Without a doubt, Tower of Power had the tightest rhythm section, the most phenomenal horn section and their vocals wasn't too shabby either. They had it all including some awesome tunes.
Consistently (over 50 years) the best live band I've ever seen. TOP never disappoints. I've seen many others mentioned here (big names) have bad nights but these guys ALWAYS deliver. Great ensemble and leadership from Emilio Castillo.
I grew up in the 60s and had a son (now 50 yrs old) . My late brother , Tony ,was a phenomenal musician and played in bands back then (lead guitarist and also played upright Bass) any way my brother was babysitting for me one day ,and when I came home my son at 2 years old (couldn't pronounce his uncle's name so he called him 'uncle Toy' ) was demanding that my brother play( "Squib Cakes" uncle Toy, ) for him. I still have a good laugh and great memories of that, my brother was turning my toddler onto good music even then. ❤️
This is a killer performance by Chester CT Thompson! His playing on the Hammond B-3 Organ is over the top! Tower of Power is kicking it with the horns and rhythm including Carlos on guitar, but CT killed it on the B-3!
Every time I hear these fire-breathing guys play their ultra- funky soul; -- my music muscles get bigger, faster, and stronger! TOP is the best band ever to walk onto a stage, anywhere, -- anytime! They Never give up, Never surrender! They melted my face at Winter Land, 1971, San Francisco. 1:52 1:52
I never get tired of listening to Tower of Power and Mr Garibaldi thumpin’ that funk pocket. mason, cobham, white, acuna, weckel and a bunch more play some sweet grooves, but Mr Garibaldi has such a distinct feel, sound, and approach to the music...yaaa, he’s The King of Funk
Carlos is out of his element.....and it shows. He was however, able to pick up the best organ player he could ever hope to have! I love Santana, and have for the better part of fifty years, it's just a different groove than he's used to. 🤘
Their all from the same musical neighborhood Fillmore West San Francisco War Sly & Family Stone... the Fillmore East with Allman Brothers ,Blood Sweat & Tears Chicago go to LA Hollywood CS&N Byrds, Mommas & Pappas .. demographically they all rubbed off on each other ✌🏽❤️🎸
I do not understand why people are getting down on Mr. Santana. He has a distinctive style that is him and he at least has the balls to get up and play along with TOP a different style of music all together. TOP is awesome as is Santana but agreed they do not mix but that does not detract from each other in amount of respect.
Rocco,Chester and David are in rare form in this video! The horns are over the top as well! The rest of the band including Carlos are just trying to hang in! Awesome!
Best horn section in the west coast,I love to hear the funky doctor, he makes that band go man he's funky and Emilio Castillo best rb soul jazz funk group in the land hats off to them never be another band like them
I’ve been a fan of TOP since forever David Garibaldi is one of my favorite all time drummers. He is a legend. Great band to see live if you are not out of your seat dancing your not alive.
For a treat, listen to the original recording and catch Mic Gillette's french horn solo. When I was a kid, we'd go to MSJ Highschool football games, and during halftime, Mic Gillet and Skip Mesquite would stand up and play a horn solo - no amplifiers no P.A. system - and the entire stadium would go quiet to listen. This was pre TOP. Pretty amazing.
Back in the day these were all bay area local musicians, Tower Of Power, mostly from the East Bay Carlos from San Francisco, but like Huey Lewis and the news they would all jam together and support each other. I think it’s totally awesome that Carlos Santana was playing with tower power back in the day.
I've been looking a long time for a live version of Squib Cakes with CT on the B3. Talk about a kick ass groove! Having Carlos Santana in the mix is a nice bonus. Thanks for posting this!
One of the greatest American Bands EVER. 40 plus years and still Smoking!! Just saw them this Summer, haven't lost a beat since I 1st saw them 40 years ago!!!
Best concert I ever saw in my life was Huey Lewis & The News with the Tower Of Power horns. 'Sports', 'Fore!' and 'Small World' tour.. each time I saw these guys together I was struck away. During the 'Sports' tour (saw them twice on that tour) Huey even sang the TOP classic: 'You're Still A Young Man'. God, did he do the song justice! Great vocalist and all the guys in the band even kneeled during the 'down on my knees' line. In true Tower Of Power fashion!
