Tower of Power - 2/22/1977 The Oakland Stroke, You Ought to be Having Fun, What is Hip

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  • čas přidán 20. 05. 2010
  • "Santana's Special Guest," "Tower of Power," performs "The Oakland Stroke," and "You Ought to be Having Fun" on February 22, 1977 in Chicago--RARE FOOTAGE
  • Hudba

Komentáře • 363

  • @haskellbob
    @haskellbob Před 6 lety +31

    The Lenny PIckett dance! 2:17. Always amazes me that he doesn't fall down... He's got like a navigational gift in his brain somehow.

  • @eisenyeo
    @eisenyeo Před 11 lety +24

    This is an overdose of groove for someone watching TOP in 1977, just too much, this guys are outrageously awesome!

  • @KB4QAA
    @KB4QAA Před 9 lety +25

    I could never get enough of the Tower of Power band back in the 70's!

  • @SnoMor62
    @SnoMor62 Před rokem +8

    I was 14 yrs old when this aired on our local PBS station. To this day Santana & Tower of Power are the best bands the Bay Area ever! 😎

  • @sibsibs83
    @sibsibs83 Před 8 lety +44

    unbelievable. If a band came out like this today sounding like this, the mothership might land.

  • @jimmythec1960
    @jimmythec1960 Před 11 lety +20

    Lenny Pickett one of the greatest living tenor players of our day!

  • @serpentinefire77
    @serpentinefire77 Před 5 lety +17

    The finest horn section l’ve ever seen live, hands down.

  • @jonathanstone9440
    @jonathanstone9440 Před 4 měsíci +2

    I saw them in 1975 in New Haven Connecticut....it was their "Back to Oakland Tour". It was phenomenal !!! Lenny Pickett did his dance moves down the aisles wearing a top hat.....too kool !!!!

  • @d.g.s.7699
    @d.g.s.7699 Před 6 lety +20

    RIP to Edward McGee who passed away in June 2017. Can never forget his high vocals opener in Ain't Nothing Stopping Us Now. I remember seeing Rob Beck the drummer, who did a short stint with the band.

    • @curtiss2000
      @curtiss2000 Před 2 lety +1

      I had no idea Mr McGee died. Also RIP bass player Roco, Mic Gillette trumpet player, sax player Skip Mesquite from the album East Bay Grease, amd Rick Stevens 2nd lead singer from the album Bump City. Did I miss anyone?

  • @KuyaAccordionista
    @KuyaAccordionista Před 8 lety +53

    Rest in Funk and Power, Mic Gillette. You were THE baddest trumpet and trombone player ever. #YoureStillAYoungMan #SoVeryHardToGo

    • @wizzards6
      @wizzards6 Před 7 lety

      Clean slate

    • @leonguisburg413
      @leonguisburg413 Před 3 lety

      Mic Gillette---Cold Blood and Tower Of Power. Rest easy big brother 😔

  • @Dave-bo8ry
    @Dave-bo8ry Před 3 lety +10

    That finger-tapping, light but thick bassline... could only be Francis "Rocco" Prestia. He died yesterday. Rest in the groove, Rocco.

  • @ricklarner9263
    @ricklarner9263 Před 5 lety +5

    Great! In So Cal in 76' listening to 'You ought to be havin fun', cruisin down Beach Blvd on the way to the beach! Awesome!

  • @vargaso
    @vargaso Před 3 lety +4

    RIP Rocco. One of the greatest.

  • @TheMisterGriswold
    @TheMisterGriswold Před 8 lety +24

    Never a huge Edward McGee fan, but he owns "You Ought to be Havin' Fun". His song. A TOP classic.

  • @glendabadger-cawthon820
    @glendabadger-cawthon820 Před 8 lety +14

    Mic Gillette blows...............ONE BADASS TRUMPET! Tower of Power was always awesome. Great stuff. Tower of Power came onto the scene and caused everyone else to start stepping up their game! Rest in Peace, we will all miss you. (for a time.) See you in Heaven at the big feast! Much Love brother!!

