The Best of the Beau Brummels: Golden Archive Series

• Artist: The Beau Brummels
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1987
• Total Time: 47:51
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Rock

Review

This 18-song collection has, amazingly, never been undercut for content or range in nearly two decades of release; it is probably due for an upgrade in sound quality as of 2005, and ought to serve as the guide to putting together a truly comprehensive double- or triple-CD set devoted to this San Francisco-based band, but it still holds up as either an introduction to, or survey of the band's history. Starting with the huge hits "Laugh Laugh" and "Just a Little," it carries the listener up through the gorgeous yet unaccountably failed follow-ups "Sad Little Girl" and "Don't Talk to Strangers"; from there we go to a few of the highlights from the outtakes later issued by Vault Records, and into the group's studio years at Warner Bros. and some of the better tracks from Triangle and Bradley's Barn, as well as a handful of single sides and other rarities from the Warner Bros. vaults. Bill Inglot supervised the remixing from multi-track tapes of the songs for which usable masters couldn't be found, and he's kept the sound on those sides true to the originals. The annotation is very good as well, and is supported by great artwork. Casual listeners will probably love this CD, but after a few listens, they may join the serious fans in wishing that a more expansive survey of the Beau Brummels' work -- along the lines of Rhino's double-CD anthologies on the Association and the Turtles -- encompassing a deeper sampling of their two official Autumn Records albums and their outtakes, along with the hits and perhaps some of the better solo stuff from Ron Elliott and Sal Valentino, could be assembled. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Laugh, Laugh	Elliott, Ron Elliott	The Beau Brummels	(3:03)
Still in Love With You Baby	Ron Elliott	The Beau Brummels	(2:32)
Just a Little	Ruth Durand, Ron Elliott	The Beau Brummels	(3:04)
They'll Make You Cry	Ron Elliott	The Beau Brummels	(2:25)
You Tell Me Why	Ron Elliott	The Beau Brummels	(3:05)
Don't Talk to Strangers	Bob Duran, Ron Elliott	The Beau Brummels	(2:21)
In Good Time	Ron Elliott, The Ominous Seapods	The Beau Brummels	(1:48)
When It Comes to Your Love	Ron Elliott	The Beau Brummels	(2:12)
Sad Little Girl	Ron Elliott	The Beau Brummels	(3:30)
Gentle Wandering Ways	Ron Elliott	The Beau Brummels	(2:41)
One Too Many Mornings	Bob Dylan	The Beau Brummels	(2:51)
Here We Are Again	Steve Valentino	The Beau Brummels	(2:51)
Fine With Me	Ron Elliott	The Beau Brummels	(2:26)
Don't Make Me Promises	Tim Hardin	The Beau Brummels	(2:37)
Two Days 'Til Tomorrow	Ruth Durand, Ron Elliott	The Beau Brummels	(2:32)
Magic Hollow	Steve Valentino, Ron Elliott	The Beau Brummels	(2:52)
Are You Happy	Ruth Durand, Kenneth Gamble, Theresa Bell, Jerry Butler, Ron Elliott	The Beau Brummels	(2:18)
Deep Water	Fred Rose, Sal Valentino, Seal	The Beau Brummels	(2:30)

Credits

John Strother (Engineer), Lenny Waronker (Producer), Gia Gittleson (Assistant), Sylvester "Sly Stone" Stewart (Producer), Bill Inglot (Remix Producer), Parke Puterbaugh (Liner Notes), John Petersen (Photography), Bill Inglot (Engineer), Ken Perry (Digital Remastering), Don Brown (Art Direction)