The Time Has Come (The Chambers Brothers album)
1967 studio album by the Chambers Brothers
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The Time Has Come is an album by American psychedelic soul band the Chambers Brothers. Released by Columbia Records in 1967, it features their hit "Time Has Come Today".
| The Time Has Come | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 1967 | |||
| Recorded | August 1, 1966 – August 10, 1967 | |||
| Length | 43:35 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | David Rubinson | |||
| The Chambers Brothers chronology | ||||
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Critical reception
The album was reviewed in the 25 November 1967 issue of Cash Box where it was one of the "Pop Best Bets". The reviewer said that the group performed a group of pop songs with style and verve, and it should get the approbation of a wide listenership.[1]
The Washington Free Press did a review on the album which appeared in the publication's 7 March 1968 issue. While the reviewer wrote that the album only hinted at the richness of the music by The Chambers Brothers, it was to give a picture of how the group was live. The songs "I Can't Stand It", "All Strung Out Over You", "Romeo and Juliet", "What the World Needs Now is Love" and "Time Has Come Today" were singled out for mention. The reviewer also said, "Listen to what they do to the fairly straight, "What the World Needs Now Is Love" (with a great and original arrangement by Gary Sherman)".[2]
The album was referred to as a "ground-breaking album" by the authors of Shining Star: Braving the Elements of Earth, Wind & Fire.[3] In a short review of the album, Music On Vinyl referred to it as a perfect blend of soul and garage.[4]
According to the 5 September 2017 review by Loudersound, things began with "All Strung Out Over You" and then there was a majestic version of "People Get Ready". Much of the rest of the tracks flowed in the same pattern. But "Time Has Come Today" was described as "an 11-minute stroke of pure genius". Reviewer Malcolm Dome finished off with telling the reader that psychedelic prog and soul really can co-exist.[5]
Commercial performance
On December 14, 1968, at its 27th week on the Billboard chart, it peaked at no. 6.[6] According to the December 21, 1968 issue of Billboard, along with Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme by Simon and Garfunkel, their album was one of the 36 Columbia albums that held a position in the top five that year.[7] International online magazine PopMatters said the album ascended to number four on Billboard's pop albums chart.[8] In Canada it reached no. 11.[9] It was no. 79 on the Cashbox Top 100 Pop Albums in 1968.[10]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "All Strung Out Over You" | Rudy Clark | 2:30 |
| 2. | "People Get Ready" | Curtis Mayfield | 3:52 |
| 3. | "I Can't Stand It" | Lester Chambers | 2:42 |
| 4. | "Romeo and Juliet" | Lester Chambers | 4:32 |
| 5. | "In the Midnight Hour" | Steve Cropper, Wilson Pickett | 5:32 |
| 6. | "So Tired" | Andre Goodwin, The Chambers Brothers | 4:05 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Uptown" | Betty Mabry, arranged by Garry Sherman | 2:56 |
| 2. | "Please Don't Leave Me" | The Chambers Brothers | 3:00 |
| 3. | "What the World Needs Now Is Love" | Burt Bacharach, Hal David, arranged by Garry Sherman | 3:20 |
| 4. | "Time Has Come Today" | Joseph Chambers, Willie Chambers | 11:06 |
Personnel
The Chambers Brothers
- George Chambers – bass, vocals
- Joseph Chambers – guitars
- Lester Chambers – vocals, harmonica, percussion
- Willie Chambers – guitars
- Brian Keenan – drums, percussion
Technical
- Jim Marshall – photography
Influence
Two songs from the album were recorded by Spanish group Los Crich. "All Strung Out Over You" backed with Lester Chambers' composition, "I Can't Stand It" were released on the Fonoguanche label in 1969.[11][12][13]