Magic Hollow
Encyclopedia
"Magic Hollow" is a song by American
rock
group The Beau Brummels
, from the band's fourth album, 1967's Triangle
. The song, written by guitarist Ron Elliott
and lead singer Sal Valentino
, was released as the album's first single. The song appeared on the band's 1987 compilation album
The Best of the Beau Brummels 1964-1968, and "Magic Hollow" also served as the title of the band's 2005 four-disc box set
.
on harpsichord
.
"Magic Hollow" failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100
chart, but since its release the song has been well regarded by music critics. Author and journalist Richie Unterberger
described the song as "wispy and wistful," like "mood music for deep forest walks."
Stansted Montfichet of Allmusic called it the highlight of the Triangle album, and said the song "remains one of the most beautiful tunes in the entire Brummels canon."
In June 1997, music journalist Jon Savage
named "Magic Hollow" to Mojo
magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Psychedelic Classics."
A demo
version of the song performed by Valentino appears on the band's four-disc Magic Hollow box set, released in 2005.
Author Tom Moon, in his 2008 book 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die: A Listener's Life List, called "Magic Hollow" one of Triangle
s key tracks.
The single's non-LP B-side
, "Lower Level," was written by Ron Elliott. The song was predicted to reach the Hot 100 in a 1967 issue of Billboard
magazine, though it did not enter the chart.
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...
, from the band's fourth album, 1967's Triangle
Triangle (The Beau Brummels album)
Triangle is the fourth studio album by American rock band The Beau Brummels. Produced by Lenny Waronker and released in July 1967, it was the band's first album to include songs that vocalist Sal Valentino and guitarist Ron Elliott composed together...
. The song, written by guitarist 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 lead singer Sal Valentino
Sal Valentino
Sal Valentino is an American rock musician, singer and songwriter, best known as lead singer of The Beau Brummels, subsequently becoming a songwriter as well. The band released a pair of top 20 U.S...
, was released as the album's first single. The song 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, and "Magic Hollow" also served as the title of the band's 2005 four-disc box set
Magic Hollow (album)
Magic Hollow is a box set compilation by The Beau Brummels comprising 113 songs recorded between 1964-1968, including hit singles, demos, outtakes, rarities and previously unissued material...
.
Release and reception
The song, released in 1967, was the first Beau Brummels single credited to both Elliott and Valentino. The song featured session musician Van Dyke ParksVan Dyke Parks
Van Dyke Parks is an American composer, arranger, producer, musician, singer, author and actor. Parks is perhaps best known for his contributions as a lyricist on the Beach Boys album Smile....
on harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
.
"Magic Hollow" failed to enter 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...
chart, but since its release the song has been well regarded by music critics. Author and journalist Richie Unterberger
Richie Unterberger
Richie Unterberger is a US author and journalist whose focus is popular music and travel writing.-Life and writing:Having worked as a DJ at WXPN in Philadelphia, he started reviewing records for Op magazine in 1983...
described the song as "wispy and wistful," like "mood music for deep forest walks."
Stansted Montfichet of Allmusic called it the highlight of the Triangle album, and said the song "remains one of the most beautiful tunes in the entire Brummels canon."
In June 1997, music journalist Jon Savage
Jon Savage
Jon Savage , real name Jonathon Sage, is a Cambridge-educated writer, broadcaster and music journalist, best known for his award winning history of the Sex Pistols and punk music, England's Dreaming, published in 1991.-Career:...
named "Magic Hollow" to Mojo
Mojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Psychedelic Classics."
A demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
version of the song performed by Valentino appears on the band's four-disc Magic Hollow box set, released in 2005.
Author Tom Moon, in his 2008 book 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die: A Listener's Life List, called "Magic Hollow" one of Triangle
Triangle (The Beau Brummels album)
Triangle is the fourth studio album by American rock band The Beau Brummels. Produced by Lenny Waronker and released in July 1967, it was the band's first album to include songs that vocalist Sal Valentino and guitarist Ron Elliott composed together...
s key tracks.
The single's non-LP B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
, "Lower Level," was written by Ron Elliott. The song was predicted to reach the Hot 100 in a 1967 issue of Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine, though it did not enter the chart.