1964....#15 U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #13 U.S. Cash Box Top 100, #2 Canada
Original video edited and AI remastered with HQ stereo sound.
"Laugh, Laugh" is a song by American rock group The Beau Brummels, written by guitarist Ron Elliott and produced by Sylvester Stewart, later known as Sly Stone. Released in December 1964 as the band's debut single, the song reached number 15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart the following February. "Laugh, Laugh" was the first hit single to come out of the emerging San Francisco music scene in response to the British Invasion. The song was later included on the band's first full-length album, Introducing the Beau Brummels, released in April 1965.
"Laugh, Laugh" was released in December 1964, seven months after the band's formation. In January 1965, the song entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 96. The song remained in the top 40 portion of the chart for eight weeks, peaking at number 15 in February. Donahue believed the single would have peaked at number one if the band was on a label with stronger distribution. In Canada, the song reached number two on RPM magazine's singles chart. As the song climbed the charts, many listeners assumed the Beau Brummels were British, due to the band's name and musical style. For their part, Donahue and Mitchell spread rumors that the band was indeed from the UK, and had the band dress in Beatlesque suits.
"Laugh, Laugh" was the first hit single from a burgeoning San Francisco music scene-including such bands as Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, We Five, Moby Grape, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Country Joe and the Fish- to respond to the British Invasion. The song is credited as one of the earliest tracks to blend beat music with folk rock, even before The Byrds recorded "Mr. Tambourine Man." Chris Hillman, who played bass guitar with the Byrds, saw the Beau Brummels at a Los Angeles concert, and later remarked: "I remember them doing the hit they had, 'Laugh, Laugh.' They really sort of answered the Beatles before we did, in that sense." However, Byrds singer-guitarist Roger McGuinn claimed "they had a little trouble singing in tune." The song was one of 10 pop singles named in a January 1966 issue of Billboard which credited the use of harmonica in folk, pop, and rhythm and blues (R&B) music for sparking a harmonica sales boom at record retailers in 1964 and 1965.
The Beau Brummels promoted the single by appearing on several television shows, including a 1965 episode of The Flintstones in which the band gave an animated performance as the Beau Brummelstones. In 1994, "Laugh, Laugh" was selected to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll exhibit. Lead singer Sal Valentino reworked the song for his 2008 solo album, Every Now and Then.
5 сен 2024