Thursday, June 3, 2010

IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR: The Battle Of The Bands Vol. 1














I'd like to first say, if you don't own The Chambers Brothers "The Time Has Come," the time has come. Rarely cited in discussions about all time great soul records, "The Time Has Come" subtlely blows my mind every time I play it. Buy it HERE


That said, here are 5 versions of the Wilson Pickett/Steve Cropper classic. I'm kinda partial to The Chambers Brothers' version, at least this week.






THE MIGHTY HANNIBAL




THE JAM




WILSON PICKETT





THE RASCALS





THE CHAMBERS BROTHERS
at

9 comments:

  1. steve simelsJune 3, 2010 at 5:57 AM

    One of the Chambers Bros -- Lester, I think -- wound up as a maitre d' at Kenny's Castaways in the early 80s.

    It used to really make me feel uncomfortable when he would take me to a table. Not to mention providing a cautionary lesson about that fame shit being a bitch.

    ReplyDelete
  2. cooljerkJune 3, 2010 at 6:00 AM

    sal...it's hard for me to think of that chambers bros. album as one of the great soul records...i always liked the lp, and the band was very good (saw them live a couple times) but their music wasn't even pure soul...i would call it more like psychedelic soul added to equal parts of gospel and rock...definitely a nice blend but nothing i would consider a part of the soul tradition ...steve

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sal NunziatoJune 3, 2010 at 6:04 AM

    Cooljerk Steve, I think that's exactly my point. If you take the 11 minute title track out of the mix, it's pretty pure.

    Simels,

    I remember Lester being there, though that's all I remember.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJune 3, 2010 at 7:26 AM

    Only on your blog Sal would you tell us how great The Chambers Brothers "The Time Has Come" is yet you put sound clips of another song.
    You're unbelievable!!!
    Keep it up!!!

    Robert F. Dolcimascola

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sal NunziatoJune 3, 2010 at 7:27 AM

    Robert,

    I'm confused. Is the Chambers Brothers track not there? Should be?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Gene ObertoJune 3, 2010 at 8:38 AM

    If I can remember being back in that time when music was blurring and the definitive lines between soul (WLIB), pop (WMCA/WABC) and "underground" (WNEW-FM) were breaking down, it was the Chambers Brothers that opened the eyes of this socially naive young man.

    Sure, there was "blue eyed soul" (the Rascals and the personal favorites, The Magnificent Men)and Jimi Hendrix, but the Experience was from England, so he didn't count as it wasn't until later that I learned of his roots.

    But the Chambers Brothers were black guys who didn't have suits and choreography and played their own instruments and, well, rocked! It blew my mind then, I played the Lp incessantly, was pissed off when the radio cut the title track for a single and, if the fog of remembering has lifted enough, wasn't it a double Lp as well?

    They really broke some boundaries back then.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sal NunziatoJune 3, 2010 at 9:33 AM

    Nice words, Gene.

    "The Time Has Come" is one LP. "Love, Peace & Happiness" is a double. Also, for some further listening, "New Generation" is also quite good.

    ReplyDelete
  8. allen vellaJune 3, 2010 at 12:17 PM

    always one of my favorites..I saw them at my high school..Mater Christi, in your neighborhood Sal..in '68 or 9..great blend of psychedelic soul and rock..awesome voices..

    ReplyDelete
  9. UnknownJune 8, 2010 at 7:12 PM

    only on burning wood; thanks for putting a smile on my face. One great song five great musical interpretations....... loved hearing it!

    ReplyDelete