No, I'm not leaving already, that's the title of today's song. I can't believe it took so long for me to discover this song! There are versions of it all over YouTube. Anyway, now that I've caught up with the rest of the world, I'll celebrate it with a blog post.

"So Very Hard to Go" was a Tower of Power single in 1973 and appeared on their self-titled album, their third studio LP, that same year. Mods were closed up in their northern soul clubs over in England at this time, and I have no doubt they were loving this California soul (though I don't hear them mention T of P often in their writings, I'm sure most of them were eating out of their hands). Written by tenor saxophonist and band founder Emilio Castillo and baritone saxophonist Stephen "The Funky Doctor" Kupka, it's a sizzling but sad love song that ended up being their biggest hit at number 17 in the charts and number 1 on most of the West Coast top 40 radio stations. How did I miss this? Granted I wasn't born until two years later, but still...Mom, Dad, how could you let this happen?

Ok, I've pulled myself together now. And this hit recording is not even the one I heard yesterday. I heard lead singer Lenny Williams's slightly more grandiose solo version of it that appeared on his Ultimate Collection CD in 2001 (I'm not sure where it appeared prior to that). You can hear a clip here. It wasn't until I looked on YouTube that I realized what a huge hit this song is. And that's where I found today's video featuring Tower of Power performing it on Soul Train way back when. When? Why, 1973, of course.

What moved me about Lenny's recording yesterday? Without a doubt, it's the chorus, and even in the Soul Train video I find it fascinating and awe-inspiring. When the back-up singers come in with the titular phrase, the entire dynamic of the song shifts suddenly from a typical soul pop swing to a teary eyed confession, and I think we can all relate to the depth of desperation expressed here. I'm not a bit surprised this was their biggest hit. I'm just annoyed that I'm only just now hearing it!

Here they are on Soul Train, courtesy of YouTube user and R&B fan sunnysideupmovie.