The Left Banke
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The Left Banke was an American 1960s pop-music group which produced the two hit singles of “Walk Away Renee” and “Pretty Ballerina”. Often utilizing so-called baroque pop string arrangements, the band’s music was an imaginative response to the work of The Beatles, The Zombies, and other british invasion groups of the era. The band was short-lived, but it had a major influence among many later American groups.
The group was formed in 1965 and consisted of keyboardist/songwriter Michael Brown, guitarist Jeff Winfield (later replaced by Rick Brand), bassist Tom Finn, drummer George Cameron and singer Steve Martin (aka Steve Martin Caro). Brown’s father, Harry Lookofsky, a well-known session violinist, ran a studio in New York and took an interest in the band’s music, acting as producer, manager, and publisher. Brown’s song “Walk Away Renee” was sold to Smash, a subsidiary of Mercury Records, and became a hit in late 1966. “Pretty Ballerina,” also written by Brown, charted in early 1967, and the Left Banke released an LP entitled, appropriately enough, Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina.
At this point, tension between Brown and the rest of the group began to surface, as Brown recorded a single, “And Suddenly”/”Ivy Ivy,” under the Left Banke name, using session musicians and Bert Sommer on lead vocals.
Walk Away Renee” and “Pretty Ballerina”. Often utilizing so-called baroque pop string arrangements, the band’s music was an imaginative response to the work of The Beatles, The Zombies, and other british invasion groups of the era. The band was short-lived, but it had a major influence among many later American groups.
The group was formed in 1965 and consisted of keyboardist/songwriter Michael Brown, guitarist Jeff Winfield (later replaced by Rick Brand), bassist Tom Finn, drummer George Cameron and singer Steve Martin (aka Steve Martin Caro). Brown’s father, Harry Lookofsky, a well-known session violinist, ran a studio in New York and took an interest in the band’s music, acting as producer, manager, and publisher. Brown’s song “Walk Away Renee” was sold to Smash, a subsidiary of Mercury Records, and became a hit in late 1966. “Pretty Ballerina,” also written by Brown, charted in early 1967, and the Left Banke released an LP entitled, appropriately enough, Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina.
At this point, tension between Brown and the rest of the group began to surface, as Brown recorded a single, “And Suddenly”/”Ivy Ivy,” under the Left Banke name, using session musicians and Bert Sommer on lead vocals.
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There's Gonna Be A Storm - The Complete…
The Left Banke
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There's Gonna Be A Storm
The Left BankeBuy- Download Album
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Walk Away Renee
The Left BankeBuy- Download Album
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Shoutbox
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BrilliantColors wrote:
The Left Banke are back and playing shows. Here's a clip of "Sing Little Bird Sing" performed in Brooklyn July 20, 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqTKfZ-vVJ8
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DeadKinks wrote:
And it's not even their best song.
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promisedeyes wrote:
"Walk Away Renee" is achingly gorgeous... just tugging on the heartstrings
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mjscholl wrote:
This band DOES NOT need to be forgotten. Their music was so before its time.
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LINK2K9 wrote:
What an underrated band. It's a fucking shame that they still aren't recognized for their brilliance.
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Ouroboros wrote:
Does anyone know the lyrics to "Dark is the Bark" and "My Friend Today"?
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KindOfDude wrote:
Wow! Their first show since 1968: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=146645305390208
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Spacebel wrote:
Desiree is an excellent song ... I also found it executed by the "Sweet Marriage" ... Would like to know who made the original ?
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mesmeriseme wrote:
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
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ottosox wrote:
The Left WANKE
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BrilliantColors wrote:
There's Gonna Be A Storm went out of print right before there was somewhat of a revival earlier in this decade. What a bummer. I believe that Universal wanted to release something but wasn't willing to give the guys a fair deal. Typical.
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indistinctdeer wrote:
cool music
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EpicSoundtracks wrote:
instant pure awesomeness
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westboundtrain wrote:
Love them. <3
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timahall wrote:
The re-issued There's Gonna Be A Storm (titled simply 'The Left Banke' on Common Folk Records) has perfect sound. There's no linear notes to speak of, though. Good to have it back in print anyway.
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Magic_Alex wrote:
Check out the nice words about Left Banke at http://magicalexdjs.blogspot.com/
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DrHarry wrote:
Amazing group. I do hope their complete box set will be released for a long time!
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chaileywatts wrote:
My old workmate passed a copy of 'There's gonna be a storm' onto me. We used to play it in the shop a lot. We all had different tastes but everyone had love for the Left Banke- shows the appeal they could have. Forgotten gem!
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starshipwaters wrote:
Too bad this stuff is out-of-print. If you can find it, buy it! It is excellent.
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Jinsie wrote:
the men that gave us songs like 'Pretty Ballerina' and 'Evening Gown' ought to be revered as the pop Gods they quite evidently are. What the hell is wrong with people
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Recent Activity
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dublinjames, Mozisgod123, love-lady and 5 other people added The Left Banke to their libraries. 6 hours ago
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AlexMakedon tagged The Left Banke with psychedelic and pop. 13 days ago
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nomfals, babsoreilly, mecorinne and 7 other people added The Left Banke to their libraries. 13 days ago
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SpikyCactus tagged The Left Banke with ‘oldies’. last month
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marylhinks added The Left Banke to marylhinks’s library. last month
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Andrey_Romanov tagged The Left Banke with ‘baroque pop’. last month
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Ross4450, mtnmantn, onebanana2 and 4 other people added The Left Banke to their libraries. last month
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schweet tagged The Left Banke with ‘i love the oldies’. last month
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English-Tea, WANDERWAICE and schwas added The Left Banke to their libraries. last month
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marsyman tagged The Left Banke with rock, pop, psychedelic and 2 other tags. last month
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