This 26-cut compilation rounds up virtually everything ever recorded by the Left Banke, the awesomely talented pop band best known for the classically-influenced 1966 hits "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina." Songwrit... more »er/pianist/guiding light Michael Brown composed some of the loveliest melodies of the era, which were typically fleshed out with complex contrapuntal harmonies and string arrangements; "Barterers and Their Wives" sounds almost medieval, while the soaring "Desiree" is positively majestic in its epic sweep. Brown left before the recording of the band's second album, which means that the quality level dips slightly near the end of the disc. Despite this, any '60s pop collection is woefully incomplete without it. --Dan Epstein« less
This 26-cut compilation rounds up virtually everything ever recorded by the Left Banke, the awesomely talented pop band best known for the classically-influenced 1966 hits "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina." Songwriter/pianist/guiding light Michael Brown composed some of the loveliest melodies of the era, which were typically fleshed out with complex contrapuntal harmonies and string arrangements; "Barterers and Their Wives" sounds almost medieval, while the soaring "Desiree" is positively majestic in its epic sweep. Brown left before the recording of the band's second album, which means that the quality level dips slightly near the end of the disc. Despite this, any '60s pop collection is woefully incomplete without it. --Dan Epstein
CD Reviews
Don't Walk Away from This Left Banke Collection
Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 02/02/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The sixties pop landscape is littered with one-hit wonders and artists who didn't fit the narrowly defined niche of what a rock band should be. The Left Banke falls into the latter category.Their two hit singles combined rock with classical elements (string-laden arrangements and graceful harpsichord accents) and assured them a permanent place on Classic Rock radio playlists. Both "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina" were composed by classically-trained musician Michael Brown, who was all of 17 when "Walk Away Renee" hit #5 in 1966.In addition to their only two hits, the Left Banke's debut album Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina contained equally gorgeous music. "She May Call You Up Tonight" and "I've Got Something on My Mind" feature their trademark choir-boy harmonies. "Ivy, Ivy" with its delicate horns and accoustic guitar was released as a single, but failed to chart. [The flipside, "And Suddenly," however, was a sappy pop song that would have been better suited to Davey Jones of the Monkees.] A fourth single, "Desiree," features a string section but would peak at only #98 in October of 1967. At this point the creative force of the band Michael Brown left the band. [Footnote: Brown would go on to co-found Stories, but leave that band before its international No. 1 "Brother Louie" was recorded.]The Left Banke would record a second album, The Left Bank, Too in 1968, but attracted little attention. That's too bad. Songs like "Goodbye Holly," which was released as a single, is very reminiscent of the kind of pop music that Badfinger would make.The band returned to the studio to record the single "Myrah," in 1969, but by then musical styles had changed. The Left Banke's baroque-rock sound had lost its audience.This CD re-issue contains all of the Left Banke's debut (tracks 1-11) and is essential listening. In addition, there are enough other good tracks on this compilation to make it a must-have for fans. RECOMMENDED"
Much more than just "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina"
hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 04/04/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"A "complete" collection of the Left Banke's recordings, totalling over 75 minutes of incredible music. A great buy for both the casual fan of the band's two hits ("Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina"), as well as the avid collector. The collector, though, will be a bit frustrated by the package's organization.While this disc features a version of each song issued by the Left Banke, the takes, mixes and ordering are maddeningly inconsistent. For example, the first 11 tracks of the CD comprise the same 11 tracks as found on the debut LP. However, the CD changes the ordering by pulling the B-side of the first pre-LP single up to track #2. This might make sense to those who followed the releases when they were originally issued, but the compilation inconsistently doesn't pull the other pre-LP single sides ("Pretty Ballerina" and "Lazy Day") in a similar way. Also, is it my imagination, or are these single mixes slightly different from the ones that turned up on the LP? Other singles are handled in a similarly inconsistent way: non-LP sides such as "Ivy Ivy" and "And Suddenly" are intermixed with tracks from the second album, "Left Banke Too." I really can't guess what was going through Bill Inglot's mind as he sequenced this disc. Ah well, I suppose that's what programmable CD players are for. After so many years of listening to the original LP sequence, it's really disconcerting to have the songs pop up in a different order!That complaint aside, let me say that this is an *exceptional* disc. Inglot's mastering sounds crisp, and about as full as the original vinyl (which wasn't all that full a sound to begin with). This is one of very few CD's I've bought for which I own almost all of the original vinyl. There are a few bonus tracks here, but mostly it's nice to hear all of this music without the surface noise of my worn originals. I was especially happy to gain a new appreciation for the second LP. Although Michael Brown had left by the time the sophomore effort was recorded, there are a lot of outstanding tracks to be found here."
