The Beau Brummels (album)
Encyclopedia
The Beau Brummels is the sixth studio album by the American
rock band of the same name
. Released in April 1975, the album features the work of all five original bandmembers for the first time since the band's debut album, 1965's Introducing the Beau Brummels
. The album peaked at number 180 on the U.S. Billboard 200
albums chart in 1975.
album, the Beau Brummels, by which time were a duo consisting of lead singer
Sal Valentino
and guitarist-songwriter Ron Elliott
, split.
Valentino recorded a few solo singles for Warner Bros. Records
before forming a new band, Stoneground
, which released three albums between 1971 and 1973. Elliott worked on tracks by The Everly Brothers
, Van Dyke Parks
, Randy Newman
, Little Feat
, and Pan. Elliott also released a solo album, The Candlestickmaker
, in 1970.
In February 1974, Billboard
magazine reported that the Beau Brummels re-formed in San Francisco.
A resulting self-titled album containing new material was released in April 1975. One song, "You Tell Me Why
" was a U.S. top 40 hit for the band in 1965,
and was re-worked for this album. "Down To The Bottom" features guest Ronnie Montrose
on lead guitar. The Beau Brummels reached number 180 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
Music critic Matthew Greenwald of Allmusic said the album was "one of the most successful 'reunion' projects of its time."
However, in Valentino's view, "We hadn't performed at all, [the album] showed that we hadn't, and we were out of place."
Although this project started out as a full-fledged reunion of the original members, Ron Meagher left the group during production and before the photo shoot for the back of the album cover, hence only four members shown.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock band of the same name
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 in April 1975, the album features the work of all five original bandmembers for the first time since the band's debut album, 1965's Introducing the Beau Brummels
Introducing the Beau Brummels
Introducing the Beau Brummels is the debut album by American pop rock band The Beau Brummels. It was produced by Sly Stone, lead singer of Sly & the Family Stone. Unlike most debut albums of the era, ten of the twelve songs on this album are originals. The album peaked at number 24 on the U.S...
. The album peaked at number 180 on the U.S. Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
albums chart in 1975.
Background and release
After 1968's Bradley's BarnBradley's Barn
-Personnel:* David Briggs – keyboards* Kenny Buttrey – drums* Ron Elliott – guitar, vocals* Norbert Putnam – bass* Jerry Reed – guitar* Sal Valentino – vocals-External links:* [ Bradley's Barn] at Allmusic...
album, the Beau Brummels, by which time were a duo consisting of lead singer
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
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...
and guitarist-songwriter 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...
, split.
Valentino recorded a few solo singles for Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
before forming a new band, Stoneground
Stoneground
Stoneground was a rock band formed in 1970 in Concord, California. Originally a trio, Stoneground expanded to a 10-piece band by the time of their eponymous 1971 debut album. The group appeared in two films, Medicine Ball Caravan and Dracula A.D. 1972 , and released three albums before singer Sal...
, which released three albums between 1971 and 1973. Elliott worked on tracks by The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers are country-influenced rock and roll performers, known for steel-string guitar playing and close harmony singing...
, Van Dyke Parks
Van 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....
, Randy Newman
Randy Newman
Randall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores....
, Little Feat
Little Feat
Little Feat is an American rock band formed by singer-songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist Lowell George and keyboardist Bill Payne in 1969 in Los Angeles....
, and Pan. Elliott also released a solo album, The Candlestickmaker
The Candlestickmaker
The Candlestickmaker is the lone solo album by American musician Ron Elliott, released in 1970 on Warner Bros. It was recorded following the dissolution of The Beau Brummels, with whom Elliott had been the chief songwriter and guitarist...
, in 1970.
In February 1974, 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 reported that the Beau Brummels re-formed in San Francisco.
A resulting self-titled album containing new material was released in April 1975. One song, "You Tell Me Why
You Tell Me Why
"You Tell Me Why" is a song by American rock group The Beau Brummels, from the band's second album, The Beau Brummels, Volume 2. The song was written by guitarist Ron Elliott and produced by Sylvester Stewart, later known as Sly Stone. "You Tell Me Why" was released as the album's lead single, and...
