In 1964, San Francisco disc jockeys Tom Donahue and Bobby Mitchell were looking for new acts to bring to their Autumn Records label.

[6] They discovered the Beau Brummels performing at the Morocco Room, a club in nearby San Mateo, and signed the band shortly thereafter.

[6] Donahue and Mitchell were eager to capitalize on Beatlemania, a phenomenon surrounding the Beatles that originated several years before in Germany and was spreading across the U.S. by this time.

[6] The Beau Brummels had taken their name, a British term for an excessively well-dressed person, suggested to them, which lead singer Valentino maintained they didn't even know how to spell.

[10] After forming the Beau Brummels with lead vocalist Sal Valentino, Elliott wanted to create simplified music that had mainstream appeal.

"[12] Elliott said he liked using minor keys as he believed they added an element of mystery to the music, similar to that of James Bond films.

As most oldies radio stations today play songs provided by a music service rather than actual records, the version with the cold ending is heard almost universally now.

[20] As the song climbed the charts, many listeners assumed the Beau Brummels were British, due to the band's name and musical style.

[21][22] 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.

"[3][6] 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.'

"[11] Record World commented on the song's "dynamism" and said that the Beau Brummels "sing and play with a splendid slant toward the contemporary teenage beat.

[24] Music critic Dave Marsh selected the song for his 1989 book, The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made.

[31] An early effort by Hanna-Barbera showcased the Beau Brummels as animated guests on The Flintstones sitcom in the season six episode "Shinrock A Go-Go," which originally aired on December 3, 1965.

[36] An alternate take appears on the Beau Brummels' 1996 three-disc box set San Fran Sessions, a collection of rarities, demos and outtakes.