The Chambers Brothers
The Chambers Brothers are an American psychedelic soul band, best known for their eleven-minute 1968 psychedelic soul hit "Time Has Come Today". The group was part of the wave of new music that integrated American blues and gospel traditions with modern psychedelic and rock elements. Their music has been kept alive through frequent use in film soundtracks. There were four brothers, though other musicians were also in the group.
Background and early career
Originally from Carthage, Mississippi, the Chambers Brothers first honed their skills as members of the choir in their Baptist church. This arrangement ended in 1952 when the eldest brother, George, was drafted into the Army. George relocated to Los Angeles after his discharge, and his brothers soon joined him. Beginning in 1954, the foursome played gospel and folk music throughout the Southern California region, but remained little known until 1965 when they began performing in New York City.Consisting of George on washtub bass, Lester on harmonica, and Willie and Joe on guitar, the group started to venture outside the gospel circuit, playing at coffeehouses that booked folk acts. They played at places like The Ash Grove, a very popular Los Angeles folk club. It became one of their favorite haunts and brought them into contact with Hoyt Axton, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Reverend Gary Davis, and Barbara Dane. When Dane spotted the brothers there, she knew they would be perfect to do the freedom songs that people wanted to hear then. Dane became a great supporter, performing and recording with the brothers. Dane took them on tour with her and introduced them to Pete Seeger, who helped put the Chambers Brothers on the bill of the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. The brothers were backed by Sam Lay at Newport on their first night at the festival. George Chambers was impressed by the "big sound" of Lay and asked him to back the brothers on another set. One of the songs they performed, "I Got It", appeared on the Newport Folk Festival 1965 compilation LP, which was issued on the Vanguard label.
They were becoming more accepted in the folk community, but, like many on the folk circuit, were looking to electrify their music and develop more of a rock and roll sound. Joe Chambers recalled in a May 1994 Goldmine article that people at the Newport Folk Festival were breaking down fences and rushing to the stage. "Newport had never seen or heard anything like that." After the group finished and the crowd finally settled down, the MC came up and said, "Whether you know it or not, that was rock 'n' roll." That night they played at a post-concert party for festival performers and went to a recording session of the newly electrified Bob Dylan. Shortly after appearing at Newport, the group released its debut album, People Get Ready.
During the late 1960s to early 1970s, the group was managed by Charles LaMarr aka Charles La Marr.
Career
The Chambers Brothers had an early Drummer called Michael Konnic . It was around the time they appeared at the Newport festival, that they had an argument with him. For some reason he wanted to fight with them and his elder brother nearly got involved. According to Joe, he said "We love you man. We want you to play drums."The group recorded "Call Me" which was written by Joe Chambers and Willie Chambers. Backed with Joe Chambers' composition, "Seventeen", it was released in the US on Vault V-920 in 1965, and in the UK on Vocalion 9276. It was produced by Cliff Goldsmith. "Call Me" was described by Way Back Attack as a "raw and rockin' soul tune...with a prominent cowbell beat!".
The group performed "Call Me" as well as "Don't Lose Your Cool" on Hollywood a Go Go on 26 June 1965. In an interview on 20 January 2020, Joe and Willie Chambers talked about "Call Me" and how it got played on a radio station, one they recalled being KRLA that had the Rocket to Stardom show. They said that their song was opposite to what the station was playing. "Call Me" was a "Record of the Week there". The UK release on Vocalion had a rapid review in the 30 July 1966 issue of Record Mirror, where the reviewer said that they manage a few interesting gimmicks on the song. They recorded "Love Me Like The Rain" and " Pretty Girls Everywhere" which were issued on Vault V-923 the following year. "Love Me Like the "Rain" was written By Brian Keenan and recorded by his group, The Losers and released as the B side of "Mersey-ssippi" on the Atco label in 1965.
The Chambers Brothers played at the Downtown discotheque club in New York during 1966. As reported in the 9 April 1966 issue of Cash Box, the group had been engaged for a further two weeks at the venue. They had been there for over a month, had been drawing huge crowds there. The drummer for the group as reported by the 26 March 1966 issue of Cash Box was Nicky Cahn who was pictured with the group in the article. It was also noted that their forthcoming LP was People Get Ready. The group was also reported to have a large following in Boston.
According to George Chambers, the group was too busy playing different instruments to do hand claps, so they had to get a drummer. They did try out a few. Then they met Brian. In their opinion he was the best around.
In 1966, the group recorded "The Time Has Come Today". The B side of the single was the 2:21 long "Dinah which was written by G, L, J & W Chambers. It was reviewed in the 24 September 1966 issue of Cash Box where it was in the Best Bests section and given a B+ rating. The reviewer called "The Time Has Come Today" a wild hard driving funky outing. Unfortunately, it was rejected by Columbia.