" was a U.S. top 40 hit for the band in 1965,
and was re-worked for this album. "Down To The Bottom" features guest Ronnie Montrose
Ronnie Montrose
Ronnie Montrose, is an Amercian rock guitarist who has headed his own bands as well as performing with a variety of musicians, including Sammy Hagar, Herbie Hancock, Van Morrison, The Beau Brummels, Boz Scaggs, Beaver & Krause, Gary Wright, Tony Williams, The Neville Brothers, Dan Hartman, Edgar...
on lead guitar. The Beau Brummels reached number 180 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
Music critic Matthew Greenwald of Allmusic said the album was "one of the most successful 'reunion' projects of its time."
However, in Valentino's view, "We hadn't performed at all, [the album] showed that we hadn't, and we were out of place."
Although this project started out as a full-fledged reunion of the original members, Ron Meagher left the group during production and before the photo shoot for the back of the album cover, hence only four members shown.
Track listing
- "You Tell Me WhyYou Tell Me Why"You Tell Me Why" is a song by American rock group The Beau Brummels, from the band's second album, The Beau Brummels, Volume 2. The song was written by guitarist Ron Elliott and produced by Sylvester Stewart, later known as Sly Stone. "You Tell Me Why" was released as the album's lead single, and...
" (Elliott) — 3:15 - "First in Line" (Elliott, Engle) — 2:59
- "Wolf" (Elliott) — 2:23
- "Down to the Bottom" (Elliott, Engle) — 3:24
- "Tennessee Walker" (Elliott) — 3:14
- "Singing Cowboy" (Elliott) — 3:17
- "Goldrush" (Elliott, Engle) — 3:20
- "The Lonely Side" (Elliott) — 4:34
- "Gate of Hearts" (Elliott) — 3:00
- "Today By Day" (Elliott, Engle) — 2:36
Chart performance
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 180 |
Personnel
- Nick DeCaro - string arrangements
- Ron ElliottRon 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...
- guitar, vocals - Victor FeldmanVictor FeldmanVictor Stanley Feldman was a British jazz musician, best known as a pianist.-Early history:...
- percussion - Mark T. Jordan - piano
- Mark Wilson Jordan - piano
- Donn Landee - engineer
- Dan Levitt - banjo, guitar
- Ron MeagherRon MeagherRon Meagher is best known as bassist of American rock band The Beau Brummels. When guitarist-songwriter Ron Elliott was putting the band together in 1964, he asked a friend, Kay Dane, if she knew any good bass players....
- bass, guitar, vocals - Declan MulliganDeclan MulliganDeclan Mulligan is an Irish rock musician, singer and songwriter, best known as a guitarist of American rock band The Beau Brummels...
- bass, guitar, vocals - John PetersenJohn Petersen (musician)John Petersen was an American drummer, most notably for rock bands The Beau Brummels and Harpers Bizarre. In 1964 he joined the Beau Brummels, whose first two singles, "Laugh, Laugh" and "Just a Little", reached the U.S. top 20...
- drums - Ted TemplemanTed TemplemanTed Templeman is an American record producer.-Career:He began his career in the mid 1960s in the Santa Cruz area as a drummer in a band called The Tikis. At the suggestion of Lenny Waronker, the group decided to change their name. Harpers Bizarre was born in 1966, with Templeman switching to...
- producer - Sal ValentinoSal ValentinoSal 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...
- vocals - Lenny WaronkerLenny WaronkerLenny Waronker is a record producer for Warner Bros. Records.-Career:He produced recording sessions for Nancy Sinatra, The Everly Brothers, Van Dyke Parks, The Beau Brummels, Harpers Bizarre, Randy Newman, Ry Cooder, Arlo Guthrie, Maria Muldaur, Gordon Lightfoot, Rickie Lee Jones, James Taylor, ...
- producer - Ronnie MontroseRonnie MontroseRonnie Montrose, is an Amercian rock guitarist who has headed his own bands as well as performing with a variety of musicians, including Sammy Hagar, Herbie Hancock, Van Morrison, The Beau Brummels, Boz Scaggs, Beaver & Krause, Gary Wright, Tony Williams, The Neville Brothers, Dan Hartman, Edgar...
- lead guitar on "Down To The Bottom"
External links
- [ The Beau Brummels] at Allmusic