Customer Reviews

Volume 2

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the best album released by the Beau Brummels. There is not a single weak cut on this album (which was rare in 1965). Comparisons are often made to the Byrds, but guitarist Ron Elliott wrote all (except one) of the songs on Beau Brummels Volume 2. Were the Byrds writing all of their own material in 1965? I don't think so. Aside from Ron Elliott, vocalist Sal Valentino had a great voice that brought out the mood of the Brummels' music. Highlights include "Tell Me Why", "I Want You", "Sad Little Girl" (my favorite on the album), "Don't Talk To Strangers", and "When It Comes To Your Love". The Beau Brummels were one of the most overlooked bands of the 1960's. If you like folk-rock, it ain't gonna get much better than it is here.

A couple of months ago I picked up the Repertoire versions of the first 2 CDs by the Beau Brummels - 24 tracks on each CD! Best CDs I have bought in quite some time. Why it took me this long to add these CDs to my collection is a mystery.

Everyone has their favorites; "Don't Talk To Strangers", "You Tell Me Why" and "Sad Little Girl" seem to be the cream of the crop, where Sal is in top form, as he is on all of his songs. My personal favorites include "Sometimes at Night", which is sung by John and "I've Never Known". John also sings "Louie, Louie"; Ron M. sings on "Doesn't Matter" (which is not to be confused with "All That Matters", a totally different song). The version of "Woman" with Declan Mulligan on lead vocals is here (Track #16), as are instrumental versions of the aforementioned "Woman" and "When It Comes To Your Love". Only thing missing is the vocal version of "When It Comes To Your Love" with the harmonica.

Great vocals, lead and background on the whole album, and the guitars and sound quality in general is crystal clear. That's why I suggest the Repertoire versions of the CDs. And the additional tracks are all good songs. The liner notes don't say too much; I would have liked to see a song-by-song tally of who sings what.

If you're not sure about adding the CD to your collection, listen to the samples, not once, but a number of times. If you find yourself humming a few of the songs, then you know you want the CD. If you enjoy great 60's music, then get this and Volume 1 and you'll have a really nice 48 song collection of early Beau Brummels material.

I mainly bought this CD to hear the 2 songs used in the Villiage of the Giants movie - Woman & When it Comes to Your Love. But in the bargan I heard some other songs that were just as good. Too bad Laugh, Laugh isn't included but it is Vol. 2.

I only had to hear Introducing the first time around to know what a great debut album it was. This one took a play or two more, but I am now convinced that Vol. 2 is equal, if not superior, to its predecessor. In contrast to the Fab Four approach of the freshman album, this is more of a Byrds-meets-Rubber Soul approach with raw, unglossed natural harmonies, and the superior string slinging and songwriting of Ron Elliott. It still amazes me how these guys were largely ignored after two very solidly good hits when they had so much material that was even better in their arsenal. Sal Valentino's voice was one of a kind in its purity and passion, so only a fool would ignore such a great, underrated group as this.

Yes, everyone knows "You Tell Me Why," "I Want You," "Sad Little Girl," and the Stones-like "When it Comes to Your Love" are the major attractions here. I personally go for the ahead-of-its time new wave-sounding "Can it Be," both the intsrumental and vocal versions of country-blues "Woman," and the very Byrds-like "Don't Talk to Strangers."

All in all, this is a very good 1965 release that genuinely established the Beau Brummels as a greatly underappreciated folk-country-blues group, and it's a shame that they didn't get the recognition they deserved. Well, I just discovered them seriously a year ago, having been born in 1964, and I am glad to say that I am now one of those in the know. Don't let this great band pass you by. The money you invest in their music will come back to you tenfold!

This is the Beau Brummels second album, as should be obvious from the title. Unlike their first album, this one doesn't contain any big hit songs that most people will remember. So, it's got that going against it. However, the songs that are here are pretty good for the most part. Also, the songs were all written by members of the group, which was unusual at the time. The CD contains two bonus tracks. "Woman" is a vocal version of a song that appeared as an instrumental on the original album. And "When It Comes to Your Love" is an instrumental version of a song that featured vocals on the original album. This last bonus track was heard in the film Village of the Giants.