"All Strung Out Over You"
The group recorded "All Strung Out Over You" which was composed by Rudy Clark. It was released on Columbia 4-43957 on December 19, 1966.It was rushed out by Columbia after the label had rejected an early version of "Time Has Come Today". The song was given a solid review in the 24 December 1966 issue of Cash Box where it was also a Newcomer Pick. The reviewer used terms, "soul drenched swinger and "prime dance item" to describe the song. The B side "Falling in Love" was referred to as a lowdown shouter.
It was reported in the 31 December 1966 issue of Record World that the Chambers Brothers, who had a professional history which ranged from church gospel singing to folk-blues, had changed direction and had a new Columbia single, "All Strung Out Over You" that was for the Rhythm and blues market. A full-page ad appeared in the 14 January 1967 issue of Record World alerting the reader that "All Strung Out Over You" was Breaking out all over.
"All Strung Out Over You" became a regional hit for the group which gave them the opportunity to re-record "The Time Has Come Today".
Further activities in 1967
Jack Devaney reported in his Cost Capers column that The Chambers Brothers were doing a return engagement at the Ash Grove that week.The Chambers Brothers recorded the Betty Mabry composition "Uptown". It was backed with Brian Keenan's "Love me Like the Rain" and released on Columbia 44296. It was one of the records in the Pick of the Week section of the 23 September issue of Cash Box. The reviewer referred to it as a "heavy rhythmic blues-rock throbber", and do good at r&b and pop outlets.
"Time Has Come Today"
The band scored its only major hit in late 1968 with "Time Has Come Today", an 11-minute opus written by Joe and Willie Chambers and highlighted by echoing vocal effects and Keenan's drumming which gave the song a psychedelic feel. "Time Has Come Today" was edited for release as a single and spent five consecutive weeks in September–October at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. In Canada it reached No. 9, the first of two songs in their top 30.Further activities in 1968
It was reported in the 19 August issue of Record World that producer Tim O'Brien, who had written and produced a charting single, "Sally Had a Party" for the group Flavor was working on a Chambers Brothers album.The group recorded the album, A New Time – A New Day which was released in October 1968. It contained the songs, "I Can't Turn You Loose", "Do Your Thing", "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?", "You Got the Power to Turn Me On", "I Wish It Would Rain", and the 7:26 long "A New Time - A New Day" which was written by Joe Chambers and Brian Keenan. The album was received quite well, which included positive reviews from Record World and Beat Instrumental. It did well in the charts, making it to no. 13 in the Record World 100 Top LPs chart for the week of 30 November. In Canada it got to no. 19 in the RPM Weekly Top 50 Albums chart.
The group's album Groovin' Time was released in 1968. Released on Folkways FT 31008, it was reviewed in the 2 November 1968 issue of Cash Box. The reviewer said that the album was recorded before they added their fifth member. Referred to as a joyous package of plenty, the album contained "Groovin' Time", "Hooka Tooka", and "So Long Baby" etc. Strong sales were predicted. The album did chart and for the week of 16 November, the album was at no. 23 in the Record World LPs Coming Up chart.
The group was no. 6 in the Record World Most Promising Male Vocal Group category of 1968.
It was reported in the 28 June 1969 issue of Record World that the group's manager, Charles La Marr along with Julius Chambers were in Europe setting up engagements for the Chamber's tour which was taking place in the fall. Their single, "Wake Up" was at no 1 in the Record World Singles Coming Up chart. Their album Feelin' the Blues which was released on Vault 128, was also reviewed in that issue. It included the tracks, "House of the Rising Sun", "Just a Closer Walk with Thee, "Undecided", and "I Got a Woman". The reviewer said that it was what "All dedicated fans will want".
By December 1969, the group had released their double album, Love, Peace and Happiness which was half studio and half live. It was reviewed in the 6 December issue of Record World where the reviewer referred to it as "sizzling music".
The group performed at the Whiskey A Go Go, which was filmed by Lawrence-LaMarr Productions. According to the 28 March 1970 issue of Record World, Lawrence-LaMarr Productions was a newly formed production company which was connected with their manager, Charles LaMarr. The film which was the fourth special by the production co. was to be aired on National TV.
By January 1971, the group's single "Funky" from their forthcoming New Generation album had been released. It debuted at no. 58 in the Record World R&B Singles Chart for the week of 16 January 1971. "Funky" debuted at no 149 in the Record World 101 - 150 Singles chart for the week of 30 January.
The group's New Generation album was out in February and was reviewed in the 6 February issue of Record World. Released on Columbia C 30032. The songs, "Practice What You Preach", "Reflections", and "Going to the Mill" were selected as the best.
Having had issues with past producers who weren't willing to listen to their ideas, the Chambers Brothers started producing their own material. According to the April 1971 issue of Hit Parader, the group had recently performed with a 22-piece orchestra at Carnegie Hall. Joe Chambers was also quoted as saying that they wanted to get into produding other acts and one of them he believed they would work with was Brooklyn Bridge.
A Greatest Hits album was released in November 1971. It was reviewed in the 27 November 1971 issue of Cash Box. There were good sales predictions for the pop, R&B and underground markets.
Brian Keenan left the band in 1971 due to major problems with the group's management.