amazingly underrated Band....One of Americas Greatest bands

@danielolson5378

4 жыл бұрын

Legends and icons!! I think they are greatly appreciated among musicians but yes the business itself doesn't give them the cred they so totally deserve.

@SiobhanSibealFernweh

Жыл бұрын

Tower of Power was definitely not underrated in their time. They were on the radio every hour and rightly so.

@MrSteveG58

9 ай бұрын

Great band. Magnificent horn section, as they played on other folks stuff.

@troysterling1382

4 ай бұрын

Exactly! Most Underrated band and Lenny was the most underrated soul singer of all time in my opinion!

@Lee91522

3 ай бұрын

Truth! ❤️

Lenny is the best frontman they ever had. Kicked off his solo career with the monster hit Because I Love You. A soul classic for all the ages.

Saw them in concert in a 23,000 seat arena...didn't matter the size of the place, that horn section could blow the roof off any building they were in. POWER had to be in the name!

Tower of Power is known as an ensemble band. They have a lead singer but no one was more famous than anyone else. Their brass section was second to none. Try You're Still Young Man.

@janestevens2030

3 жыл бұрын

Don't write in the past tense. They are still going strong.

@Amethyst967

3 жыл бұрын

@@janestevens2030 that is so good to hear. Thank you!

@anthonylovavto3228

3 жыл бұрын

You should hear Tell it like it IS by Heart, with the Tower of power horns!

@bbullard007

3 жыл бұрын

I respectfully disagree. Lenny Williams was their best singer, Bar None. He left and had 1 hit. No other singer had any success after they left the band.

@harryrobinson6282

3 жыл бұрын

Bar none my friend...Lenny Williams was the best lead.

T O P the tightest band in the land PLEASE react to "What is Hip" "Soul Vaccination" live The gold suit is worn by Lenny Pickett and you've been hearing him for 35 years on SNL as musical director and closing each week with his awesome sax solo "Waltz in A"

@marymargaretmoore9034

4 жыл бұрын

I went to school with Lenny. He's a great musician.

@bigalbass

4 жыл бұрын

Don’t Change horses in the middle of the street and squib cakes

@UncleScrooge93

4 жыл бұрын

“What is hip is AMAZING”

@belindahutchings9420

4 жыл бұрын

I was gonna say the same thing. LP is the most phenomenal tenor sax players I've ever heard. The TOP horn section has done plenty of session word independent of the band. They did work for Heart and Santana. :)

@ammaleslie509

4 жыл бұрын

YES--WHAT IS HIP!

The Pride Oakland CA. Emilio Castillo and the Doctor started out of Fremont, CA Kennedy High School in 1968.

@troysterling1382

3 ай бұрын

One of my neighbors lived across the street from them in Fremont when they played in the garage!

Smooth! But you MUST react to their song, You're Still A Young Man! The horns and singing, YEAH, THAT'S what I'm talking about.

@danielolson5378

4 жыл бұрын

That trumpet intro by Mic is completely mind blowing!!

@scottsabino2903

4 жыл бұрын

Yess!!

@MikeCoggan

3 жыл бұрын

@@danielolson5378 there was a local group here put together by a San Jose PD officer. Mic happened to be his trumpet teacher. Well this band that played some small clubs consisted of Robert the leader, Mic Gillette on Trumpet and Skip Mesquite on sax...2 original TOP mrmbers former bass and keyboard players from Malo.... yeah it was great, but weird to see so few people there

@MikeCoggan

3 жыл бұрын

@@danielolson5378 this is not a high quality video but it is Skip Mesquite on the left, Mic in the middle, and Robert Payne (the leader) and the singer was lead singer of Malo for a time...nice trombone solo by Mic to start .. looking for this one I found another where they do Suavecito with Richard Bean (writer and original lead singer of the song on vocals kzread.info/dash/bejne/e5yk1ZWPp9TNedI.html

@danielolson5378

3 жыл бұрын

@@MikeCoggan Thank for posting never heard of this band before although i'm familiar with Mic and Skip offcourse.

Vocally and instrumentally a gem! A Masterpiece! From the time when music was for listening!

Great tune! Love Tower of Power! Check out, “What Is Hip,” and “You’re Still A Young Man!”👍🏼

@harvardblue4940

4 жыл бұрын

R.I.P. Rick Steven's the original lead singer.