  • @waynefoote3781
    @waynefoote3781 Před 7 měsíci +1

    WOW! This is as RAW as it gets man! .....Don't Y'all just LOVE IT!!!!?

  • @hmol1955
    @hmol1955 Před 8 lety +10

    The sound of the tomorrow that never came. But oh, how we loved it!

  • @QuantumOfSolace1
    @QuantumOfSolace1 Před 6 lety +4

    Lenny Pickett!!! Of The SNL Band. Greg Adams on trumpet. The famous Mic Gillette on trumpet and trombone. The Doctor on Barisax and Mimi on tenors and vocals.

  • @Beatles01able
    @Beatles01able Před 4 lety +3

    This song, this clip, this time period makes me HAPPY. 😃

  • @nebur59
    @nebur59 Před 8 lety +15

    Just found out now about Mic Gillette. Sorry to hear that. Have been a fan since about 1970 during the time I was stationed in Sacramento and heard discovered them on the local FM station. Saw them for the first time in '71 in LA at the Fabulous Forum when they opened for The Buddy Miles band and Santana. After that, saw them several times over the last 46 yrs. One of my favorite bands of any genre!

  • @jonathanthomas7829
    @jonathanthomas7829 Před 7 lety +5

    The original oak town brothers doing it, funky greasy nasty & hard they never left their guard

  • @TerjeStorsanden
    @TerjeStorsanden Před 10 lety +5

    Saw 'em in Oslo, Norway on the night the Swedish Prime Minister, Olof Palme, was shot in Stockholm on Febryary 28, 1986. Tehir first gig ever in Norway. They blew us off and into the night, to the sad news after midnight. We ought to be having fun lingered in our ears and minds in a cab back home...

  • @ra15899550
    @ra15899550 Před 7 lety +8

    "You Ought To Be Having Fun" from the album "Ain't Nothin' Stoppin' Us Now" Year 1976.

  • @julieroden570
    @julieroden570 Před 9 lety +58

    how can this get 20 dislikes, they must be deaf! I'm off to CA to see them on my BD next month. can't wait! born in Oakland raised in the Bay Area. This came from my backyard, so proud!

    • @soulvaccination8679
      @soulvaccination8679 Před 6 lety +2

      Punk asses that’s what it is..Trump supporters got the grove.Thats us

    • @soulvaccination8679
      @soulvaccination8679 Před 6 lety

      Gary Ferraro wtf so am i dummy.You cant read or something.

    • @TabRoss1st
      @TabRoss1st Před 4 lety

      I'm so sorry you're proud of ghetto Oakland, so sad for you. I'd be embarrassed, but the only great thing that ever came out of Oakland is Tower of Power. The greatest band of all time. ToP is the ultimate. At least Oakland did one thing right. Can you name anything else good for America that ever came out of Oakland??? NO! We'd like California to just break off and fall into the ocean. Or hopefully North Korea will nuke it soon. Please let's give California back to Mexico so they will all go away. If you're a good person and you live in Cali, get out soon and move to another pos liberal state. Please don't move to Texas, it's full of horrible deplorables. Hahaha! F u cali

    • @mikelyons4548
      @mikelyons4548 Před 3 lety

      @@TabRoss1st OAKLAND RAIDERS

    • @d.g.s.4121
      @d.g.s.4121 Před 2 lety

      Have visited SF and Oakland years ago. My friend's relative in El Cerrito recalls T.O.P. rehearsing in a unit near his auto shop.

  • @nicholasjackson382
    @nicholasjackson382 Před 9 lety +38

    Chester Thompson killing those keys!

    • @unique74muzik
      @unique74muzik Před 7 lety +3

      facts

    • @simonduun2942
      @simonduun2942 Před 7 lety +3

      Chester Thompson was the guy that kept the band together groovin' :-)

    • @marlachristensen2076
      @marlachristensen2076 Před 3 lety

      OK, the Same Chester Thompson of whom played drums for the band 'Genesis'?

