Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Err, they aren't very well known here in the UK.

Hmmm... never heard of them, to be true...

I have always loved "Time Has Come Today", a great song in a no-frills style. I remember seeing them on a TV show because the guitarist was using a Gibson ES-335/345 (I can't remember which one).

I certainly remember their hit (it was really long for the day -- 11 minutes -- and most radio stations played a truncated version around 4 minutes). I also remember seeing them on TV. It must have been the Smothers Brothers hour, or maybe Ed Sullivan or something similar. The drummer was white, and the rest of the members were black. They're available on iTunes and other downloads.

Well, i do know "Time has come today", in fact... from the Ramones' cover...

Ramones, Sheena, just for a minute I thought, err, no...

I don't know what you thought about, Peter, but no.

Sincere apologies. But seeing as how this is a multi-national forum, I think it is a given that once we delve more than a couple of levels below Beatles and Elvis, we’re going to run into gaps in our common knowledge base.
There were English acts mentioned in various threads I never heard of that I doubt made it much past the Channel. And, has anyone west of St. Petersburg ever heard of Zemfira? (She and the band are BIG in Russia.)

The Chambers Brothers were a highly charged R&B band that scored big with a psychedelic anthem of the 60s (“Time”). That song is used as background for more movies that one can imagine.

Here is a small taste:

http://s43.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0XNGLSSMZW2L32SZI62GRDN194

Maybe this will help bring back some memories.

Yes, the C-Bros were on Ed Sullivan at least a couple of times. (Again, I know this is not much help to those outside the U.S.)

One appearance is on the compilation DVD:

http://www.rhino.com/store/productdetail.lasso?number=976082

They also appeared in January of '69 along with Gina Lollobrigida, Jerry Vale and Don Rickles. Now, THAT'S entertainment. (!?)

I did hear of Zemfira, albeit i'm not sure i'm west of St. Petersburg, actually a bit east. She and her band are actually from Ufa IIRC, and they are not from the 60s - that, i'm sure of, since the lead singer is about the same age as me!
I don't think anybody will come down hard on you, Mark, for coming up with an American band not so well known in Europe. Because somebody will recognize it for sure, there's lots of Americans here on the forum. But if i came up with a Russian act from the 60s or later, that'd be much harder, so i won't...

Mark,

I have followed this thread with interest. Its was interesting to discover that it was Chambers Bros. Their association with a Rolling Stones song would also never have occurred to me.

They were not a very popular band here since they only ever made the airwaves with one song.

Anyway it was a good brainteaser and you have provided us with some information that we did not know yesterday. Thanks for this great thread.

Yeah... learning is what i'm here for... since i know too little... so thanks for the info, Mark!

Brian, Sheena, thanks very much for your kind comments.
As a matter of fact, the Forum (elsewhere, not here) has gotten a little heated lately sometimes and I was actually thinking of “retiring” from the site for a little while.

This is my fault for coming into this so late! Willie Chambers on vocals. I saw them with the Dave Clark Five in Long Beach, California 1965. "Time Has Come Today" is one of the songs that drastically changed my whole idea of R&R music!

Don't go anywhere Mark,

We need people like you here to help maintain a healthy balance.

I was surprised at some of the guesses, at least I knew it was a black R&B band, haha! Then again I was going to guess The Archies.