@bethcrawford7427

4 жыл бұрын

Wonder what happened to the lead singer? God, what a voice. Most of their songs had a sad tinge.

@BBartelotti

4 жыл бұрын

Beth Crawford I think you should remember him as a great lead singer for TWP. Real life is just not as fun or glamorous sometimes.

@anthonylovavto3228

2 жыл бұрын

Or Clever Girl and Don't change horses in the middle of the stream!

There are songs that are good for their day and time, and then there are songs like this, that are good for all time. This jam is a stone cold groove.

This is what you call an "old school jam" and no one can ever recreate this song. Love it! ❤️

@barryanderson3910

2 жыл бұрын

Try Leonid and Friends' recent version. If they haven't recreated it, they've come awfully close.

@markfarley671

Жыл бұрын

@@barryanderson3910 Saw Leonid & Friends perform this live last night. They nailed it!

@barryanderson3910

Жыл бұрын

@@markfarley671 I envy you. The opportunity was there to see them 2 years ago when they first visited my area, but circumstances weren't in my favor at the time.

Very soulful, good jam. Check out some songs by War, All Day Music, Slippin' into Darkness, The Cisco Kid, The World Is a Ghetto and Low Rider. Please give us your reaction. Thanks.

@arthuroconnor4300

4 жыл бұрын

War live (get down) got to be the live version

@sueprator9314

4 жыл бұрын

YES! WAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( the group)

@maryroberts9233

3 жыл бұрын

Please do play WAR....Low Rider...Why Can't We Be Friends

@caroliamurri3872

3 жыл бұрын

All so good!

Lenny Williams “cause I love you”. Your life will change INSTANTLY!

@artbourasseau2039

4 жыл бұрын

First day with new brain Yes

The Great Lenny Williams! Might be better known as the singer of the ballad “I Love You” a favorite of females for generations!!

@joeday4293

4 жыл бұрын

As explained by Steve Harvey on "Original Kings Of Comedy." 👍

@carolinagal252

4 жыл бұрын

Must react to that song that has to be one of the most heartfelt songs ever!!!

@ErickGiovanniPrz

4 жыл бұрын

I’ts called “Because I Love You”. What a song!

@markeyosef1579

2 жыл бұрын

Huh? 🤣😭🙄

Leonid & Friends just released a killer rendition of this on KZread. Tom E. 20 year member of TOP said it was Fantastic!

We told you! Ha! The horns section. The piano fill. This guys voice. Just a great band.

@stillbill6408

2 жыл бұрын

Not to mention the beautiful flugel horn solo...hearfelt!

@CommishNflpro

2 жыл бұрын

@@stillbill6408 Mr. Greg Adams

@CommishNflpro

2 жыл бұрын

The Doc holding it down on the baritone and Mic playing the Bone and trumpet, one in each hand!

I may an old rocker but man I love this song brings back so many great memories from back in the day when life was so much simpler and not moving at a fast pace, thanks for this one Jamel, man you gotta do Strawberry Letter 23 by the Brothers Johnson

I absolutely love this song!!!! Lenny Williams was all that!!

My high school sweetheart and I loved this band. Grew up in the East Bay. Saw them in '75, Day on the Green at the Coliseum if I recall. Several band members were alumni of my high school. Parting was always such sweet sorrow.

saw them live 30 years ago outdoors... was just one long jam

@La_sagne

4 жыл бұрын

that's still them... 90 minutes of some 70 year old dudes doing stuff that i couldnt play for 5 minutes

@bstb1958

4 жыл бұрын

me too the energy was unreal

This is awesome! I’m 32. My uncle grew up on TOP and has been seeing them play as often as possible since he was young..probably a few hundred times. I’m lucky enough to have seen them twice. Tight soul

Bro! This is the tip of the iceberg bro! Hit soul vaccination, what is hip, you’re still a young man, squib cakes, only so much oil in the ground. Welcome to bump city! Ps. The cat in the gold suit is Lenny Pickett. When he left TOP he joined the Saturday night live band and had been playing that nasty sax for that band ever since.

@therealnitrouso2

4 жыл бұрын

Only So Much Oil In The Ground - what a great tune! Check out this live version - guest singer's a German teenage girl who went on to build a name for herself. kzread.info/dash/bejne/iHypt49wfsLSqJs.html

@fsanchez4905

4 жыл бұрын

We are going to turn him into a TOP fan, once he hears What is Hip

@palafox2237

4 жыл бұрын

@@fsanchez4905 yess 😁

@ryanhallwrites

4 жыл бұрын

@@fsanchez4905 Bump City is like Hotel California. You can check in any time you want, but you never want to leave.