    • @marlachristensen2076
      @marlachristensen2076 Před 3 lety

      After all, keys and drums are both percussion instruments.

    • @abahmasmo
      @abahmasmo Před 3 lety

      @@marlachristensen2076 no, they are different persons, this is Chester the keyboardist, usually played with Santana www.sfjazz.org/onthecorner/five-things-you-should-know-about-chester-thompson/

  • @janholder2286
    @janholder2286 Před 7 lety +9

    The best band out there pound for pound. I love the TOP!!

  • @newspapertaxis1
    @newspapertaxis1 Před 8 lety +27

    R.I.P Mic Gillette

  • @RayArchie
    @RayArchie Před 8 lety +24

    The FUNKIEST Band EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • @LaLa-sz3vn
    @LaLa-sz3vn Před 5 měsíci +1

    This is and has Always been My Favorite Band, Horn Section Included!! Seen them at least 10 times in concert. Always waiting for Lenny Pickett's Sax Solo and of course, His Dance!!!!

  • @Dekyiful
    @Dekyiful Před 8 lety +10

    Unbelievable!

  • @SteveCunningham007
    @SteveCunningham007 Před 12 lety +2

    Is there/has there ever been a tighter, funkier band?
    KILLIN' it!

  • @perryparsons9960
    @perryparsons9960 Před 7 lety +42

    I play in what is billed as a horn band. I play trumpet.
    On my best day, am not even in the same area code as these cats.

    • @fawltytenor
      @fawltytenor Před 4 lety +1

      Totally feel you on that, what a tight band just amazing!

    • @THEWORDCHRISTIANMINISTRY
      @THEWORDCHRISTIANMINISTRY Před 4 lety +2

      Mic Gillette = Awesome. They are ALL AWESOME !

    • @marlachristensen2076
      @marlachristensen2076 Před 3 lety +1

      Well, of which area code might you be from?

    • @mejsjalv
      @mejsjalv Před 2 lety

      Same applies to drums, keys, voice, bass... You gotta be a savage to play with this little combo. This is not my favourite "What is Hip?" performance, mostly 'cause it's too fast. But they sure could play it tight even at a faster tempo.
      Their dancing and grooving on stage is very underrated. I still can't figure out what the heck is the dance moves Lenny Pickett is doing, jumping around without falling down while holding a very expensive tenor sax.

  • @teddydennis4714
    @teddydennis4714 Před 8 lety +11

    love to see Lenny do the Pickett kickit

  • @thesicilianguitarist
    @thesicilianguitarist Před 9 lety +32

    Love this video and LOVE Tower of Power. But man I wish the camera man would put more exposure on Rocco Prestia.... 16th-note-bass-finger-style-MASTER!

  • @ra15899550
    @ra15899550 Před 6 lety +2

    TOP Forever!!

  • @ehobb1363
    @ehobb1363 Před 9 lety +5

    best soul band ever....war a close second

  • @Smoothways
    @Smoothways Před 4 lety +3

    those dance moves from one of the sax players. Why don' t we get to see this anymore? Because he was unique!
    Honestly I had to watch it over and over again and was so impressed the way he ended them right in front of his microphone. And all of this with a sax strapped onto him - WOW!

    • @rocqitmon
      @rocqitmon Před 9 měsíci +1

      Still playing stratospherically on SNL.

  • @EricFontaineJazz
    @EricFontaineJazz Před 11 lety +2

    Yes!!! A horn section that can play awesome harmony IN ADDITION TO DANCING!

  • @ruckailo88
    @ruckailo88 Před 12 lety +3

    Mi Banda Favorita !!!!!!!! la mejor !!!!

  • @Bracosaur
    @Bracosaur Před 12 lety +1

    Wow... I have a hard time believing this is live and not a studio recording. Immaculate performance, and they're all so into it.

  • @johnpietro1423
    @johnpietro1423 Před 8 lety +8

    when your sitting out there ...wonderin what to do...the fellas got a message for you....The Tower of Power....

