When I listen to Tower of Power my neighbors do too!

September 1972...in a little San Diego Coffeehouse called Funky Quarters which had occasional live entertainment...Tower of Power with Rick Stevens singing lead played on a teensy bandstand tucked in the corner of the room. They played what was there first hit record "You're still a young man." A few times during their set, the horn section stretched their legs and they would walk/dance out into the crowd while they played. Talk about a "reach out and touch someone" experience! It as life changing, and from that day until this day, I've been a Tower of Power fan.

I have danced myself into total exhaustion several times to “Knock Yourself Out” at TOP shows. You know that Lenny Pickett, besides being an original member of TOP, is the Musical Director on Saturday Night Live.

These guys have always been known for having the tightest horn section in the business and they definitely put the funk in the funk!!!!

If you ever get the chance to see them please do you won't be disappointed I've seen them 38 times they never disappoint

One of the most under-appreciated and, other than James Brown, the funkiest band I've ever heard.

Lenny PIckett, an early member of the band back for a guest appearance. He's now the music director for Saturday Night Live. He's known for his altissimo playing, and the "Pickett Kickit".

Looking at Lenny, it seemed to me that this saxophone solo would never end, imagine what kind of physical training you need to have, long training sessions to play for so long, all the time changing the tempo and arrangement, wonderful!

That’s one of my favorite song ever! Yes!

In the record shop that I used to work in, Tower Of Power were filed under fusion (or jazz-rock), but to me, they are a funk group all the way.

I WAS AT THIS SHOW!!!! The straight on camera shot - I couldn’t stand up because my head would block to camera. This was the Oakland Zone CD release party in 2003. Only 300 people and a TON of celebrities! At the Village Underground

I’ve seen them live six times and every time I leave exhausted and completely jacked up at the same time!!! As a saxophone player I can say that LP is one of the baddest cats around! My dad took me to see them for the first time when I was like 10 years old and I’ve been hooked ever since!!! TOP forever!!!

In the same upbeat tempo, listen to "What Is Hip?" For a slower groove, "So Very Hard to Go". One of my favorites ever. 💞

Lenny Pickett or just LP by the fans was the band's lead tenor player for the most part of the '70s. Nowdays he's the musical director for the Saturday Night Live band and whenever Tower of Power plays in New York City he use to sit in with the band. This was recorded sometime in the late '90s or maybe early '2000s concidering the line up here. Lenny Pickett and the guitarist with glasses and a hat was guest musicians at this gig.

Thank you, Harri! Great reaction to a favorite band and amazing video. LP is brilliant with that circular breathing technique.

If you haven't seen T.O.P. live in concert then you're missing out. Always on FIRE!

Glad you're reacting to them. They are still performing and still a great band!❤❤❤

circular breathing. LP, the best!!

Harri, not sure if you are aware but Lenny was an early member of Tower, not the first but replaced the first tenor player. He later became the Musical Director of Saturday Night Live where he still is.

MR LENNY PICCTKET FROM SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE HES ONE BAD GUY ONE OF THE MEMBVERS 69

Horn section is legendary along with the whole group. They should have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame years ago hopefully they will make it soon . All their songs and albums are legendary ❤ Tower of Power music 🎶 🎺🎶 🎷and they still on tour .

TOP is the most baddass funk/soul band "EVER", and I dare any other funk/soul band to up against them, I have been a devout fan from the beginning, I am a fellow bass player as well and still haven't got over Rocco's passing, he was my boi 😢, he and david were the true engine and transmission of that historic band...

Lenny Pickett, the master of circular breathing. RIP Rocco. A similar story like the Marvin Gaye- Stevie Wonder one was "The Tami Show" which I believe was in New York in 1964. The Beach Boys, Jan & Dean and a few others were in it. James Brown and The Rolling Stones were in it also. James Brown wanted to end the night and so did the Stones and their managers debated on who should finish the night. As the story goes, Mr. Brown let The Stones finish the night. The only problem was, James put on such a show, the Stones were intimidated to go out because James put on a show for the record book and it backfired on them. I believe you can still get it on DVD.

By the way, I gifted a very dear friend tickets to that very show In NYC. I had gotten a private invitation, but was traveling on business and couldn’t make it, so I gave her my tickets (she was a client of mine and a VP at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

People today are all hung up on Societal Diversity......you can't put together a more diverse crew of musicians than TOP. It's been this way from day one. The only thing that matters is the music and respecting each other. That was "The Way of the Bay" for everybody back then. Somewhere everything we understood to be right has been turned inside out. I haven't changed and never will.

I've been to many TOP shows.Only band I've seen that everybody dances for the whole show. Doc blowing those low notes

RIP "Rocco"!

A Eastbay Grease Classic it is

RIP to Rocco, he and Garibaldi were the baddest rhythm section of all time.... 5 original members still workin' it here...smaller venue like when they came to Portland in 1993 and played The Cadillac Club, an 800 seat place. Man, they tore us a new one...Big stadium or wherever, T.O.P. always gave you your $$ worth!! (Best utube version of this song is "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, '75'. Horn section went out into the crowd to shake hands and boogie!!)

So FUNKY🎷🎷🎷 Brings Back so Many 🎼🎼🎼 Memories 👍🏽🙏🏽🎼😁😎🎷🎼

Lenny is using circular breathing I do believe. Well done as well. In some parts.

