The Beau Brummels

The Brummels' debut, released in late 1964, is America's first substantial reaction to the British Invasion. It's also the birth of folk-rock (yes, it's true). But these milestones overshadow an important fact: featuring singer Sal Valentino's murky soul and Ron Elliott's intricate minor-key compositions, the Brummels exhibited a musical maturity that the Fab Four wouldn't possess for another year. Dig it: Elliott wrote 10 of Introducing's 12 tunes. Not even young Brian Wilson was that prolific.