Customer Reviews

Time Has Come

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If there is one sound that characterizes the music of 'The Chambers Brothers - The Time Has Come', it is the cowbell. It is used to great effect on many of their songs, frequently propelling the music into a funk groove, or as on 'The Time Has Come', acting as a timepiece that morphs into a psychedelic metronome. While The Chambers Brothers first formed in the year I was born, 1954, commercial success eluded them until the release of this album in 1967, and even that success was short-lived. They are something more than a flash-in-the-pan or a one-trick pony, but not by a long-shot, and most of the quality music they did produce is available right here.

But what a great album this was, and still is. Somewhat swamped by the tide of psychedelia that characterized 1967, this album had to battle for recognition with the likes of The Beatles 'Sgt. Peppers' and Jimi Hendrix's 'Are You Experienced'. But The Chambers Brothers brought to the table a mix of so many genres, that any other artist would be hard pressed to match them at this crossroads in music.

Originally steeped in Southern Gospel music, the Brothers offer Curtis Mayfield's 'People Get Ready' on this disc, and it takes you back to a whitewashed wooden church on a hot Sunday morning. Influenced by the explosion of soul music in the 1960's, Wilson Pickett's 'In the Midnight Hour' is given an uptempo treatment that may be the very best version of the song available anywhere. It will take you back to a Motown recording studio in the mid-1960's, complete with "do it to it" and "sock it to me" utterances that actually sound sincere, not cheesy.

'Uptown' will take you back to a Harlem rent party, complete with "chitlins, black-eyed peas, barbeque ribs, and collared greens". 'Please Don't Leave Me' sits you down in a smokey blues club, or in the midst of a harmonizing quartet on a street corner. Even 'What the World Needs Now', a Hal David and Burt Bacharach number manages to generate a funk groove under the Brothers exquisite harmonies. 'I Can't Stand It' and Roy Clarks' 'All Strung Out Over You' rock hard, while 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'So Tired' temper the rampage through soulful respites.

Of course the key song that puts the album over-the-top is the mind-blowing 'Time Has Come Today', all 11 minutes of it. The lead vocal declares that "the soul has been psychedelicized", and that phrase is an apt description of the song. Bookended by verses, the central section of the song is an exercise in all that psychedelia was, complete with fuzzy guitars squelching, drums rolling, and a sinister laugh that could send shivers up Bela Lugosi's spine. Aside from Iron Butterfly's 'In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida' or The Byrds 'Eight Miles High', it may be the best acid-rock song ever produced.

This remastered disc also offers four mono recordings by the Brothers. 'Dinah' borrows directly from 'I've Been Working On the Railroad', but the brothers funk it up a bit and take the credit for composing it. 'Love Me Like the Rain' is a nice country-blues song. But the highlight among the bonus tracks is an early recording of 'Time Has Come Today', labeled '(single version one)', though this is different from the abridged album track that moved to number 11 on the national charts in 1968. The track was recorded almost a year to the day that the lengthy album version was recorded. The biggest difference is the sound of the lead guitar, which in some ways is even more psychedelic on the earlier version. The disc concludes with what sounds like a radio advertisement for 'The Time Has Come'. If I didn't know better, I would guess the narrator is Morgan Freeman.

The Chambers Brothers only charted two other songs in their career, 'I Can't Turn You Loose' (#37 in 1968) and 'Love, Peace, and Happiness' (#96 in 1970). Despite their great success in recording cover songs, the Brothers possessed composing talent. Some of their best songs, such as 'I Can't Stand It', and the title track were their own compositions. The two capabilities mixed with a bit of magic in 1967 to produce an album unlike any other from this era. 'The Time Has Come' is a unique gift of music. The CD is a gift itself, featuring informative liner notes, and a number of quality pictures of the band. Oddly enough the running times for the songs are not listed, though the track listings appear three seperate times.

