capolavoro
👍💯🔥
This has got to be one of my favorite T.O.P. songs, although I hardly believe it is Lenny Williams on vocals or even recorded at a live concert as the photo would have you believe. This sounds more like Larry Braggs' style of singing. There are no audible sounds of an audience, so it more than likely is not a live performance. Another thing that I noticed, was @ 3:30 to the end of the song, strings/synths are very audible. T.O.P. did not have a string section, strings were added in the studio. The original recording was in1972-73? Lenny Williams left the band between 1975-76. I have never heard of any re-recording of this song on any album. This is Just my opinion.
Sing Lenny…..
And then he SANG..... DAMN!
I think they were on the show at halftime at a Super Bowl.
Bay Area stand up.
Nor cal
My bad.
Nor Cal stand up.
@@michaledavissr.4661 I've always called it Bay Area too.
My brother from Monterrey
S.F. Stand up!!!!!