New Generation (The Chambers Brothers album)

New Generation
Studio album by
Released1971
GenreRock and funk
LabelColumbia C 30032
ProducerThe Chambers Brothers
The Chambers Brothers chronology
Feelin' the Blues
(1969)
New Generation
(1971)
Oh My God
(1972)

New Generation is a 1971 album by The Chambers Brothers. It contains their hits "Are You Ready" and "Funky".[1] It also represented a new phase for the band in their production.

Background

The Chambers Brothers produced New Generation themselves. The orchestrations were arranged by Joe Chambers and Brian Keenan.[2][3]

By 1970, the Chambers Brothers already had recorded three albums for the Columbia label, The Time Has Come, A New Time – A New Day, and Love, Peace and Happiness.[4][5][6] According to an article about the band in the April 1971 issue of Hit Parader, their manager, Charles LaMarr said that the band wasn't satisfied with their three previous albums. Joe Chambers said that the producers assigned to them weren't willing to listen to their ideas as well as how the band's presentation should be. He said that they had worked very hard and didn't now want to risk their sound. Joe also said that they wanted to produce other acts, and Brooklyn Bridge was one that they would possibly produce. He also said that this was their time.[7] The band had been experimenting with new instruments. They had played with 22-piece orchestra at Carnegie Hall. In a 31 October 1970 article by Billboard, Joe Chambers said that he could see their future working with a large band.[8]

New Generation was released on Columbia C 30032 in 1971.[9]

It was reported in the 6 February issue of Cash Box that Columbia Records hosted a party for The Chambers Brothers at Beaver's in Chicago to promote their new album, New Generation. The single from the album was announced as "Funky".[10]

Along with Spencer Davis & Peter Jameson, and Taj Mahal, the Chambers Brothers played at the Fillmore East venue on 13 February 1971. Their set featured a funky long rendition of their title song which featured feedback and solid guitar lines.

Reception

The album was reviewed in the 30 January 1971 issue of Cash Box. One of the four Pop Best Bets albums, the review was positive with the reviewer writing that the band had it all together with a new and impressive package of funk and rock. Due the band's large commercial and underground following, the album was predicted to do well.[11]

The album was reviewed in the 6 February issue of Record World. The reviewer pointed out the excellent cuts which were, "Practice What You Preach", "Reflections" and "Going to the Mill". The reviewer wrote that the rest of the album was standard, but standard for the Chambers Bothers wouldn't deter their fans.[12]

Airplay

As shown in the 30 January 1971 issue of Record World, New Generation was being played on WMMS-FM in Cleveland, KSHE-FM in S. Louis and KSAN-FM in San Francisco.[13]

Charts

The New Generation album debuted at No. 197 in the Billboard Top LPs chart for the week of 27 February.[14] The album debuted at No. 40 In the Billboard Best Selling Soul LP's chart for the week of 27 March.[15] In its sixth charting week, the album peaked at No. 145 on the Billboard Top LP's chart for the week of 3 April.[16][17] Having been in the Best Selling Soul LP's chart for three weeks, the album peaked at No. 36 for the week of 10 April.[18][19]

Tracks

Side A

  1. "Are You Ready" - J. Chambers - 3:47
  2. "Young Girl" - L. Chambers, W. Chambers - 3:35
  3. "Funky", L. Chambers - 2:52
  4. "When The Evening Comes" – C. LaMarr - 6:37
  5. "Practice What You Preach" - J. Chambers - 3:29

Side B

  1. "Reflections" – G. Chambers- 5:20
  2. "Pollution" – J. Chambers - 1:45
  3. "New Generation" – C. LaMarr, J. Chambers - 11:54
  4. "Going To the Mill" – C. LaMarr, J. Chambers - 5:15

Singles

  • "New Generation" was written by Julius Chambers and Charles LaMarr. Backed with LaMarr's composition, "When the Evening Comes", it was released on Columbia 4-45394 in May 1971. Both sides were produced by The Chambers Brothers.[27]