I have seen them live a couple of times in a small nightclub such as this one. I'm sure you can imagine. Those funk Masters you mentioned are up on that stage in spirit!

All the great music you hear on Saturday Night Live (SNL) was created by Lenny Pickett. He was an original TOP member then left in the mid 70's to lead the band at SNL. He's a Legend!

I've been at TOP concerts on the east coast and west coast since the 1970's. I had a chance to jam with Rocco Prestia (I'm a drummer). It was a highlight of my life I'll never forget. They're a magnificent band that has been part of my life I'm grateful for. Rocco had a positive impact on my life way beyond what I'm sure he ever imagined. God Bless him. May his soul rest in eternal peace. This band is a gift. BTW, Lenny Pickett was on all the gigs I saw them at from what I remember. You're a great host. Thank you.

Tim - Welcome if this is your first submission. This is my first time hearing or seeing this specific video. performance. Harri's review comments were spot-on. Bravo to you both.😎

The best band to hear live I seen them play 4 or 5 during their peak

I think there must have been a pack of dogs at the front door answering to the "Lenny Whistle"

BIG GUY ON BIG HORN CALL HIM THE FUNKY DOCTOR

Next month will be my 106 tower show in Hartford

Tower Of Power = All Timer Top Shelf .

I’ve seen them tons of times! The horns!! It’s all I can say!!!

THAT SAX PPLAYER JUST CAME OUT LENNY PICCLETT FROM SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE USE TO BE WITH TOP STARING OUT

Only one Tower. Saw them once 40 years ago. They killed it then and only get better and better.

Grew up listening to these gods of soul❤. Can’t keep still! Jeff Tamelier is the guitarist and rips!

Ridiculous level of funk here .

Stop it Harri! You're blowing my mind. I was so deep into that sax solo my eyes watered up.👍👍👍

It’s called circular breathing there my friend!! That’s how he holds the continuous high note!!

Showcase tune of one of the most under rated bands ever. Larry Braggs vocals are a bit buried in this mix, but the sheer boogalatin' fun of this jam still comes through!! BTW, Love me some Maceo Parker...but he can't do that.

That was Amazing. ❤

Great reaction, Harri! Nobody does it better than TOP. And Lenny Pickett? Best there's ever been and ever will be. I don't know how many albums TOP has put out, but I have 15, and if there are more, I want 'em!

Dude!!! Love all the 70's TOP. You don't have to, but I'm a 62 Year old drummer. So good. Rabbit hole. Keep going.

I want to see The Doc dance to this song

I would love you to do some more ripping funk from the 70's like the cool funk band Brass Construction doing "Get Up to Get Down" and Lakeside doing "Something About That Woman"

lol Barry White right in my ears for sure! Love that barritone sax so much and that organ player was just wow. The whole dang thing blows your mind.

rocco RIP...

TOP ❤

I have two favorite keyboard players, Jimmy Smith and you just heard the other one Chester Thompson.

Harri, do yourself a favor and take the next few years to really study the History of The Tower of Power. Their's is a story of many "highs" and lows as well as perseverance and dedication to the music. I was so lucky to have been born and raised in the Bay Area and have followed them from the very beginning. The list of TOP alumni is long and studied.

Someone should tell Lenny Pickett whistles are cheaper than tenor saxophones

First! Love TOP!!!

Musos jammin 4eva❤

Sorry if mentioned earlier: You have to check out his solo on the same tune on Live And Living Color from the mid 70s. I think his solo was around 11 minutes.

I hadn't seen this video before. Thanks. I loved Tower of Power. Looks like they were having a lot of fun. There were a lot of horn sections back then: Blood Sweat and Tears, Chicago, the Memphis Horns; but nobody was as tight AND funky as Tower of Power. Lenny Pickett had a solo career that i'm only vaguely familiar with but I have one album with "the Borneo Horns" that's just fantastic. Tightly arranged horns just backed with a simple drum kit.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE TV

Y.S.A.Y.M was always the Encore.

Harri - Two songs for you to enjoy- “Since I Fell For You”, Lenny Welch 1963, “Traces”, Classics IV, 1967.

you found another nugget!! excellent tune. Theres an older better live version out in youtube land somewhere.

You need to check out this song by tower of power it's called funk the dumb stuff so much funk in that song horn section is awesome bass player and guitar lots of funk check it out Harris believe you'll like it

There are better recordings of this tune that sound much better. Thanks for playing them for us. They are an AWSOME band. Check out when Chester Thompson played the organ with them. Best funk band ANYWHERE! I live in SF bay bay!!!

I thought they were the funkiest group at the time

Reminds me of a non-ska Fishbone. If you want great horns, you gotta listen to some SKA!!! My all time fav horn-centric song is Pee in the Elevator, by Canadian ska legends, the Planet Smashers!!!

If you think this is fire then check out the version on their live album “ live and in living color” from the late seventies. Lenny tearing it up in a devastating exhibition of double breathing and altissimo.

Need a Firehose for this one...

Oakland Funk + Jazz.

Check out back on the streets again live, closing of fillmore, sf, ca.

25CDS

IT WAS LAST

lenny circular breathing...??

Lenny Pickett had to throw his sax away after this solo, because it was all used up

DUMER IS RETIREDING THIS YEAR 2024

Great song, not a great recording. You should have done the studio track, so you can actually hear it. This is muffled, no high end really.

BADDASS!!!!

Very cool. Rock on.