This was one of my favorite albums when I was in high school. I used to love their version of "In the Midnight Hour" and "People Get Ready." Both songs are standards .. one a Wilson Pickett hit which has been often rerecorded by other groups (and particularly well by the Chambers Brothers). The other, "People Get Ready" is a stirring spiritual which is done movingly on this cd. Best of all was a long version of the title song in which they added several funky minutes of an instrumental interlude. This cd is even better than the album of old because they added additional cuts including the standard single version of "Time Has Come Today." There are greatest hits cds but this original is well worth it because there are few, if any weaknesses and additionally, this cd has the great "long" version.

It has been a long time since I listened to the Chambers Brothers and I had almost forgotten how good they were. This is a good album. The close harmony on "People Get Ready" would do Curtis Mayfield proud In fact, listening to the harmonies on some of these tracks - and based upon the date of its record, I would be suprised if Crosby Stills & Nash were not influenced by these guys. Similarly, if the cover of Midnight Hour was any better - it would have been Wilson Pickett. In other words - the Chamber Brothers' covers are worthy. They are not the type of inspipid white-bread covers made famous by the likes of Pat Boone and Michael Bolton. The only track that I did not like was the cover of "What the World Needs Now is Love". Its not the Chambers Brothers - I just don't like the song, I don't like the lyrics, and it reminds me of the heights of vapidity which some 60s tunes aspired to. Yup, the world needs love. Great thought - NEXT song please. The Chambers Brothers mix of harmony, soul, blues, and funk was way ahead of its time. It is probably for that reason that it still sounds good today.

Man, I can still remember the first time I heard Time Has Come Today. It was 1967 and WNEW was to first FM station in New York to go with an all rock format. Underground radio, as it was called then, and the playlist included the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the Doors, Jefferson Airplane and the Velvet Underground. Yet, even with the likes of these legendary performers, no one was prepared for the sensory assault of the Chambers Brothers debut album.

Combing a rock steady rhythem section, soulful harmonies and the psychedelic guitar of Lester Chambers, the brothers ripped though a set of soul staples like Midnight Hour and Curtis Mayfield's People Get Ready, along with smoking orginals like All Strung Out, Uptown and the blistering title track, Time Has Come Today. With the unprecedented success of the hit single and the album, the Chamber Brothers sent shock waves through the soul community, that were felt from Motown to Stax/Volt.

Soon the Temptations were recording Cloud Nine, Psychedelic Shack and Ball of Confusion. Later Sly and The Family Stone were to follow the brothers lead and assemble an integrated unit that further blurred the boundries of soul and psychedelia. Their first hit single, Dance To The Music owed a huge debt to the sound the Chambers Brothers had originated and perfected. This is truly a groundbreaking recording. The influence of their unique sound would influence countless artists for years to come.

Like other reviewers here, I can attest to the power of the Chambers Brothers, especially in concert. Sharing a late 60's bill with more famous white rock musicians, the Chambers Brothers completely blew away an unsuspecting crowd with their not-yet-famous "Time Has Come Today." Although no one knew it at the time, the funk lyric, delivered with pure funk humor and power "And My Soul's Been Psychedelicized," (and that incredible "YYYYEAH!" that followed) foreshadowed P-Funk, Booty Collins et al., more than it did Sly Stone (although their interracial band, and their pleas for harmony were like Sly). Time Has Come Today is one of the best singles of the period, a potent message song with a driving rhythm and climax, and a superb vocal. And, of course, the cowbell. Years later, Steve Earle attempted a remake; it was truly awful. In retrospect, the long version is full of distracting special effects and sounds muddy at times, and the speeded-up tempo also borders on the gimmicky; part of our joy when the band hits the release from this excursion is our joy at getting back to the strength of the melody and vocals.