The best is brilliant
gordon@ruraltel.net | 06/21/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I usually reserve 5 star ratings for truly classic albums that are very strong from start to finish, but the best here is so good it is essential for the 60s enthusiast. Besides, who can complain about an attempt to be totally inclusive of all projects that involved original Left Banke members? This could have been a killer 18 song collection, and that is why it merits 5 stars.Walk Away Renee, Pretty Ballerina and Desiree all deserved to be monster hits; only Walk Away Renee made it. All the songs on their 1st album are included, and pretty much all are great, particularly She May Call You Up Tonight, Shadows Breaking Over My Head and I've Got Something On My Mind.If you really liked Walk Away Renee, you should give this a listen. Michael Brown was truly a talented keyboardist and composer, and Steve Martin's voice was the perfect compliment to Brown's compositions. To bad they couldn't work together!One note. I've lost the copy of their 1st album I had, but I compared it to the CD when I first purchased the CD, and the vinyl, in this case superior to the CD. But that's nitpicking. As the review says, no real collection of 60s music is complete without this collection."
Greatness ... and mediocrity
AyaK | 04/13/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
""Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina" are enduring classics. This compilation CD conclusively proves two things: 1) the Left Banke recorded a lot more than two great songs, and 2) the three singers (Steve Martin, George Cameron and Tom Finn) in the Left Banke needed their fourth member, keyboardist-songwriter-producer Michael Brown, much more than he needed them.This CD includes all of the Left Banke's recorded output for Smash Records: two LPs plus a few 45s. It kicks off with a bang, as 3 of the first 4 songs are the two classics and the amazing "She May Call You Up Tonight." But, with only a couple of exceptions, the rest of the 11-song first album is at the same exalted level, and "Shadows Breaking Over My Head", "Lazy Day", and "I've Got Something On My Mind" could easily have been hits on their own. The subject that inspired many of these songs was Michael Brown's infatuation with Tom Finn's girfriend Renee. The level of tension inside the group must have been incredible, and Brown hated touring ... So, without telling the others, Brown recorded a brilliant new Left Banke 45, "Ivy, Ivy"/"And Suddenly", plus another great but unreleased song, "Men Are Building Sand" (which Brown later re-recorded with Montage) using singer Bert Sommer of "We're All Playing in the Same Band" fame (NOTE: for an unknown reason, "And Suddenly" is sequenced out-of-order on this CD). Even though Sommer couldn't sing nearly as well as Steve Martin (the main lead voice, and no relation to the comedian-actor), Brown's arrangement and production skills more than make up for it. But, just as Brown seemed to be making his way to the pinnacle of writer-arranger-producer fame occupied by Brian Wilson, things went sour for the Left Banke.Due to protests from the rest of the group, who apparently were better corporate politicians than musicians, Smash dropped all promotion of the rapidly-rising 45 (which gave the Cherry People the opportunity to record their only hit, a cover of "And Suddenly"). Smash's rash action tarred the Left Banke with a stigma that lingered through their next record, the wonderful "Desiree." Brown and the singers had reunited, but despite a great arrangement-production and a spirited lead vocal, "Desiree" never made a dent on the charts, and Brown left the group for good (well, almost).Smash, which had backed the singers in the dispute, was now stuck with them, and they churned out a second album ("Left Banke Too"), which accounts for almost all of the rest of the songs on this CD. Frankly, these songs are mediocre at best and continually derivative, though the liner notes to the CD try desperately to convince you otherwise. The poor quality of these songs could be the real reason that "And Suddenly" was stuck among them -- to prevent you from ejecting the CD after "Desiree"! Just before the band's contract with Smash expired, Brown returned for a session that was intended to produce a Steve Martin solo single; the result was the last Left Banke single, "Myrah." Unfortunately, the band's magic had gone by that point.Despite the fact that only about half of this CD is worth owning, that half is EXCEPTIONALLY good and seems even better with repeated listenings. It's almost enough to convert you into one of the Michael Brown fanatics who try to collect his scattered output, littered across several broken groups (my understanding is that Montage and Stories (pre-"Brother Louie") have been available on CD; the Beckies and the soundtrack to an X-rated movie entitled "Hot Parts" -- which included two songs sung by Steve Martin -- have not). Other notes: Bill Inglot did a great job in mastering this disk, including maintaining the original balances between the surfeit of instruments on the songs. And, while there are no lyrics included with the CD, most of the words can be found on the Web with relatively little effort.Someday, someone will work through all of the licensing nightmares and put together a complete compilation of Michael Brown's work. Until then, this is the one CD of his (and the Left Banke's) music that you should own."
Warm Brilliance
AyaK | 11/01/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"At this point I cannot even remember why I decided to purchase this disc though it was probably related to 'just walk away renee' and my infatuation with 60's pop. All I do know is that this band created some very affecting and lovely music. When you listen to this music late at night with headphones and really concentrate on all of its facets you realize that they have that certain something that the great bands have that you can't put your finger on, its just THERE. You can feel it in the seams of the music. What I find interesting is how frequently the 2nd half of the disc is bashed. How out-of-it do you have to be to not notice how brilliant songs like 'my friend today', 'sing little bird sing', 'nice to see you', and even 'Bryant hotel' actually are? and those were written post-m. brown. I think this was just one of those bands that was ridiculously gifted and had many ways to prove it (this is not to say that there are no clunkers at all on that second album.) Buy this album today and give it a few careful listens and let it works its magic."
Track Listings (26) - Disc #1