The Beau Brummels were an American rock band that formed in 1964 and originally consisted of singer Sal Valentino, lead guitarist Ron Elliott, bassist Ron Meagher, rhythm guitarist Declan Mulligan and drummer John Petersen. Local radio disc jockeys Tom Donahue and Bobby Mitchell discovered the band at a club near San Francisco. They signed the Beau Brummels to their fledgling Autumn Records label, and their house producer, Sylvester Stewart, later known as Sly Stone, recorded the band's early sessions.
The group's first single, "Laugh, Laugh", was released in December 1964 and peaked at number 15 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1965. It was their highest-charting single in Canada, where it reached number two. The band's debut album, Introducing the Beau Brummels, followed in April and peaked at number 24 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. The album featured "Laugh, Laugh" and the band's second single, "Just a Little", which reached the top ten in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. In August, the band released their second album, The Beau Brummels, Volume 2, which failed to chart. "You Tell Me Why" was their third consecutive top-ten single in Canada, and it reached the U.S. top 40.
The Autumn label was sold in early 1966 to Warner Bros. Records, which then persuaded the band to record a covers album titled Beau Brummels '66. Released in July, the album was considered a disappointment by critics and failed to chart. The band worked with producer Lenny Waronker for their next album, the critically acclaimed Triangle (1967), which was followed in 1968 by Bradley's Barn, one of the earliest country rock albums. By 1969 the Beau Brummels had been reduced to a duo consisting of Valentino and Elliott, and they decided to part ways to pursue solo projects and participate on recordings with other artists.
The five original Beau Brummels reformed in 1974 and resumed touring. A performance recorded in February near Sacramento, California, was released in 2000 as the Live! album. In April 1975 the band released an eponymous album, which reached number 180 on the Billboard 200 chart. The group split up soon after the album's release, but the Beau Brummels continued to perform live in various incarnations from the late 1970s to the early 2000s. Fourteen compilation albums featuring the band's music have been released, including two box sets: San Fran Sessions (1996), which contains 60 demos, outtakes, rarities and unissued performances recorded from 1964 to 1966; and Magic Hollow (2005), which collects 113 singles, album tracks, demos and previously unreleased material.
Albums Studio albums YearAlbum detailsPeak chart positions U.S.1965 Introducing the Beau Brummels 24 The Beau Brummels, Volume 2 —1966 Beau Brummels '66 —1967 Triangle 1971968 Bradley's Barn — 1975 The Beau Brummels 1802013 Continuum — "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Live album YearAlbum Notes2000 Live!Recorded in 1974 at the Shire Road Pub in Fair Oaks, California
Compilation albums YearAlbum details1967 The Best of the Beau Brummels1968 The Beau Brummels, Volume 441976 Original Hits of the Beau Brummels1982 From the Vaults1985 Autumn in San Francisco1987 The Best of The Beau Brummels 1964–19681994 Autumn of Their Years1996 San Fran Sessions2000 Greatest Hits2000 Cry Just a Little2001 North Beach Legends2001 Gentle Wanderin' Ways2004 Good Time Music2005 Magic Hollow2021 Turn Around: The Complete Recordings 1964-1970
Singles YearTitles (A-side, B-side)Both sides from same album except where indicatedLabel and numberPeak chart positionsAlbumUSUS CashCANAUS 1964 "Laugh, Laugh"b/w "Still In Love With You Baby" Autumn 8 15 17 2 78 Introducing the Beau Brummels 1965 "Just a Little"b/w "They'll Make You Cry" Autumn 10 8 7 4 24 "You Tell Me Why"b/w "I Want You" Autumn 16 38 36 8 — The Beau Brummels, Volume 2 "Don't Talk to Strangers"b/w "In Good Time" Autumn 20 52 53 16 96 "Good Time Music"b/w "Sad Little Girl" (from Volume 2) Autumn 24 97 93 13 — Non-album tracks 1966 "One Too Many Mornings"b/w "She Reigns" Warner Bros. 5813 95 98 — 62 "Here We Are Again"b/w "Fine with Me" Warner Bros. 5848 — — — — 1967 "Don't Make Promises"b/w "Two Days 'Til Tomorrow" Warner Bros. 7014 — — — — "Magic Hollow"b/w "Lower Level" (Non-album track) Warner Bros. 7079 — — — — Triangle 1968 "Lift Me"b/w "Are You Happy" (from Triangle) Warner Bros. 7204 — — — — Non-album track "Long Walking Down to Misery"b/w "I'm a Sleeper" Warner Bros. 7218 — — — — Bradley's Barn 1969 "Cherokee Girl"b/w "Deep Water" Warner Bros. 7260 — — — — 1975 "Down to the Bottom"b/w "You Tell Me Why" (new version of 1965 hit) Warner Bros. 8119 — — — — The Beau Brummels "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country
Other appearances Year Song Title Notes 1965 "Just Wait and See" Wild Wild Winter soundtrack Originally appeared on Introducing The Beau Brummels. 1992 "Laugh, Laugh" Shindig!: 60's Superstars Format: VHS Performed on a 1965 episode of Shindig! 1996 "Don't Talk to Strangers" Hullabaloo Volume 7 Format: VHS Performed on a 1965 episode of Hullabaloo.2014 "It's Gotta Be" These Are the Good Times: The Complete Capitol Recordings Previously unreleased song recorded in 1965. Appears on this 2014 compilation of Donna Loren's Capitol recordings. Song written by Ron Elliott, performed by Loren, featuring The Beau Brummels.
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