Magic Hollow

"Magic Hollow" is a song by American rock group The Beau Brummels, from the band's fourth album, 1967's Triangle. The song, written by guitarist Ron Elliott and lead singer Sal Valentino, was released as the album's first single. The song appeared on the band's 1987 compilation album The Best of the Beau Brummels 1964-1968, and "Magic Hollow" also served as the title of the band's 2005 four-disc box set.

Release and reception

The song, released in 1967, was the first Beau Brummels single credited to both Elliott and Valentino. The song featured session musician Van Dyke Parks on harpsichord. The song also featured an accordion, violin, and a cello. "Magic Hollow" failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart, but since its release the song has been well regarded by music critics. Author and journalist Richie Unterberger described the song as "wispy and wistful," like "mood music for deep forest walks." Stansted Montfichet of Allmusic called it the highlight of the Triangle album, and said the song "remains one of the most beautiful tunes in the entire Brummels canon." In June 1997, music journalist Jon Savage named "Magic Hollow" to Mojo magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Psychedelic Classics." A demo version of the song performed by Valentino appears on the band's four-disc Magic Hollow box set, released in 2005. Author Tom Moon, in his 2008 book 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die: A Listener's Life List, called "Magic Hollow" one of Triangle's key tracks.

Magic Hollow (album)

Magic Hollow is a box set compilation by The Beau Brummels comprising 113 songs recorded between 1964-1968, including hit singles, demos, outtakes, rarities and previously unissued material. The set was released on June 21, 2005 by Rhino Handmade.

Music

The four-disc collection contains 113 Beau Brummels recordings, including their major and minor hits—"Laugh, Laugh", "Just a Little", "You Tell Me Why", "One Too Many Mornings"— as well as 42 previously unissued tracks. The set is chronologically sequenced, from 1964 demos at the beginning of the first disc, to 1968 songs at the end of the fourth disc. About half of each of the band's studio albums are included, with some songs from Triangle not present and most of Bradley's Barn missing. No material is included from the band's post-1960s reunions.

Previously unreleased songs include "People Are Cruel", a 1964 track written by Ron Elliott prior to the group's signing to Autumn Records. Disc three features several songs composed by Sal Valentino, including solo Valentino demos such as "Only Dreaming Now" and a version of "Magic Hollow". Disc four contains outtakes, demos, and alternate versions of songs released from 1967 to 1968.