The Left Banke
Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina (1965) - (original release)
There's Gonna Be a Storm: The Complete Recordings 1965 - 1969

Song: "Pretty Ballerina"
lyrics | sound clip (Falkner version) | sound clip (Left Banke version)

Tracklist:

1. Walk Away Renee
2. I Haven't Got The Nerve
3. Pretty Ballerina
4. She May Call You Up Tonight
5. I've Got Something On My Mind
6. Barterers And Their Wives
7. Let Go Of You Girl
8. What Do You Know
9. Evening Gown
10. Lazy Day
11. Shadows Breaking Over My Head
12. Ivy Ivy
13. Men Are Building Sand
14. Desiree
15. Dark Is The Bark
16. My Friend Today
17. Sing Little Bird Sing
18. And Suddenly
19. Goodbye Holly
20. In The Morning Light
21. Bryant Hotel
22. Give The Man A Hand
23. Nice To See You
24. There's Gonna Be A Storm
25. Pedestal
26. Myrah

Album Review:

The group's debut was a terrific if largely unrecognized effort of classy baroque pop/rock, featuring entirely original material. The two hit title tracks were standouts, but nearly every other cut was in the same league, the glowing arrangements intertwining with their beautiful harmonies, at times rocking fairly hard. Every song was reissued on the There's Gonna Be a Storm anthology, making it unnecessary to locate a pricey copy of the original vinyl.

- by Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
© 1999 AEC One Stop Group, Inc.


Mini - Bio:

This New York group pioneered "Baroque'n'Roll" in the '60s with their mix of pop/rock and grand, quasi-classical arrangements and melodies. Featuring teenage prodigy Michael Brown as keyboardist and chief songwriter, the group scored two quick hits with "Walk Away Renee" (number five) and "Pretty Ballerina (number 15). Chamber-like string arrangements, Steve Martin's soaring, near-falsetto lead vocals, and tight harmonies that borrowed from British Invasion bands like the Beatles and the Zombies were also key elements of the Left Banke sound. Though their two hits are their only well-remembered efforts, their debut album (Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina) was a strong, near-classic work that matched the quality of their hit singles in songwriting and production.

The group's internal dynamic wasn't nearly as harmonious as their sound, and their history goes some way towards explaining their short career. Initially, the group made some recordings that were produced by Brown's father, Harry Lookofsky. When these recordings failed to interest companies in signing the band, the Left Banke broke up, Brown moving to California with the group's original drummer. A backing track for "Walk Away Renee" had already been completed, and the other members overdubbed vocals in Brown's absence. The song was released on Smash and became a hit, and the musicians reunited to tour and continue recording. Unfortunately, the group, which showed such tremendous promise, was quickly torn asunder by dissension. Due to the nature of their music (which often employed session musicians), the Left Banke's sound was difficult to reproduce on the road, and one could sympathize with Brown's wishes to become a Brian Wilson-like figure, concentrating on writing and recording while the rest of the musicians took to the road. A variety of guitarists, as both session musicians and ostensible group members, flitted in and out of the lineup; Rick Brand, credited as the guitarist on the first LP, actually plays on only one of the album's songs.

Adding fuel to the fire, Brown's bandmates wanted to oust Brown's father as the act's manager. In early 1967, Brown went as far as to record a Left Banke single without them, using vocalist Bert Sommer. That single ("And Suddenly") flopped, and for a brief time in September 1967 the original members were recording together again. After just one single ("Desiree"), though, Brown left for good. Most of the group's second and final album, The Left Banke Too, was recorded without him. While it still sported baroque arrangements and contained some fine moments, Brown's presence was sorely missed, and the record pales in comparison to their debut. Brown went onto form a Left Banke-styled group, Montage, which released a fine and underappreciated album in the late '60s. He later teamed up to form Stories with vocalist Ian Lloyd.

There were some confusing son-of-Left Banke recordings over the next few years, although the band really came to a halt in 1969, after the second album. Brown, Martin, and unknown musicians made a few recordings in late 1969; then, oddly, the original group reformed for a fine early 1971 single on Buddah ("Love Songs in the Night"/"Two by Two"), although the record itself was credited to Steve Martin. And the original group, minus its key visionary Michael Brown, made an album's worth of ill-advised reunion recordings in 1978.

- by Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
© 1999 AEC One Stop Group, Inc.



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