@laney1492

2 жыл бұрын

👍👍👍 Bump City- YES!

Finally someone doing Tower Of Power; a band from my hometown! Please also do Sparkling In The Sand and You're Still A Young Man. Thanks, Jamal!

@twentyfiveyears5010

4 жыл бұрын

Those are the same songs I was going to suggest. You went to school with Lenny P? Me too. Garfield & West Campus.

@marymargaretmoore9034

4 жыл бұрын

@@twentyfiveyears5010 Me too! I was at Garfield in 7th and 8th grade (same yr. changes to MLK), then West Campus and BHS. Graduated in '72. When did you graduate?

@twentyfiveyears5010

4 жыл бұрын

@@marymargaretmoore9034 Same year as you. If you have your yearbook, look in the senior pics ; Mary Comendant is above me and Celeste Conti is below me, Greg Coon is to my right. You?

@marymargaretmoore9034

4 жыл бұрын

@@twentyfiveyears5010 Don't have a yearbook, unfortunately. My junior (11th grade) year I went to a school in S.F. (Drew School). I remember Greg Coon. He now goes by Bruno Coon. I remember Celeste. Are you on Facebook? If so, I'll give you my name and we can chat. Small world!

@twentyfiveyears5010

4 жыл бұрын

@@marymargaretmoore9034 Greg/Bruno was a talented guitarist. I don't suppose you have a '68 Gleaner?

Great song with great vocals by Lenny Williams. Lenny is still kicking today at the ripe young age of 75. Live long Lenny. TOP's "What Is Hip" is just killer James Brown influenced stuff. The live version is real typical of their act at the time. Also "You're Still A Young Man" which is also a great cut...and when Lenny got to dancing you knew the groove was kickin'.

Jamel - that solo instrument is the Flugelhorn (a variant of the trumpet), wonderfully played here by Greg Adams (Rest In Paradise). Many folks here have requested Tower Of Power's "What Is Hip" - I must concur. One of the greatest, funkiest songs ever!!

@joeday4293

4 жыл бұрын

Good message too.

These dudes can still get it. Saw them at their 50th Anniversary concert in Oakland two years ago and they killed it. Such a great group. Horns are always so tight and the groove in so good. There are some old live recordings of Soul Vaccination on KZread that are spectacular

Still one of my favorites...still as fresh now as in the 70's.

I feel so blessed to have lived through all this... Hopefully there's a new renaissance of this soul/ R&B/funk era... Guys like Barry, Teddy, Stevie, Issac, Lou Rawls, of course James Brown et al...It's a life time of listening and Put's one's mind in the right state...Just cruising along...

I love this group and this incredible song! ❤️ This song is just Badass!

Seeing this live was the night I fell in love with music. I will never forget a single note. Many great musicians have been through TOP, and they are still awesome today.

Tower Of Power was a most underrated music group of the 70's. Also one of the few great interracial bands of their time! Thank You for considering playing "So Very Hard To Go" brought back pleasant memories...

That man has a great 👍 great voice. This is the first time I have heard this song in probably forty years or more. This is a great song and would in joy hearing it more often.

I loved the bands With the horn sections when I was growing up in the 60’s and 70’s. Tower of Power, Chase, Chicago, Average White Band, Earth Wind and Fire, just to name a few. Much of the songs were mixtures of several different genres. I think that’s why I liked these groups👍

@oifvet7487

2 жыл бұрын

Steely Dan too.

@dougallen8305

Жыл бұрын

Blood, Sweat, and Tears

@Coowallsky

Жыл бұрын

Sadly, Chase never hit their apex.

@robrobertson4619

Жыл бұрын

@@Coowallsky After Bill Chase died in 1974, I don’t think the group stayed together. 😔

@Coowallsky

Жыл бұрын

@@robrobertson4619 That was my understanding, too.

One of my all time favorite bands. Kick ass horn section.

I absolutely love this band! Long live the T.O.P. They aren't brought up enough in conversations today.

They didn't need gimmicks back in the day. Just their voices and musical talent.

