Real Soul Brothers Pt. 2 Posted by Junior

The Chambers Brothers: Uptown and Time Has Come Today From: The Time Has Come [Columbia, 1967] Back with some more Chambers Brothers today with The Time Has Come. The album that thrust the band into the spotlight, the music is less insanely out there than their later The New Generation but is equally funky and probably a more consistent album overall. The songs on this longplayer move from R&B covers to more psychedelic funk outs showcasing the indisputable talents of these guys and the ease with which they moved from their folky upbringing to a heavier sound. Uptown is a sweet as hell uptempo track with a vibrancy and energy which still floors the listener. A tribute to Harlem the track has a definite JB feel to it as the instrumentation builds up with trumpet parps and a sweet piano melody. Coming off more like a live performance than a studio recording it's a definite pick me up song. Time Has Come Today is still probably the most famous of all The Chambers Brothers recordings, an extended 11 minute jam that set in place many of the standards in psychedelic funk as the band work on making your soul "psychedelicised". Starting with a sound somewhat reminiscent of the Rolling Stones with heavy guitars, crashing drums and lots and lots of cowbell the track goes places Jagger, Richards & Co didn't even consider till a few years later. The song really kicks in to psychedelic mode around the three minute mark as it slows to a stuttering halt before building again with the bassiest of breaks, various guitar riffs surfacing in the mix including, if I'm not mistaken, the little drummer boy. The track then goes into overdrive for the final four minutes, ominous laughter marking the point of no return. Like a mini album in it's own right this tune is totally insane and utterly essential. This album has been rereleased on CD with additional bonus tracks and is worth picking up alone for the gorgeous ballad So Tired. Don't hesitate.