The Chambers Brothers - Love, Peace and Happiness (1969 us, classic groovie psychedelic funky soul rock)

Like their West Coast contemporaries Sly and the Family Stone, the Chambers Brothers shattered racial and musical divides to forge an incendiary fusion of funk, gospel, blues, and psychedelia which reached its apex with the perennial 1968 song "Time Has Come Today." The Chambers siblings -- bassist George, guitarist Willie, harpist Lester, and guitarist Joe, all of whom contributed vocals -- were born and raised in Lee County, MS; the products of an impoverished sharecropping family, the brothers first polished their vocal harmonies in the choir of their Baptist church, a collaboration which ended after George was drafted into the army in 1952. 

Following his discharge he relocated to Los Angeles, where the other Chambers brothers soon settled as well; the foursome began performing gospel and folk throughout Southern California in 1954, but remained virtually unknown until appearing in New York City in 1965. The addition of white drummer Brian Keenan not only made the Chambers Brothers an interracial group, but pushed their music closer to rock & roll; a well-received appearance at the Newport Folk Festival further enhanced their growing reputation, and they soon recorded their debut LP, People Get Ready. 

by Jason Ankeny

In 1969 the Chambers Brothers released a double vinyl under the title "Love, Peace and Happiness", the first disc contains studio recordings and on the B side there's the same-title classic music piece, while the second disc contains live recordings which took place a year before (1968) at Bill Graham's Fillmore East.

Tracks
1. Have a Little Faith (S. Turner) - 5:11
2. Let's Do It (Do It Together) (S. Turner) - 4:33
3. To Love Somebody (Robin Gibb, Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb) - 4:36
4. If You Want Me To (S. Turner) - 3:58
5. Wake Up (Marvin Hamlisch) - 2:17
6. Love, Peace and Happiness (The Chambers Brothers) - 16:15
7. Wade in the Water (Traditional) - 10:22
8. Everybody Needs Somebody (Joseph Chambers) - 6:28
9. I Can't Turn You Loose (Otis Redding) - 2:56
10.People Get Ready (Curtis Mayfield) - 4:13
11.Bang Bang (Joe Cuba, Jimmy Sabater) - 7:25
12.You're So Fine (Willie Schofield, Lance Finney, Bob West) - 4:38
13.Medley: Undecided / Love! Love! Love! (S. Robin, C. Shavers / T. McRae, S. Wyche, S. David) - 4:04

The Chambers Brothers
*George Chambers - Bass. Vocals
*Joseph Chambers - Guitar, Vocals
*Lester Chambers - Harmonica, Vocals
*Willie Chambers - Guitar, Vocals
*Brian Keenan - Drums

More Chambers Brothers
1967  The Time Has Come

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