The Left Banke was an American chamber-pop band from NYC that released the 1967 album Walk Away Renée / Pretty Ballerina on Mercury-subsidiary Smash Records, scoring hits with the two title-tracks. Amid some lineup turmoil, they scored a further hit with “Desiree” and completed the 1968 album The Left Banke Too. Between 1969 and 1976, […]
Stories was an American art-rock|pop band from N.Y.C. that released the 1972–73 albums Stories and About Us on Kama Sutra. After the departure of keyboardist and co-writer Michael Brown, singer Ian Lloyd took rein for the single “Brother Louie” and a third album, Traveling Underground. Brown hailed from baroque pop legends The Left Banke. Members: […]
The Beckies were an American pop-rock band from NYC that released a self-titled album on Sire in 1976. Keyboardist Michael Brown hailed from the bands Left Banke, Montage, and Stories. Drummer–singer Gary Hodgden later joined Shooting Star under the name Gary West. Members: Michael Brown (keyboards), Gary Hodgden [aka Gary West] (vocals, drums), Mayo James […]
Montage was an American chamber-pop/psych band from New York that released a self-titled album on Laurie Records in 1969. Keyboardist Michael Brown hailed from The Left Banke and would later surface in Stories and The Beckies. Members: Michael Brown (keyboards), Bob Steurer (vocals), Vance Chapman (vocals, drums), Mike Smyth (guitar, vocals), Lance Cornelius (bass, vocals) […]
Walk Away Renée / Pretty Ballerina is the first of two ’60s-era albums by American pop/rock foursome the Left Banke, released in February 1967 on Mercury’s Smash Records subsidiary. Tracklist: A1. “Pretty Ballerina” (2:32) A2. “She May Call You Up Tonight” (2:18) A3. “Barterers and Their Wives” (2:56) A4. “I’ve Got Something on My Mind” (2:46) […]
The Left Banke Too is the second album by American orchestral-pop band the Left Banke, released in 1968 on Smash-subsidiary Mercury. Tracklist: A1. “Goodbye Holly” (2:58) A2. “There’s Gonna Be a Storm” (4:19) A3. “Sing Little Bird Sing” (3:12) A4. “Nice to See You” (2:44) A5. “Give the Man a Hand” (2:35) B1. “Bryant Hotel” […]
About Us is the second album by American art-rock/pop band Stories, released in 1973 on Kama Sutra. Tracklist: A1. “Darling” (2:38) A2. “Don’t Ever Let Me Down” (2:16) A3. “Love Is in Motion” (3:14) A4. “Hey France” (2:50) A5. “Please, Please” (4:55) B1. “Changes Have Begun” (3:30) B2. “Circles” (1:34) B3. “Believe Me” (3:31) B4. […]
The Beckies is the lone album by the namesake American pop-rock band, released in 1976 on Sire. Tracklist: A1. “Right by My Side (Etude)” (3:05) A2. “River Bayou” (3:04) A3. “Midnight and You” (3:17) A4. “Fran” (2:52) A5. “Other Side of Town” (2:58) A6. “Song Called Love” (3:04) B1. “Can’t Be Alone” (2:45) B2. “River […]
Stories is the debut album by the namesake American art-pop band, released in 1972 on Kama Sutra. Tracklist: A1. “Hello People” (3:54) A2. “I’m Coming Home” (2:38) A3. “Winter Scenes” (4:18) A4. “Step Back” (3:20) A5. “You Told Me” (3:06) B1. “Saint James” (4:30) B2. “Kathleen” (3:14) B3. “Take Cover” (3:01) B4. “Nice to Have You […]