Sir, it's time you hit up some Electric Light Orchestra. "Strange Magic," "Telephone Line," "Mr. Blue Sky," and "It's a Living Thing" is a good place to start.

@sueprator9314

4 жыл бұрын

Sure but right now we are doing THIS FLAVOR.

@MAILLADY2010

4 жыл бұрын

Love this flavor. Little ELO doesn't hurt.

@MAILLADY2010

4 жыл бұрын

Jim Croce

My mom’s song💜it came it out when she was teen. Still tell her I think of her when I hear this song. I love it myself

One of the 10 best soul songs from 1965 - 75; (Motown included) and one of the 5 best arrangements (along with Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes “The Love I Lost”).

one of the best of the cali horn bands, love them, an amazing singer, wow

We loved this band in the early 70s -- their Brass is incredible!

Today Bill Withers passed. Consider doing "Use Me" (1972). He has more famous songs, but he just tore that one up. You need it in your ears/soul.

@crimsonclover8314

4 жыл бұрын

I agree 💯 when Use Me comes on I still bust a move can't help it! 😆 RIP Bill Withers ❤

Awesome group with legendary horn section! I am fortunate enough to have seen them live in a small venue. But even their recordings smoke! Jamal, they have had a few lead singers over the years for one reason or another. Don't stop here. They have several songs that top this one,. IMHO. Try their You're Still A Young Man. Pretty much my #1 of their catalogue.

Saw them live 40+ years ago.....amazing! Thanks so much for reacting to Tower of Power Jamel - you're the best!

One of the tightest musical acts for the last 52 years and still going. Check out their live cover of Me and Mrs. Jones with Larry Braggs on vocals.

@danielolson5378

4 жыл бұрын

LB got one amazing voice great range!

Try listening to "you're still a young man" by the tower of power. Its their signature hit... you'll love it.

One of my favorite tracks off of one of the all-time perfect albums. Every song on it is incredible!

I saw them two nights in a row in Honolulu... this song and 'You're Still a Young Man' made people so happy.... what a band...

T O P the best horn band of all time. Listen to "What is Hip"

See, now you need to do some of their hardcore FONK. "What Is Hip," "Squib Cakes," "Down To The Nightclub." And especially the cure for coronavirus: "Soul Vaccination"! ✊🏿💉🏥

@linnymaemullins3319

3 жыл бұрын

😍

@heathercollins4432

3 жыл бұрын

Yes!!! "Down To the Nightclub!!!!"

@silvabakx6396

3 жыл бұрын

Bump City!

One of the best live bands you will ever hear! 51 years and they are still touring! Seen them many times, and hope to see them many more times!

The best sounding horn section. Trumpets, saxophone etc. Please do more Tower of Power. Saw them in the 80's

Great song!.. Bill Withers (RIP).. "Use Me"

Check out you’re still a young man by them! Awesome powerful ballad

@danielolson5378

4 жыл бұрын

That trumpet intro by Mic is completely mind blowing!!

@Sander12348

4 жыл бұрын

Daniel Olson Yes!

Awesome ,Awesome song and group!!! Wow his voice is pure perfection!!!! Love it! Definately takes you baaack to the 70's!!

I LOVE this song. It stays permanently on my playlist

“This time it’s real” Tower of Power. Missed the 70’s big time.

J - Great vid!! Now you have to explore TOP's eternal question...What Is Hip??!! Guanteed to make you move. 👍

What joy this song brings to my heart ❤️

Thank you!! This performance on Soul Train is one of my all time favorites! Always liked Tower of Power. You have to do another Soul Train video of Aretha Franklin doing Rock Steady. Always makes me smile like crazy😉 Keep up the great reaction videos.

Great group. Favorite song of theirs is Soul with a capitol S. Also, the instrument you liked is called a flugelhorn. Keep up the reactions. Love the channel.

@TheTrojanman83

4 жыл бұрын

I believe that Greg Adams was playing the flugelhorn in this performance. In fact, he is still touring with his own band, called Greg Adams and East Bay Soul.

@m276863

3 жыл бұрын

If you like flugelhorn, check out Chuck Mangione

Don't change horses in middle of a stream!

Jamel I've been a subscriber for a while now & I have enjoyed watching your reactions to the fantastic soundtrack of my youth. You are so entertaining & our first reaction matches yours so I know how it FEELS to hear great music the first time.. You're taking a lot of us down memory lane. It's wonderful..Thank you! 80s Lady...💖💖💖

This is the best version of my favorite band. Still giggin' after 52 years

Being a trumpet player, I've played a number of their charts. The great songs are too numerous to count.