I know what you mean of course, Carlos was out of his depth here with TOP, but the dude was able to insert a few of his signature licks on this tune, at a much more accelerated time signature than the poor man was used to. Sometimes, paying tribute or featuring a musical cameo just doesn't work out well for the person being feted.
Yeah. I felt bad for Carlos. He normally knocks it out of the park. And that song's chord progression during his solo must be in a key he doesn't play comfortably in because it should have been a slam-dunk. Everybody has an off night now and then.
The amazing thing of all the amazing things about TOP is that there is no one who isn't amazing in their own right. All top notch. They are all so sharp and precise that it is unequalled it pop music history. Precision is the operative word I think.
This the jam that should be put on spacecraft, sent thru the galaxy to speak for planet earth !😎....chester thompson's grin painted on front of the craft 🇺🇸
Haven't seen Carlos try so hard to find his way before..well, maybe once when he came up on stage at a Prince concert and Prince handed him his guitar. Sheila E. didn't look too at ease with his performance either, now that I think about it. Tower of Power..appropriately named!! Thanks for upload!
I saw Tower of Power many times in the late 70s! The Aint Nothin Stoppin Us Now Tour was my favorite! I saw them at many small clubs and venues throughout So Califas!!
Saw them years ago at the Orfiam theater in Boston was in the balcony section, thought it was going to collapse from the people's feet stomping! What a great time back in the day! 65years old today and still loving the band!
...and he brought Henry Jefferson with him. What a line up! I'm glad this has been captured for us to enjoy as there may never be another chance to catch anything so marvelous again. The sound is brilliant, infectious and it is for certain that all the players knew this was a once in a lifetime gig.
I was fortunate enough see these guys twice in Toronto in the 70's The second time I got to sit with "The Dr" in his dressing room and watch him warm up AWESOME !
My father was a fantastic jazz bassist, had some funny expressions about players and music...... I can hear him while watching this "that organ player should be arrested for playing like that!!". A favorite one of his, though, was "music like this shouldn't be legal!!!"...... referring to exhilaration, euphoria, other such pleasures :) A former Santana band percussionist and I lived together several years ago..... he got a kick out of me saying---while watching the Sacred Fire tour video---"that is the happiest man alive......" He quite agreed. And unless you're in the right spot at a show to see what's happening, his feet are busy on bass lines as well. Some players actually inspire me to think I was lucky to have lived in a time to have experienced what they give and say with their talent...... this band qualifies from A-Z :) My mom took me to see them at Ram's Head On Stage in Annapolis, first time ever for me about 2 years ago...... she's 82, I'm 58. Awe-inspiring live shows. EyeofEdge thanks for sharing this.
I love how Garabaldi pushed the tempo, (to keep the energy up at some crucial points?) so if you compare the beginning middle and end it’s a nice ramp-up. Maybe he’d been playing with the afrocubans and Brazillians that it rubbed off, that tempo rise thing that’s in virtually all live, non click track, African rooted music.
Top and Santana shared many show in their history. These two bands have been joined at the hip since the 60*s. Carlos is right in the pocket in my humble opinion. Mmmm gonna get some Squib Cakes!
Cheers to you too dear and speaking of focus, ..that is a great suggestion! ..I will apply the power of focus to my daily efforts and to my music as well.
Rufus Miller (RIP) - the funkiest, and in some parts hardest to understand, vocalist they have had, on East Bay Grease. An astonishingly tight and talented set of players delivered an album with downer lyrics about tragedy, drug use, and broken romances, but such amAZING playing. Art.
I have been listening to Tower of Power since high school in the 1970''s and love them. One of my all-time favourites. But I don't know about the rock and roll hall of fame. To me, they would be more jazz artists. They do however deserve recognition for both the talent and longevity! Some of the best talent out there in my opinion.
an incomparable musical ensemble. Never heard anything like it..and no one has any sheet music !!!! what a fucking American treasure..So many thanks.:-))))
Amazing solo by CT. Still an enigma when ripping and stripping chords. Nobody does it like that for Tower Of Power. CT just delivers and brings everyone into sync even when it doesn't sound like syncopation! He's still my favorite.
