Proceed directly to "What Is Hip?," "Soul Vaccination," "Squib Cakes," and "You're Still A Young Man." The pride of the East Bay Area, Northern California.
You have heard them in other artists' songs. But "What Is Hip" is they stand out by themselves. Saw them again in 2016 and they are still great! Thanks, Justin-Peace & Love, and who's your Daddy!
These guys and Blood, Sweat and Tears had the best horns of any of the jazz- rock bands from the era. I suggest you try What is Hip and Squib Cakes from Tower of Power.
I like ToP, especially their hard funk like Only So Much Oil in the Ground. You’d have to be in a coma not to move to that one and even then, your toes would involuntarily twitch.
I know this goes against my usual dislike for reacting to live versions, but you have to do the live version of What Is Hip? So flipping hot! This is nice and smooth.
listening to this brings back my preteen days hanging out at the park in the summer listening to the band that played alot of tower of power and they were good hanging with my friends and just wonderful times, i miss those days !
I'm a huge TOP fan and this is my favorite track. What Is Hip and other hot tracks are amazing, but there's something special about this one. The arrangement is genius, the vocal is full of emotion, the trumpet solo is beautiful. Each member of the band plays his part to perfection.
There is a live album recorded in 1972 in Sacramento, CA called “Live In Living Color”… to get a REAL idea of how talented this group is… just listen to side 1 in its entirety… the play their respective/collective a$$es off. THAT album was apart of my childhood; my older brother was in the audience for that recording.
This is on the Rhino anthology set "Can You Dig It? The '70s Soul Experience" by Rhino, disc 4. I keep recommending this 6 CD box set but no one listens. I love those soul/r&b songs before disco came and ruined everything. Great tune.
Love love love Tower of Power....have this album on vinyl and CD for the car of course! I agree with everyone...you absolutely have to react to What Is Hip...sooooooo good!
You may well have heard the horns before - the Tower of Power horn section guested on a lot of albums. Move on immediately to What is Hip, and for a really cool comparison follow that up with the Tokyo Groove Joshi cover of What is Hip - featuring funk bass, sax, and shamisen.
What Is Hip, You’re Still A Young Man and this tune are standouts in my head but friends played TOP albums quite a bit in the days of ether. Top notch, see what I did there? Ahem, this is hip.
...yeah, there's something going on with the settings around your music player, Justin! Just like in the Ian Dury song, the lead vocal is not in the centre but more towards the Left in the stereo panorama, so you might want to check the balance between the L and the R channels! 😉👍
The best horn section in the business.. they had a variety of lineups... naratone sax doc...and Marco on bass and garacaldi on drums oh man.... what is hip, still digging on james brown, your still a yo un ng man.......
I vaguely remember the name, and was settled in for some serious funk.... sadly it wasn't forthcoming. I'm sure this wasn't typical, it was more the slowy type tune you'd put on at the end of a wedding doo when it's winding down. Not my cup of tea.
These guys and Blood, Sweat and Tears had the best horns of any of the jazz- rock bands from the era. I suggest you try What is Hip and Squib Cakes from Tower of Power.
Proceed directly to "What Is Hip?," "Soul Vaccination," "Squib Cakes," and "You're Still A Young Man." The pride of the East Bay Area, Northern California.
Definitely on my playlist.
Thank you JP. 😊
You have heard them in other artists' songs. But "What Is Hip" is they stand out by themselves. Saw them again in 2016 and they are still great! Thanks, Justin-Peace & Love, and who's your Daddy!
These guys and Blood, Sweat and Tears had the best horns of any of the jazz- rock bands from the era. I suggest you try What is Hip and Squib Cakes from Tower of Power.
Earth Wind and Fire and Tower of Power ( Chicago , honorable mention ) had the best horn sections .....
@@johnniewells1177 BS&T was far ahead of the rest with their horn section.
I like ToP, especially their hard funk like Only So Much Oil in the Ground. You’d have to be in a coma not to move to that one and even then, your toes would involuntarily twitch.