Love your reactions, one of their best songs is "Sparkling in the sand" you would like it

@myssvee9975

4 жыл бұрын

I ❤❤❤❤that song!!!!!

Yes, Tower Of Power with the incomparable Lenny Williams on Vocals. I like "Just when we start making it, You're still a young man & What is hip." The Crescendo of the horns and Emotion Lenny puts into the mix is Heavy! Makes some Male groups sound like Women! Sing it Lenny!

Tower of Power was the band!! The lead singers were smooth, but that horn section was powerful!! The only group that I know that nearly matched the fatness of their sound was Lighthouse on "One Fine Morning." Love this song!! Great reaction!!

Time for some Bill Withers, RIP!

Don't change horses in the middle of the stream. Another great song.

One of the best!!! T.O.P!!! I always loved their sound. Lenny was their best lead singer of all time. Have you reacted to YOU'RE STILL A YOUNG MAN?

Dude ... it was 1974, I was a freshman at college in love with my best friend from high school but she was in love with someone else. I can't tell you how many times I listened to this song. It all comes back every time I hear it.

What is Hip!!! - "Your hanging out with a new breed, smoking only the best weed"

SQUIB CAKES PLEASE!

One of my favorite youth jams! Thank thank you! The words are lovingly burned in my brain!

Best horn/brass section ever.. Your reactions were awesome. Been a fan of TOP band since 1975... Thanks for the video review..

I have been waiting for ever for this song. I had the CD and played the hell out of this song. Thanks for taking me back to the good memories.

🎼 Tower of Power was lit back in the day!🔥 Yes, Lenny had a VOICE! And Soul Train baby!

Your smile makes me smile. Thank you for the warmth you bring in.

I grew up in this era of fine, fine music. This tune is one of thee smoothest tunes. Very nice.

Finally! Finally. Thank you Jamel. Your reacting to my favorite band of all time. Been waiting for someone to react to them. They were and still are so amazing.

I've seen T.O.P. so many times. I was fortunate to grow up in Central California and they played all over the place. Absolutely love them.

OMG so pleased that you've done a review for this great tune, my dad's been a fan of these for many years now & he brought me up on this great music aswell.

The guy in the gold suit is Lenny Pickett who is now the musical director for Saturday Night Live.

Beautiful blended melody, harmony, instruments. Yeah. Great tune.

So very glad to dig this tune along with you man. One of my favorites. Love your channel man.

"What is Hip", "Knock Yourself Out", "Still a Young Man", "As Surely as I Stand Here" and on and on!! They still tour and dude you would love it!

TOP had one of the largest horn sections in a band at that time. The group Chicago also comes to mind. TOP started in '68 in Oakland. Great band!

One of my favorite songs ever. Also one of the best horn sections ever assembled. I saw them here in Las Vegas a few years ago and they are still great after 50+ years.

The voice, the words and the horns, what a treasure. Soooooo smooth and relaxing and I do remember this gem. In my opinion this band definitely underrated. Thanks for posting. If you liked this try MALO doing a song called SUAVICITO

The Pride of Oakland! These dude were HUGE during the 70s... and the T.O.P. horns set the standard for every brass section to come after them.

T.OP. is an amazing group. This is Lenny Williams, RIP. He was the best singer.!!!!

I was raised on this album, urban renewal and monster on a leash, among their other stuff. Lenny is by far my favorite singer.

loved this reaction! i grew up listening to soul music, love my parents for that ❤️ oldies but goodies!

We first saw a TOP in Cleveland Ohio at the Agora when they just released East Bay grease. No one knew that there were maybe 20 people 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."

To Towers Rocco Prestia, the funkiest bass player...Rest In Peace. We in Hawaii love you 🤙🏼❤️🤙🏼❤️🤙🏼 Thank you Jamal.

Jamel's smile when Lenny hits the first note says it all.

Lenny Williams was their 2nd lead singer, among a long list of lead singers over 40 yrs. No question he was their best. Great singer, great band. What is hip?

He is the original singer of what is hip that should be them on Soul Train in the 70's my song ❤️♥️❤️

Tower of Power and Chicago. The two best horn section ever with EWF right behind...