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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Pretty Ballerina |
| 2. She May Call You Up Tonight |
| 3. Barterers And Their Wives |
| 4. I've Got Something On My Mind |
| 5. Let Go Of You Girl |
| 6. Evening Gown |
| 7. Walk Away Renee |
| 8. What Do You Know |
| 9. Shadows Breaking Over My Head |
| 10. I Haven't Got the Nerve |
| 11. Lazy Day |
Product Description
2011 Sundazed label reissue of 1967 debut album - features 'Pretty Ballerina' & the classic title track
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Left Banke formed in New York during 1965 around the very talented, some might say, musical prodigy Michael Brown. They combined intelligent pop music and good harmonies with a string quartet and harpsichord, giving rise to what became to be known as "baroque rock". Though the use of strings and good harmony work was not unique at that time, Left Banke are credited with fashioning their own niche with the melding of this specific classical style and the then current pop music trends. This collection is their first album, track for track.
The famous `Walk Away Renee' and equally successful `Pretty Ballerina' are the oft-cited examples of the signature of the band, the former highlighting the harmony work the band could achieve, while the latter relies more on the plaintive, at times, ethereal voice of vocalist Steve Martin and the spellbinding strings.
There are other treats on this album; the swift, breezy lines of `She May Call You Up Tonight', `Let Go of You Girl' and `Lazy Day'; the signature harmonies in `I've Got Something on My Mind' and `Let Go Of You Girl'; the esoterically fascinating `Barters and Their Wives'; an achingly beautiful and forlorn `Shadows Breaking Over My Head' and to prove they could move outside of their normal parameters- a no-nonsense rocking `Evening Gown', also a quirky piece of baroque-country(that's my term-forgive me followers of both of the purer forms) `What Do You Know?'.
There was not one weak or filler track on this first album which promised so much, but the traditional tensions simmered, there were heated disputes, break-ups, another album `Too', which is another story, and then sadly it was over.
Michael Brown would continue to be an influence over the following decades and Left Banke in various line-ups continue, but `Oh What Might Have Been' is the phrase that echoes down the years.
If you had the original vinyl and sold or lost it, and don't have that sort of player anymore now is your chance to make good with cd, if you've heard of them and wondered, don't hesitate, if you are gathering a collection of mid 1960s music this is necessary to your collection and finally if you like good quality, fresh and innovative pop music you will not be disappointed.
The famous `Walk Away Renee' and equally successful `Pretty Ballerina' are the oft-cited examples of the signature of the band, the former highlighting the harmony work the band could achieve, while the latter relies more on the plaintive, at times, ethereal voice of vocalist Steve Martin and the spellbinding strings.
There are other treats on this album; the swift, breezy lines of `She May Call You Up Tonight', `Let Go of You Girl' and `Lazy Day'; the signature harmonies in `I've Got Something on My Mind' and `Let Go Of You Girl'; the esoterically fascinating `Barters and Their Wives'; an achingly beautiful and forlorn `Shadows Breaking Over My Head' and to prove they could move outside of their normal parameters- a no-nonsense rocking `Evening Gown', also a quirky piece of baroque-country(that's my term-forgive me followers of both of the purer forms) `What Do You Know?'.
There was not one weak or filler track on this first album which promised so much, but the traditional tensions simmered, there were heated disputes, break-ups, another album `Too', which is another story, and then sadly it was over.
Michael Brown would continue to be an influence over the following decades and Left Banke in various line-ups continue, but `Oh What Might Have Been' is the phrase that echoes down the years.
If you had the original vinyl and sold or lost it, and don't have that sort of player anymore now is your chance to make good with cd, if you've heard of them and wondered, don't hesitate, if you are gathering a collection of mid 1960s music this is necessary to your collection and finally if you like good quality, fresh and innovative pop music you will not be disappointed.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I wanted this cd after reading a review in mojo best albums and delighted it has been released on cd. I love the single walk away renee, it is more natural than the four tops cover which was a great version also. The rest of the songs are very good also.
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Formed out of the remanants of a couple of garage bands the Left Banke were heavily influenced by the Stones and the Beatles experiments with strings.It didn't last the decade out though as internal squabbles interfered.
By the 70s the remanants of the band had become Stories and topped the charts with a cover of a Hot Chocolate song while their biggest hit Walk Away Renee became an even bigger hit for the 4 Tops
By the 70s the remanants of the band had become Stories and topped the charts with a cover of a Hot Chocolate song while their biggest hit Walk Away Renee became an even bigger hit for the 4 Tops
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