Here's a little history from Jason Ankeny of the " All-Music Guide:" " The Chambers siblings -- bassist George, guitarist Willie, harpist Lester, and guitarist Joe, all of whom contributed vocals -- were born and raised in Lee County, MS; the products of an impoverished sharecropping family, the brothers first polished their vocal harmonies in the choir of their Baptist church, a collaboration which ended after George was drafted into the army in 1952. Following his discharge he relocated to Los Angeles, where the other Chambers brothers soon settled as well; the foursome began performing gospel and folk throughout Southern California in 1954, but remained virtually unknown until appearing in New York City in 1965. The addition of white drummer Brian Keenan not only made the Chambers Brothers an interracial group, but pushed their music closer to rock & roll..."

Those who know the Chambers Brothers only for their great "Time Has Come Today" are missing their church roots, and their memorable vocal harmonies and arrangements of gospel-infused songs, People Get Ready being the most notably luscious of these. They also mix intense vocals and guitars on the overlooked "I Can't Stand It," add some real funk to "Uptown," and do a stirring rendition of `Midnight Hour.' The surprise this decade is that these songs add up to a legacy that more than equals the experience of re-hearing `Time Has Come.' Although the bonus tracks are nothing to get excited about, get ready for a CD you're gonna really enjoy. When `Time' comes on, put a lock on the door and play it loud for your uptight neighbors to hear.

You simply cannot talk 60's psychedelia and not mention The Chambers Brothers! Their harmonizing and far-out sound (blending many musical elements to create their own unique sound) make this album a treasure.

I, too, have this primarily because of the full eleven minute version of "Time Has Come Today" but I love the majority of the album, most especially "So Tired" (second fave on this album) as well as "Dinah" (an extra track on the cd that was not part of the album).

This goes hand in hand with Iron Butterfly's seventeen minute epic "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida." Put those two cuts along with Grand Funk Railroad's "I'm Your Captain/Closer To Home," The Steve Miller Band's "Space Encounter/Fly Like An Eagle," Neil Young's "Cowgirl In the Sand," Eric Burdon and The Animals' "Sky Pilot" and anything else you can squeeze in (considering those tracks' combined running time will go over the time limit of a standard 74 minute disc) onto one CD and fly away! - Donna Di Giacomo

Heard the Chambers Brothers when they first recorded/released Time Has Come Today, saw them live in concert and have never been disappointed by their music. The music is as current today as the day I first heard them.

I can't believe I just discovered this recording. I've always been aware of the classic "Time Has Come Today," but the fact that this album slipped under my radar for so many years is beyond me. Maybe it's because when you see essential R&B or rock recording lists, you never see this gem (or maybe I've been sleepwalking for the past 25 years). Either way, what an oversight. From top to bottom, this recording is every bit as groundbreaking as The Doors debut album or Isaac Hayes' "Hot Buttered Soul" or any other album you can think of from that era that made such a resounding statement. I guess Sly and The Family Stone are often the band most credited for fusing soul and psychedelia, but after one listen to this you will realize who the true portenders of funk/rock fusion were. One reviewer states, "If you loved the 60s, do yourself a favor, buy this CD now." I'd take it even further by saying, If you love music, period, buy this CD now. It is truly timeless...lightning in a bottle.

Somewhere in between Doo-wop, Funk, and psychedelia, The Time Has Come just bursts and pulses out of the speakers beckoning the listener to do anything but sit still. There is not a bad tune on this disc and it's just as relevant now as it was then. Some of the best 4-part harmonies.

I'll be honest. I bought this cd because it has the full length version of the song "Time Has Come Today" - one of the true gems of the psychedelic 60s. If the remainder of the cd had been nothing more than white noise I would still have bought it.

But, surprise surprise, the other songs on this cd are also quite good. Particular standouts are their cover versions of "People Get Ready" and "In the Midnight Hour". And this is one case where the bonus tracks are much more than filler. "Dinah" is a peculiar take on the old children's classic - but it works. "Love Me Like the Rain" is sweet, and the "alternative take" of "Time Has Come Today" (apparently an earlier version of the song) is outstanding.

Bottom line - while none of the other songs on this cd are quite at the same level as "Time Has Come Today" they are well worth having. I would want this cd even if "Time Has Come Today" were not on it - with its inclusion this is certainly a five star cd.