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03-17-2007, 07:22 PM
| | Registered User
Rogue luthier employed at Knooren Handcrafted bass guitars | | Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The Netherlands | | | So Rocco Prestia wasn't the only Tower of Power Bassplayer?
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The strange thing is that nobody seems to know this guy. A buddy of mine who's a BIG Tower of Power fan swears that there was only Rocco and nobody else in that band holding the low end. When I showed him this ad he went "Nope whichever band that guy was in it COULDN'T have been TOP because Rocco was always there."
So then, can you guys give me the low down on Vito San Filippo here, on what TOP records did he play and how did he compare to Rocco?
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03-17-2007, 07:42 PM
|  | Less barking, more wagging! | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Diego, CA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Blazer 
The strange thing is that nobody seems to know this guy. A buddy of mine who's a BIG Tower of Power fan swears that there was only Rocco and nobody else in that band holding the low end. When I showed him this ad he went "Nope whichever band that guy was in it COULDN'T have been TOP because Rocco was always there."
So then, can you guys give me the low down on Vito San Filippo here, on what TOP records did he play and how did he compare to Rocco? |
Your friend was incorrect. Rocco has not been the only bassist holding down the low end for T.O.P. - but he has certainly been the best by a wide margin - Vito never showed me much, but I'd be very interested in hearing what the boys sounded like when Bobby Vega replaced Rocco during his liver replacement.
IMHO, Rocco, Dave Garibaldi (who also took a break), Mimi, and Doc provide the continuity and critical mass that keeps T.O.P. rolling. I've been a fan from day one, which is probably why my favorite T.O.P. recordings are from the early years, e.g., East Bay Grease, and their worst were from the dark days during which Vito (and others) tried in vain to fill the shoes of the mighty Messrs. Prestia and Garibaldi.
There's a very good "history" of T.O.P. in the liner notes for "The Tower of Power Anthology" (Warner Archives/Rhino), and a listing of all bandmembers, past and present, at: www.BumpCity.com
Last edited by Jazzdogg : 03-17-2007 at 09:22 PM.
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03-17-2007, 07:45 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ballwin (St. Louis), MO | | | Interesting that Victor Conte, of BALCO infamy, was also a bass player for TOP at one time. Not sure how long.
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Dale
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03-17-2007, 07:46 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Metro St. Louis | | Quote:
Originally Posted by dls59 Interesting that Victor Conte, of BALCO infamy, was also a bass player for TOP at one time. Not sure how long. | Heck, if Conte was cool enough to hold it down for TOP, he deserves a pardon! 
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03-17-2007, 07:50 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: S.W.Side of Chicago-U.P. Mich. | | | Órale,
Vito played on the 1981 Direct to disc T.O.P. album from Sheffield labs titled "Direct". Nice player, who thumped and popped on some tunes.
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03-17-2007, 08:18 PM
| | Registered User
Rogue luthier employed at Knooren Handcrafted bass guitars | | Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The Netherlands | | | I knew about Bobby Vega but that was NOT my question. I wanted to know about Vito San Filippo not about Bobby Vega.
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"I reject your reality and substitute my own."
Adam Savage "Mythbusters"
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03-17-2007, 08:19 PM
|  | The Funkfather
Endorsing Artist: Kohlman Bassworks | | Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hampton Roads, Virginia | | | Not the only bass player for TOP but THE ONLY bass player for TOP , if ya get my drift..............
He OWNS all those classic bass lines! |
03-17-2007, 08:39 PM
|  | C'mon man! | | Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Hawaii | | | Victor Conte was in the late 70's 'We Came To Play' era band, and Vito San Filippo was in the early 80's version. I dug Vito's playing, very aggressive!
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Aloha, Jerry
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03-17-2007, 08:41 PM
| | Less barking, more wagging! | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Diego, CA | | | "...can you guys give me the low down on Vito San Filippo here, on what TOP records did he play and how did he compare to Rocco?"
Q: Vito recordings w/ T.O.P.
A: (1979-1981) Back on The Streets, Direct, Dinosaur Tracks
Q: Vito v. Rocco
A: Clearly not Rocco; working at funk versus emanating funk.
In all fairness, it wouldn't have been easy to fill Rocco's shoes with Garibaldi playing drums; without Garibaldi, it would have been far more challenging. |
03-17-2007, 08:44 PM
| | C'mon man! | | Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Hawaii | | | side note/ I always loved Bruce Conte's rhythm guitar playing, and thought it was a big part of the early 70's TOP rhythm juggernaut, I was stoked when he rejoined the band a few years ago.
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Aloha, Jerry
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03-18-2007, 12:51 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ballwin (St. Louis), MO | | Quote:
Originally Posted by jerry side note/ I always loved Bruce Conte's rhythm guitar playing, and thought it was a big part of the early 70's TOP rhythm juggernaut, I was stoked when he rejoined the band a few years ago. | I think he was the lead player on What is Hip.
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Dale
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03-25-2007, 04:02 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Germany | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Blazer
The strange thing is that nobody seems to know this guy. A buddy of mine who's a BIG Tower of Power fan swears that there was only Rocco and nobody else in that band holding the low end. When I showed him this ad he went "Nope whichever band that guy was in it COULDN'T have been TOP because Rocco was always there."
So then, can you guys give me the low down on Vito San Filippo here, on what TOP records did he play and how did he compare to Rocco? | He played on "Back On The Streets" and imo was a very good funk player with a style influenced by Larry Graham.
Check out ´Rock me baby´ |
03-25-2007, 10:55 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Calgary, AB | | | I remember buying the record when it first came out, being a kid TOP fan...Vito had some tasty slap 'n pop chops (kind of a Doug Rauch/Larry Graham 'Bay Area' vibe), but it wasn't a good fit with the horn section, especially on the older numbers...Stepped into their register and conflicted with their accents, IMO.
He was the best homeboy available when Rocco was in dire need of some chillin' out time. |
02-10-2008, 02:40 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Germany | | Quote:
Originally Posted by throwdown He played on "Back On The Streets" and imo was a very good funk player with a style influenced by Larry Graham.
Check out ´Rock me baby´ | y |
02-10-2008, 09:06 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Earth | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Blazer I knew about Bobby Vega but that was NOT my question. I wanted to know about Vito San Filippo not about Bobby Vega. | Your question was "So Rocco Prestia wasn't the only Tower of Power Bassplayer?" Somebody bringing up Bobby Vega is hardly out of line.
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Originally Posted by danjl131 oh by the way here's some fancy english if thats what ur looking for: You are an inept maestro. Have a jocular day, you unpleasant drip. | |
02-10-2008, 09:42 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Denver, Colorado | | | I met Vito in the early 80's when TOP played in Denver. I thought he sounded great. Very nice guy - very approachable. I remember him as not being very tall.....
Haven't heard of him since.
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02-11-2008, 07:52 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sweden, Gothenburg | | | | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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