Song Of the Day: October 26, 2005
The Beau Brummels - Long Walking Down To Misery
From the LP, Bradley's Barn, Warner Bros. Records, 1968
I know I'm in the minority, but I find the Nashville-recorded Bradley's Barn far more interesting than Sweetheart of the Rodeo. I think it's a more inventive leap off the same platform, and I love the way Sal Valentino's voice occasionally sounds like Roger Miller's. Bradley's Barn was, along with 1967's Triangle, a great one-two punch from a truly gifted band who had been horribly mis-managed up to that point. For evidence, look no further than their two big national hits, "Laugh Laugh" and "Just a Little;" and consider how sophisticated they are in terms of composition and production (the latter by Sly Stone). Unfortunately, despite some fine material, the band weren't consistently high in the chart, and with all of the tomfoolery foisted upon them in ugly attempts to remedy that state of affairs (specifically the all-covers Beau Brummels '66), it is a testament to their fortitude that they were able to shake it all off and create two marvelous, though commercially ignored LPs. Both albums are currently available on Collector's Choice.
6 Comments:
Agreed regarding your belief that this album is far more interesting than Sweethearts of the Rodeo.
The minority to which you refer includes at least 2 people. I'm with you on this album and its worth relative to Sweethearts of the Rodeo. I like the fact that, although they put on country clothing, the songs still sound like Beau Brummels songs.
Whoops! I forgot I'd already commented on this. I'm an idiot.
This LP is the "Buried Treasure" in the current Mojo w/ Eric Clapton on the cover. Nice article with current interviews with the band.
Boy, I've eaten this album regularly since pickin up my promo back in late 69...it certainly one of my favorite lps of the Beaus (also Triangle and their much underestimated WB reunion LP, best sought out for their remake of their own Tell Me Why. Bradley's Barn's firts side made it almost impossible for me to ever turn it over. Iprobably listenes to the first side ten times the number of times I've listened to the first side. Cherokee Girl is just a superb blend of Sal's voice and strings; Deep Water...aaah, I could go on aND ON AND THERE ARE OH SO FEW HOURS A NIGHT I CAN WRITE AND OH SO MANY BLOGS TO SEEK OUT. gLAD I FOUND THIS ONE. aNY ONE GOT ANY MP3 OF aLLIGATOR mAN BY sAL FROM THE POST-bRADLEY bARN SESSIONS? i THINK IT MAY BE ON THE NEW rHINO hANDMADE COLLECTION, BUT i DONB'T KNOW. i USED TO HAVE IT ON A 45 AND THAT FIRST GREAT wb SAMPLER, BUT i HAD TO SELL 150,000+ PLUS RECORDS TO LIVE 13 YEARS AGO. GASP
dUNCAN wALLS
DUNCANMUSIC@ROCHESTER.RR.COM
Y'know, every time I buy a new keyboard I pry that ol' CAPS LOCK key right off!
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