  • @marlachristensen2076
    @marlachristensen2076 Před 3 lety +1

    "You ought to be having fun" is the song I remember off of this album I purchased as a teenager.

  • @dianerose2561
    @dianerose2561 Před 4 lety +1

    Love TOWER OF POWER ....thank you for all of your music!! True Soul & Funk love.

  • @anablic
    @anablic Před 4 lety +4

    Sadly, we are informing you of the loss of a former member and lead singer of Tower of Power, Edward McGee. Dynamic and soulful, Eddie McGee was part of the band's legacy in the 1970's.
    From Emilio Castillo:
    "I'm saddened to hear reports of the death of Edward McGee. The last time I heard from Edward was 10 years ago as we were preparing for our 40th anniversary. He seemed like he was doing well and it was good to hear his usual cheerful voice. Edward was an amazing singer and entertainer and we were blessed to have him in our band. Our condolences to all his family and loved ones."
    Emilio Castillo - Bandleader for Tower of Power

  • @RayArchie
    @RayArchie Před 8 lety +8

    9:01 - That is what's HIP! Damn

  • @walibashir102
    @walibashir102 Před rokem +1

    The greatest horn section this side of the JBs.

  • @waynemiller6070
    @waynemiller6070 Před 2 lety

    WOOWWW. 'Bout the best ten and a half minutes I've seen on CZcams in a long time.

  • @od1592
    @od1592 Před rokem +1

    Unbelievable! 😮❤

  • @billabbott6092
    @billabbott6092 Před 7 lety +8

    Mic was always the coolest guy to watch live. Going from Bone to Trumpet and singing was effortless.

  • @johnpietro1423
    @johnpietro1423 Před 8 lety +6

    From Oakland Ca...the Tower of Power....

  • @marcovienna6031
    @marcovienna6031 Před dnem

    I can't wait for July 16th 2024 live in Perugia, Italy, Umbria Jazz festival!!!

  • @PVMike1
    @PVMike1 Před 7 lety +1

    Rocco's iconic bass lines of What is Hip still a classic today.

  • @digicraft63
    @digicraft63 Před 2 lety

    Oaw!!!
    I had cancer everywhere but after seeing this clip I am cured.

  • @lsk949
    @lsk949 Před 5 lety +1

    Absolutely supurb! Love some Bay Area Music! ❤️🥰

  • @montgomerydenzer8805
    @montgomerydenzer8805 Před 7 lety +8

    Best Brass ever/Chicago/Blood Sweat and Tears

    • @8betz8
      @8betz8 Před 5 lety +1

      Montgomery Denzer i was gonna say this !!!

    • @8betz8
      @8betz8 Před 5 lety +1

      Montgomery Denzer let me add AWB to this too

    • @curtiss2000
      @curtiss2000 Před 2 lety +1

      Chicago was a great recording band. The entire horn section were graduates from DePaul University's school of music. That is what made the so unique.

  • @ken_n3902
    @ken_n3902 Před 5 lety

    thanks for uproading

  • @Cosmic_Messenger
    @Cosmic_Messenger Před 2 lety

    THANK YOU for this recording for ages!!!

  • @rah718
    @rah718 Před 6 měsíci

    Exactly 10yrs later 2/22/1987 I became a father for the first time!

  • @deborarodrigues9989
    @deborarodrigues9989 Před 8 lety +2

    Banda favorita do meu marido ,quando ele tocava (Banda Phobus) varias musicas do Tower ... seu instrumento era trumpete

  • @3king5
    @3king5 Před 12 lety +13

    How about a very young Lenny Pickett on sax..Mimi was always great at getting young talented horns a shot of showcasing their chops...and Lenny has IT..very hip video...says something about practice...doesn't it?

