The Chambers Brothers

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This article is about the musical group, for the Detroit gangmembers see Chambers Brothers (gang).

The Chambers Brothers are an interracial soul music group, best known for their 1968 hit record, the 11-minute long song, "Time Has Come Today".

The group was formed in 1954 in Los Angeles, California by four brothers from Mississippi, George, Willie, Lester and Joe Chambers. They toured extensively throughout southern California, but did not achieve nationwide success until 1965 when, with the addition of drummer Brian Keenan, they appeared at the Newport Folk Festival. Shortly after this they recorded their debut album People Get Ready. The band scored their first major hit in 1968 with "Time Has Come Today" (written by Joe & Willie Chambers), from their similarly named third album The Time Has Come. The song spent five consecutive weeks at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100, just missing the Top Ten. However they found it difficult to build on this success and eventually split up in 1972. They reformed in 1974 to record Unbonded, and have toured regularly since. Keenan died of heart failure in 1986.

ESPN's Chris Berman has quoted The Chambers Brothers when a touchdown is scored by San Diego Chargers wide receiver, Chris Chambers by saying "Time has come today".

In late 2006, former American Idol finalist, Bo Bice, performed a cover of "Time Has Come Today." Legendary punk-rock band The Ramones also covered and released a music video of the same song for their 1983 studio album "Subterranean Jungle." Hardcore punk rock bands Angry Samoans and Die Hunns have also released covers of this song. Die Hunns shot a video of the song for the documentary "Who Cares: the Duane Peters Story."

[edit] Discography

  • People Get Ready (One Way, 1965)
  • Now (Vault, 1966)
  • The Time Has Come (Columbia/Legacy, 1967), #4 US
  • A New Time - A New Day (Columbia, 1968), #16 US
  • The Chambers Brothers Shout! (Vault, 1968)
  • Love, Peace and Happiness (Columbia, 1969), #58 US
  • Feelin' the Blues (Vault, 1970)
  • New Generation (Columbia, 1970), #145 US
  • Oh My God! (Columbia, 1972)
  • Unbonded (Avco Embassy, 1974)
  • Right Move (Avco Embassy, 1975)
  • Live in Concert on Mars (Chelsea, 1977)
  • Now! Live (One Way, 1999)
  • Live Fillmore West 65 (2004)
  • Live (Acrobat, 2005)

[edit] Compilations

  • Groovin' Time (Smithsonian Folkways, 1968)
  • Chambers Brothers' Greatest Hits (Vault, 1970)
  • Greatest Hits (Columbia, 1971)
  • The Time Has Come/New Time - A New Day (Columbia, 1975)
  • Best of the Chambers Brothers (Fantasy, 1977)
  • Goin Uptown (Sony Special Products, 1995)
  • Time Has Come: The Best of the Chambers Brothers (Columbia/Legacy, 1996)
  • Time (Sony Special Products, 1998)
  • Now/People Get Ready (Repertoire, 1999)

[edit] External links

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