I know this goes against my usual dislike for reacting to live versions, but you have to do the live version of What Is Hip? So flipping hot! This is nice and smooth.
What Is Hip?
I've always loved this record. Stone cold Soul classic. Excited to see a reaction to it. My other fave by them is 'You're Still A Young Man'. Thanks!
Great funky soul track. Love it.
They have a classic sound to them. IIRC Justin is already familiar with the "Rhapsody and Blues" album by the Crusaders or I would recommend it.
the baritone horn was played by steve "doc" kupka a member of top !
listening to this brings back my preteen days hanging out at the park in the summer listening to the band that played alot of tower of power and they were good hanging with my friends and just wonderful times, i miss those days !
I'm a huge TOP fan and this is my favorite track. What Is Hip and other hot tracks are amazing, but there's something special about this one. The arrangement is genius, the vocal is full of emotion, the trumpet solo is beautiful. Each member of the band plays his part to perfection.
Loved the Flugelhorn.... great video mate
Taht low note is the baritone sax, played by the immortal Funky Doctor Stephen Kupka.
There is a live album recorded in 1972 in Sacramento, CA called “Live In Living Color”… to get a REAL idea of how talented this group is… just listen to side 1 in its entirety… the play their respective/collective a$$es off.
THAT album was apart of my childhood; my older brother was in the audience for that recording.
You need to check out "You're Still a Young Man" by TofP; seriously smooth soul.
One of the FINEST records ever, I just LOVE IT, the horn section is heavenly and this one takes flight!!
ToP, Chicago, Blood, Sweat and Tears. Such great music, and does not get better than ToP.
This is on the Rhino anthology set "Can You Dig It? The '70s Soul Experience" by Rhino, disc 4. I keep recommending this 6 CD box set but no one listens. I love those soul/r&b songs before disco came and ruined everything. Great tune.
Love love love Tower of Power....have this album on vinyl and CD for the car of course! I agree with everyone...you absolutely have to react to What Is Hip...sooooooo good!
"Doc" Kupka on Baritone Sax and Mic Gillette on Bass Trombone!
You may well have heard the horns before - the Tower of Power horn section guested on a lot of albums. Move on immediately to What is Hip, and for a really cool comparison follow that up with the Tokyo Groove Joshi cover of What is Hip - featuring funk bass, sax, and shamisen.
I feel like this could have been a Wilson Pickett song. It feels like him to me. Love the changes and arrangement. Sweet.
I was all the way to the chorus thinking this song was familiar. And then the chorus. Lights came on. I never knew it was Tower of Power.
What Is Hip, You’re Still A Young Man and this tune are standouts in my head but friends played TOP albums quite a bit in the days of ether. Top notch, see what I did there? Ahem, this is hip.
...yeah, there's something going on with the settings around your music player, Justin! Just like in the Ian Dury song, the lead vocal is not in the centre but more towards the Left in the stereo panorama, so you might want to check the balance between the L and the R channels!
😉👍
Greatest Horn Section
The best horn section in the business.. they had a variety of lineups... naratone sax doc...and Marco on bass and garacaldi on drums oh man.... what is hip, still digging on james brown, your still a yo un ng man.......
On my 5 desert Island list. ❤
Lenny Williams fronting this band was and still is the man. 100 shows and counting.
Pretty sure that's a bass saxophone. Paul Simon liked to use bass sax.
More Tower of Power please.
I vaguely remember the name, and was settled in for some serious funk.... sadly it wasn't forthcoming. I'm sure this wasn't typical, it was more the slowy type tune you'd put on at the end of a wedding doo when it's winding down. Not my cup of tea.
These guys and Blood, Sweat and Tears had the best horns of any of the jazz- rock bands from the era. I suggest you try What is Hip and Squib Cakes from Tower of Power.
TOP has always been a soul band that could jam. I’m guessing you weren’t alive when this came out. 🤔
@@Rock_Snob Nope, I was about 12 when this came out, but wasn't listening to this kinda stuff at that time.
@@kentclark6420 Cheers, i'll add them to my 'to listen list' :)