  • @minacciosa
    @minacciosa Před 7 lety +1

    Grace and rest upon Edward McGee. This particular album wasn't so well received at the time of its release, but with decades past we can hear the absolute mastery of the ensemble and its originality in crafting material for the higher voice of McGee. TOP's command of the current genre was unparalleled, and this album shines through today as fantastic listening and a fitting memorial for McGee.
    This is a simply phenomenal performance of What is Hip.

  • @kmmaniaco
    @kmmaniaco Před 12 lety

    Another thing, whatever passes for music today does not have any fine men like this out front singing their hearts out! For sure!

  • @denisemason3335
    @denisemason3335 Před 10 lety +6

    Down to the night club and smoking only the best weed is what it was all about back then. They got that right!

    • @rosavito1
      @rosavito1 Před 9 lety

      the music wasn't too shabby either

  • @N01NP
    @N01NP Před 11 lety +1

    Bruce Conte's guitar playing - always very hip and right in the pocket.

  • @imup2damlate
    @imup2damlate Před 12 lety

    Ther never was and never will be another...TOP

  • @greglewandowski2969
    @greglewandowski2969 Před 8 lety +3

    sax man is a dancing machine!

    • @Vektorer
      @Vektorer Před 8 lety

      +Greg Lewandowski That's LP! Lenny Pickett! THE Lenny Pickett. You may have heard hundreds of times on SNL. Betcha he can still bust a move or 2.

  • @pumpkinseed1981
    @pumpkinseed1981 Před 10 lety +13

    Edward Mcgee lead singer in this video > Underrated < I don't hear anything about him... All that talent... Love his energy, voice... Where is he? How is he doing?

    • @Maryzlem
      @Maryzlem Před 9 lety +3

      I know Edward McGee... A super good guy, still making music. Coming out w/ a CD in the near future...

    • @mozdickson
      @mozdickson Před 4 lety

      Gone to heaven

    • @THEWORDCHRISTIANMINISTRY
      @THEWORDCHRISTIANMINISTRY Před 4 lety

      He was my favorite Tower of Power front-man. Great style.

  • @peteandrews7169
    @peteandrews7169 Před 9 lety

    Fark how funky are these cats! You oughter be havin fun!!

  • @newsmanbluesman
    @newsmanbluesman Před 12 lety

    70 years of blue-eyed soul.. cared for Doc Mimi DG Rocco LP as well as any

  • @mojorayjones
    @mojorayjones Před 6 lety

    Never gets old. You guys make the Town proud.

  • @Nacky74s
    @Nacky74s Před 10 lety +1

    Ive never seen this footage. Thanks!

  • @DaveMills
    @DaveMills Před 10 lety +1

    Love it!

  • @matsnilsson565
    @matsnilsson565 Před 8 lety +7

    Disregarding the out of beat steps some members did at the beginning, this legendary horn section can only be described as one of the best in funk. I hear early KOOL & THE GANG, EARTH, WIND & FIRE (of course there's a lot of J.B's going on) and this is something a "Funkateer" like me love.

    • @derektate1951
      @derektate1951 Před 6 lety +1

      Steps weren’t bad for pimarly musicans......besides “We came to play” If I wanted dancin I’d watch tapes of Jackson Five or the Temps.......blow muthar fuckers......BLOW!!!!!!!

    • @derektate1951
      @derektate1951 Před 5 lety +1

      Yo Matt’s, they wasn’t there to ‘hoof....’ They Came To Play!!!!’😎😎😎😎😎

    • @THEWORDCHRISTIANMINISTRY
      @THEWORDCHRISTIANMINISTRY Před 4 lety +1

      Oh man, Everybody "tried" to emulate these guys !

  • @edpolk1262
    @edpolk1262 Před 4 lety +1

    Greg Adams - Westmoor High School, Daly City, CA 1970

  • @21melendez
    @21melendez Před 11 lety +1

    You ought to be having fun....love that song...

  • @honeybee7201
    @honeybee7201 Před 2 lety

    I Love the Sax💯💯♥️♥️

  • @fretboy33
    @fretboy33 Před 5 lety +1

    Such freakin’ talent.👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

  • @THEWORDCHRISTIANMINISTRY
    @THEWORDCHRISTIANMINISTRY Před 3 lety +1

    YEaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH !

