THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
713) The Beau Brummells — “Two Days to Tomorrow”
Coming after their commercial prime, this warm and wonderful ’67 A-side by the Beau Brummells is, as Alex Palao says, “a “glorious single, perhaps their finest hour in the studio.” (liner notes to Love Is the Song We Sing: San Francisco Nuggets: 1965-1970) Supposedly, the song was unofficially blacklisted by radio stations because of a certain interpretation of the refrain. You decide!
Alec Palao:
Even though the touring version of the group had disbanded in October 1966, mainstays Sal Valentino and Ron Elliott continued releasing essential records as the Brummels through to the end of the decade, including . . . . Producer Lenny Waronker, sensing the rich cinematic panorama innate to Elliott’s compositions, indulged the duo with arrangers, session musicians, and seemingly unlimited studio time but could not garner them a hit. In the case of [the song], the unfortunate refrain “She’s coming” helped unofficially drop the record from playlists.
liner notes to Love Is the Song We Sing: San Francisco Nuggets: 1965-1970
You know, after reading that, and then listening to the lyrics, it seems pretty blatant. Maybe I should rewrite the first sentence of today’s blog!
Timothy Monger gives us some history:
Often credited as early architects of the San Francisco sound, the Beau Brummels found success right out of the gate with their 1964 debut single, “Laugh, Laugh.” With its autumnal folk-pop jangle and moody melodic hooks, the song bore enough resemblance to the burgeoning British Invasion that many fans mistook these young Americans for Brits. Defined by the partnership of singer Sal Valentino and guitarist/singer Ron Elliott, the influential group went on to notch a small clutch of mid-’60s hits . . . while anticipating both the folk-rock and country-rock genres ahead of better-known bands like the Byrds. By the late ’60s, the Brummels’ mainstream popularity had all but died, and yet they went on to release their two best albums . . . . Friends since childhood, [they] formed the band in early 1964 . . . . Spotted by local DJ Tom Donahue . . . the Brummels were quickly signed to [his] small San Francisco-based label, Autumn Records. . . . Autumn just couldn’t muster enough promotional muscle, and in 1966 the label was, along with its roster, sold to Warner Bros.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-beau-brummels-mn0000135032
Here is the single version (though the song wasn’t included on an album):
longer version:
Pay to Play! The Off the Charts Spotify Playlist! + Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock Merchandise
Please consider helping to support my website/blog by contributing $6 a month for access to the Off the Charts Spotify Playlist. Using a term familiar to denizens of Capitol Hill, you pay to play! (“relating to or denoting an unethical or illicit arrangement in which payment is made by those who want certain privileges or advantages in such arenas as business, politics, sports, and entertainment” — dictionary.com).
The playlist includes all the “greatest songs of the 1960’s that no one has ever heard” that are available on Spotify. The playlist will expand each time I feature an available song.
All new subscribers will receive a Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock magnet. New subscribers who sign up for a year will also receive a Brace for the Obscure 60s Rock t-shirt or baseball cap. See pictures on the Pay to Play page.
When subscribing, please send me an e-mail (GMFtma1@gmail.com) or a comment on this site letting me know an e-mail address/phone number/Facebook address, etc. to which I can send instructions on accessing the playlist and a physical address to which I can sent a magnet/t-shirt/baseball cap. If choosing a t-shirt, please let me know the gender and size you prefer.
Just click on the first blue block for a month to month subscription or the second blue block for a yearly subscription.
Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! / Off the Charts: 60s Rock Revelations 