The Left Banke Essentials

The Left Banke Essentials

These melodic British "Bach-rockers”—so called because they added harpsichord and strings to mid-'60s pop song stylings—hit pay dirt with the sensitive-guy hits "Walk Away Renée" and "Pretty Ballerina" before breaking up in 1969. Keyboardist/songwriter Michael Brown went on to further develop his often-ambitious baroque-pop concept in The Montage ("Tinsel and Ivy"). He subsequently joined Stories, best known for their sinuous cover of Hot Chocolate's "Brother Louie"—although "Please, Please" is a better example of that band's exceptional knack for power pop.

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