Oakland's finest?

I was driving home from work tonight in the rain, listening to Tower of Power.
These guys -- all 15 of them or so it seems -- had to be Oakland's finest band.
"What is Hip" is a fabulous song. It came out in 1973 and only reached No. 39 on the R&B charts (and a why-bother-noting-it No. 91 on the pop charts). Were record buyers crazy?
This song is a bonafide FUNK CLASSIC if I have ever heard one (and I have heard about five or so).
That horn section could do just about anything. Lenny Williams was a great singer. Emilio Castillo and Doc Kupka were top-drawer song writers.
During their 1973-74 peak, everything about Tower of Power was brilliant.
With all due respect to the Pointer Sisters, ROUTE 1's OAKLAND WEEK hereby selects Tower of Power as OAKLAND'S FINEST.
Now, go and FUNKIFIZE!!!