the same species

Lester Chambers, lead singer of the 1960s soul rock group The Chambers Brothers, released this photo in a desperate plea to gain support for injustices forced onto him by record companies over the years.  

While his fight has been public for 10 years, it has fallen on deaf ears until now and with help from social media his cause has gone viral with close to 4000 shares on Facebook since it’s original post a little over a week ago.  

I still remember the first time I picked up a Chambers Brothers album.  Initially I was drawn to the artwork but New Generation is sonically their finest album in my opinion.

 Any hip hop fans will be reeled in by the hook on Funky, as sampled on A Tribe Called Quest’s I Left My Wallet In El Segundo but there are other truely fine moments including the heavy yet upbeat afro-percussive soul of Are You Ready.  

A great deal of discussion appears to center around the track Time Has Come Today  originally recorded in 1968 which spent five full weeks at #11 on The Billboard Hot 100 list on it’s initial release.  

It has been used by countless TV commercials and films including

• Spike Lee’s Crooklyn 
• Hal Ashby’s Coming Home 
• Brian De Palma’s Casualties of War 
• Oliver Stone’s The Doors 

as well appearing on several TV Series including episodes of

• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 
• Grey’s Anatomy
• My Name Is Earl 

not to mention the different cover versions including

• The Ramones
• Joan Jett 
• Steve Earle  

There is no denying the success of this song alone but unfortunately for The Chambers Brothers, there has been a serious lack of equitable royalty payments.  

Sweet Relief is a musician’s fund set up to help career musicians, singers, composers and arrangers.  Financial grants are paid directly to medical providers, hospitals, and other third party entities.  

Visit The Lester Chambers Fund and see for yourself.