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Solid Overview from an Underrated Band

Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 01/30/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Beau Brummels crafted two terrific pop songs: "Laugh, Laugh" and "Just a Little," which went to No. 15 and No. 8 respectively during the first five months of 1965. [Historical footnote: Sly Stone produced "Laugh, Laugh."]Though they formed in San Francisco, the band took its name from the English dandy George Bryan "Beau" Brummell, because the British Invasion virtually required American groups to present themselves as being somehow British to be accepted by an American audience infatuated with the Beatles, the Stones, etc.The Brummels hit the Top 40 a third (and final) time in 1965 with "You Tell Me Why." The song had a very Byrds-like quality to it, but the song only went to No. 38 and dropped off the chart after a week. [Leo Kottke resurrected the song on his 1974 album Ice Water, claiming Sal Valentino was one of his favorite singers.]Tracks like "They'll Make You Cry" and the failed single "Don't Talk to Strangers" continued in a folk-rock vein. An attempt at covering Dylan's "One Too Many Mornings" in 1966 went only to No. 95--the Brummels' last chart single. In the wake of the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper, the Brummels recorded the experimental album Triangle. "Magic Hollow" and "Are You Happy" are from this album.In 1968 they recorded in Nashville and released Bradley's Barn (represented on this collection by "Deep Water"), where they branched out into country-rock territory. Shortly after, the band split up. [Although they did reunite in 1975 to release The Beau Brummels before disbanding for good.]All told, this is an enjoyable reminder of fun and experimentation of the mid-sixties. RECOMMENDED"

An accurate musical depiction of a very atypical band

John A. Kuczma | Marietta, GA USA | 05/07/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Beau Brummels may very well have been the best rock vocal quartet to find themselves in the right place at the wrong time. Their recording career spanned the years 1964 through 1968, a time when radio air play meant just about everything and groups that couldn't be conveniently classified as rock/folk/country/whatever had a difficult time getting played. Unfortunately, the country-flavored rock style of the Brummels was too smooth and too vocally sound for them to be portrayed as "revolutionary" or "Bad-boys", so this tremendously talented foursome slogged along with moderate commercial success and a very loyal, avid group of followers.Laugh, Laugh and Just a Little are the big success stories featured on this album. Perhaps the best musical offering is the beautiful, melancholy "Sad Little Girl" with its haunting, intricate harmonies and enchanting guitar work. Another gem is the heart-broken, questioning ballad "You Tell Me Why."Ultimately, the album, like the group, defies description or classification. Like many of the best evolving out of the response to the original "Mersey Sound" (the Brummels were from San Francisco, not Liverpool!), the Beau Brummels' musical style was theirs alone. This compilation is a fitting tribute to a group that was well ahead of its time."

The Most Underrated 60's Group

From the Oregon Country | 03/19/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Just a brief observation: In this boomer's opinion, the Beau Brummels were a great 60's group which, for a number of reasons, never reached their full potential, or got adequate recognition for the music they put out. The song-writing talents of Ron Elliott, the instrumental talents of the whole group, and Sal V.'s vocals, add up to a great listening experience. One of my favorites from the era of the British Invasion, the San Francisco group was really the first American group to successfully produce that sound, yet stay original. Buy the album and enjoy!"