References

  1. ^ Billboard, February 27, 1971 - Page 21 Page 21 Talent, Talent In Action • Continued from page 20, SPENCER DAVIS & PETER JAMESON, CHAMBERS BROTHERS, TAJ MAHAL Fillmore East, New York - CLAUDE HALL
  2. ^ The Chambers Brothers, New Generation, Columbia C 30032, 1971 Produced by The Chambers Brothers, Orchestrations by Brian Keenan and Joe Chambers
  3. ^ Billboard, October 31, 1970 - Chambers Do Own Producing In Move to Get 'Their Sound'
  4. ^ Cash Box, November 25, 1967 - Page 25 Cash Box Album Reviews, Pop Best Bets, THE TIME HAS COME—Chambers Brothers—Columbia CL 2722/CS 9522
  5. ^ Record World, October 12, 1968 - Page 12 record world ALBUM REVIEWS, A NEW TIME -A NEW DAY, THE CHAMBERS BROTHERS - Columbia CS 9671.
  6. ^ Robert Christgau - Consumer Guide Album, The Chambers Brothers: Love, Peace, and Happiness (Columbia, 1969)
  7. ^ Hit Parader Magazine, April 1971 - Page 56 CHAMBERS BROS. (continued from page 45)
  8. ^ Billboard, October 31, 1970 - Page 4 Chambers Do Own Producing In Move to Get 'Their Sound'
  9. ^ Cash Box, February 6, 1971 - Page 32 Basic Album Inventory, COLUMBIA, Chambers Brothers New Generation C 30032
  10. ^ Cash Box, February 6, 1971 - Page 36 insight & sound continued, CHICAGO
  11. ^ Cash Box, January 30, 1971 - Page 36 Pop Best Bets, NEW GENERATION-Chambers Brothers-Columbia-C 30032
  12. ^ Record World, February 6, 1971 - Page 13 RECORD WORLD ALBUM PRODUCT, NEW GENERATION THE CHAMBERS BROTHERS- Columbia C 30032
  13. ^ Record World, January 30, 1971 - Page 34 THE FM AIRPLAY CHART, WMMS-FM/CLEVELAND, NEW GENERATION-CHAMBERS BROS.-Columbia; KSHE-FM/ST. LOUIS, NEW GENERATION-CHAMBERS BROS.-Columbia; KSAN-FMISAN FRANCISCO, NEW GENERATION-CHAMBERS BROS.-Columbia
  14. ^ Billboard, February 27, 1971 - Page 49 BILLBOARD TOP LP'S POSITIONS 106-200, THIS WEEK 197, LAST WEEK -, CHAMBERS BROTHERS New Generation, Weeks on Chart 1
  15. ^ Billboard, February 27, 1971 - Page 36 Billboard BEST SELLING Soul LP's, This Week 40, Last Week -, NEW GENERATION Chambers Brothers, Columbia C 30032, Weeks on Chart 1
  16. ^ Billboard, April 3, 1971 - Page 76 BILLBOARD TOP LP'S POSITIONS 106-200, THIS WEEK 145, LAST WEEK 147 CHAMBERS BROTHERS New Generation, Weeks on Chart 6
  17. ^ Billboard, April 10, 1971 - Page 64 BILLBOARD TOP LP'S POSITIONS 106-200, THIS WEEK 167, LAST WEEK 145, CHAMBERS BROTHERS New Generation, Weeks on Chart 7
  18. ^ Billboard, April 10, 1971 - Page 41 Soul, Billboard BEST SELLING Soul LP's, This Week 36, Last Week 40, NEW GENERATION Chambers Brothers, Columbia C 30032, Weeks on Chart 3
  19. ^ Billboard, April 17, 1971 - Page 37 Billboard BEST SELLING Soul LP's, This Week 46, Last Week 36, NEW GENERATION Chambers Brothers, Columbia C 30032, Weeks on Chart 4
  20. ^ 45Cat - The Chambers Brothers - Are You Ready
  21. ^ Classic Rock, 2 August 2022 - The Chambers Brothers and the acid classic that psychedelicised black American folk music By Jo Kendall
  22. ^ Cash Box, February 27, 1971 - Page 21 Vital Statistics, #96* FUNKY
  23. ^ Song Facts - Funky by The Chambers Brothers
  24. ^ Cash Box, February 27, 1971 - Page 21 Vital Statistics, #96* FUNKY
  25. ^ Cash Box, February 27, 1971 - Page 21 Vital Statistics, #96* FUNKY
  26. ^ 34Cat - Chambers Brothers - Funky
  27. ^ 45Cat - Chambers Brothers - New Generation