Customer Reviews

San Fran Sessions

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

 

 

A truly superb collection that mines a surprisingly deep vein of unreleased Beau Brummels tapes. It's amazing that there is so much listenable material, given that the band's original output on the Autumn label only amounted to a couple of LPs.

The unreleased alternate versions provide a rare glimpse into the making of hit songs, and the demos of previously unreleased titles show the band to be even deeper than their albums revealed. While their sound marked them as an answer to the British Invasion, their songwriting, especially that of Ron Elliot, was more akin to the growing folk-rock and singer-songwriter movements.

While clearly aimed at Beau Brummels completists (the original LP reissues, greatest hits compilation, and single-disc rarities issue "Autumn of Their Years" are cheaper ways to introduce yourself to the band), this set is anything but a dull recitation of half-finished masters. There is a lot of gold to be found here, and the sequencing and liner notes make this a collection that you'll actually play over and over.

This 3-CD set ups the ante on Rhino's previously issued "From the Vault" LP and Big Beat's single-CD "Autumn of Their Years." It is truly astounding that a band that only issued two LPs on the Autumn label would have 3 full CDs of great tracks in the vault. This LP repeats tracks from both Rhino and Big Beat's previous efforts, but extends them in a frenzy of great demos, alternative takes and unreleased tracks.

While not the best introduction to the Brummels, this is a terrifically listenable compilation. A few repeated tracks, showing some of the Brummels best songs in different stages of completion or arrangements, are a treat rather than a drudge. Lots of demo session from both Sal Valentino and Ron Elliot, including a few really great Valentino compositions that never got recorded by the full band. Also included are tracks from their aborted 3rd album.

Liner notes include recent interviews with all band members, and give some really interesting insight into the pre-hippie San Francisco scene.

Sundazed deserves an award for this one.

This is a must for any Beau Brummels fan, without it your collection is incomplete. If you have the 2 Autumn CDs and maybe the Autumn Of Their Years CD, plus a greatest hits, then this would only add to the other CDs. I thoroughly enjoy the guitar of Ron Elliot, and Sal Valentino is terrific as lead singer. I couldn't be happier I got this box set.

Along with the "Magic Hollow" release that now commands high $$$$ due to the out-of-print status , this set contains a multitude of unreleased demos , alternate takes and unreleased material. By using both of these sets , along with the normal Beau Brummels releases , I was able to compile an 8 disc , 227 song chronological compilation running 10 1/2 hours that tells the Brummels complete story. A great examination of an under-rated band. Buy this now!

This 3 CD set contains several versions of many of the songs with not enough variation to be of any particular interest. A good collection of material from the released albums - when are we going to get a new release of Bradley's Barn?!? - would be preferable.

My father gave me a burnt cd of this albume, with only selected tracks, one of them including "down on me", which cant be found in any other cd. I have to say, that this cd brings out some of te best in Sal Valintino, and the beau brummels. Although some tracks are obviously raw and uncut, it cant get any better than this when comming to the beau brummels. These guys are at their finest, and should have gotten more attention then they did in their time period. I highly recomend this albume if your into The Beatles and that genre of music. Enjoy!