Don't Talk to Strangers (song)
Encyclopedia
"Don't Talk to Strangers" is a song by American
rock
group The Beau Brummels
, released as the second single from the band's second album, The Beau Brummels, Volume 2
. The song later appeared on the band's 1987 compilation album
The Best of The Beau Brummels 1964–1968
. The single peaked at number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100
in November 1965;
its relatively low chart placement possibly being the result of the band's label, Autumn Records
, verging on collapse at the time.
The song reached number 16 on the Canadian singles chart
.
"Don't Talk to Strangers" was written by Ron Elliott
and Bob Durand. Sylvester Stewart, later known as Sly Stone
, produced the track. The song has received generally positive reviews in the decades since its release. San Francisco Chronicle
music critic Joel Selvin
called the song inventive, while author Maury Dean
praised the song's "raging chord patterns and dynamic harmonies," and called the instrumental bridge "second to none in punch and pulse in power." The song has been criticized, however, for sounding too similar to The Byrds
in regards to the harmonies and twelve-string guitar lick
s.
A live performance of the song from February 1974 is included on the band's 2000 Live!
album, which was recorded in Fair Oaks Village near Sacramento, California
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group The Beau Brummels
The Beau Brummels
The Beau Brummels were an American rock band. Formed in San Francisco in 1964, the band's original lineup included Sal Valentino , Ron Elliott , Ron Meagher , Declan Mulligan , and John Petersen...
, released as the second single from the band's second album, The Beau Brummels, Volume 2
The Beau Brummels, Volume 2
The Beau Brummels, Volume 2 is the second studio album by American rock group The Beau Brummels. Released in August 1965, the album contains the U.S...
. The song later appeared on the band's 1987 compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
The Best of The Beau Brummels 1964–1968
The Best of The Beau Brummels 1964–1968
The Best of the Beau Brummels 1964-1968, sometimes titled The Best of the Beau Brummels: Golden Archive Series, is a compilation album by American rock band The Beau Brummels...
. The single peaked at number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in November 1965;
its relatively low chart placement possibly being the result of the band's label, Autumn Records
Autumn Records
Autumn Records was a 1960s San Francisco-based pop record label. Its most prominent contract was considered The Beau Brummels, a band who released a pair of top 20 singles, "Laugh, Laugh" and "Just a Little"....
, verging on collapse at the time.
The song reached number 16 on the Canadian singles chart
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
.
"Don't Talk to Strangers" was written by Ron Elliott
Ron Elliott (musician)
Ron Elliott on October 21, 1943) is an American musician, composer and producer, best known as songwriter and lead guitarist of rock band The Beau Brummels. Elliott wrote or co-wrote the band's 1965 U.S...
and Bob Durand. Sylvester Stewart, later known as Sly Stone
Sly Stone
Sly Stone is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, most famous for his role as frontman for Sly & the Family Stone, a band which played a critical role in the development of soul, funk and psychedelia in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1993, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of...
, produced the track. The song has received generally positive reviews in the decades since its release. San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
music critic Joel Selvin
Joel Selvin
Joel Selvin is a San Francisco-based music critic and author known for his weekly column in the San Francisco Chronicle which ran from 1972 to 2009. Selvin has written books covering various aspects of pop music and has interviewed a large number of musical artists...
called the song inventive, while author Maury Dean
Maury Dean
Maury Dean is an American musician, professor and author, whose book "The Rock Revolution" is in the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame and the Smithsonian.-Music:...
praised the song's "raging chord patterns and dynamic harmonies," and called the instrumental bridge "second to none in punch and pulse in power." The song has been criticized, however, for sounding too similar to The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
in regards to the harmonies and twelve-string guitar lick
Lick (music)
In popular music genres such as rock or jazz music, a lick is "a stock pattern or phrase" consisting of a short series of notes that is used in solos and melodic lines...
s.
A live performance of the song from February 1974 is included on the band's 2000 Live!
Live! (The Beau Brummels album)
Live! is a live album by American rock group The Beau Brummels. The album, released in August 2000 by Dig Music, was recorded in February 1974 near Sacramento, California, shortly after it was announced that the band had reunited...
album, which was recorded in Fair Oaks Village near Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
.
Track listing
7" VinylChart performance
| Chart (1965) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 52 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100 Singles | 53 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 16 |