  • @baazooka86
    @baazooka86 Před 4 lety

    I saw T. O. P. at the very famous and very small and intimate, Golden Bear nightclub in Huntington Beach in 1980. We sat at a table right in front of the horn section that almost literally blew us away with sound and fury. Loved every minute of it. It was a soul sanctifying experience.

  • @jd2616
    @jd2616 Před 7 lety

    I heard Tower of Power for the first time at Bowling Green State University's homecoming concert in 1973 and have been on board ever since, Oakland, they done found the stroke, for real

  • @heesable
    @heesable Před 12 lety

    WOW!!! AWESOME!! CANT STOP MOVIN!!

  • @lisamerrill24
    @lisamerrill24 Před 4 lety

    Crazy sax man!

  • @honeybee7201
    @honeybee7201 Před 2 lety

    20222 Classic💯💯💯♥️♥️

  • @wblighting
    @wblighting Před 12 lety

    It been a long time coming.

  • @garytyson2228
    @garytyson2228 Před 9 lety +1

    This clip brings back a lot of memories. It was filmed in Chicago at the WTTW studios, for the PBS show "Soundstage." Tower of Power was the special guest on this show.. Santana was the main act on the bill. I think this was recorded in 1977 or '78. Thanks for posting ! :-)

  • @ginostrings
    @ginostrings Před rokem +1

    The drum parts dude. Damn

  • @Markeygirl
    @Markeygirl Před 13 lety

    These are all the comments??TOP transcend and mark the time of amazkng music and above all, for those coming up or experiencing music that didn't happen 5 minutes ago... this is the root of the root...listen and absorb, These guys are still around and can blow your socks off!!

  • @jonasbluesband
    @jonasbluesband Před 11 lety

    Grandi !!!!!

  • @CrimsonThorns
    @CrimsonThorns Před 11 lety +1

    true true...this was pure and solid musicianship and artistry. Music has no color either. if it has groove and soul, then yes, it is universal.

  • @rudymartinez3002
    @rudymartinez3002 Před 13 lety

    the baddest conglomeration of horn players ever assembled anywhere--LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE INCOMPARABLE TOWER OF POWER!!!

  • @ArikShahar
    @ArikShahar Před 11 lety

    Great!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • @Lulu4Him
    @Lulu4Him Před 11 lety

    Yeah, I thought so. My good friend is "Skunk", who was the drummer for awhile, than said "They make it rock, and I make it roll".

  • @RayArchie
    @RayArchie Před 11 lety

    Crazy!!!

  • @mellownessa
    @mellownessa Před 11 lety

    Amen, msjolly. Top-notch entertainers without a doubt!

  • @EricBlackmonGuitar
    @EricBlackmonGuitar Před 7 lety +1

    POWER.

  • @micamge
    @micamge Před 11 lety

    Ultimate funky.

  • @mcareyification
    @mcareyification Před 6 lety

    I first saw TOP at a high school district dance in Walnut Creek in '72. Me and my buddy, two pimply-faced sophomores with rolled-up sleeping bags to sit on in case we got bored. We forgot all about the sleeping bags. I saw TOP a dozen or more times through the 70's at venues like the Rheem Theater in Moraga and Marine World in Redwood City. Always a great time, and a sure-fire show to take a first date! An old fart now, I really miss the music of that decade.

  • @stecklein7
    @stecklein7 Před 10 lety +1

    love it

    • @joespencer3076
      @joespencer3076 Před 9 lety

      Great back up for little feat tbese guys are great

  • @robryder26
    @robryder26 Před 11 lety

    can't get enough of these guys. Wish my generation would rediscover Chicago, TOP, and the like- when making music took musicianship, not a computer.

  • @josephdorenbos2633
    @josephdorenbos2633 Před 7 lety +5

    Lenny!!