As of the close of the twentieth century, The Beckies stood as Michael Brown’s final recording to include major input from the keyboardist and songwriter whose earlier work with the Left Banke, Montage, and Stories had fused rock and classical elements. On the group’s only release, the self-titled 1976 Sire album, Brown handled keyboards, shared production duties, and partnered with drummer Gary Hodgden on every song’s composition, while Hodgden and Scott Trusty divided the lead vocals. The songs recall the style Brown brought to the Stories lineups he participated in, yet fall short of that earlier strength; the keyboard parts and arrangements retain his characteristic classical-rock blend but lean further toward power pop. Trusty and Hodgden, like most vocalists who worked with Brown, concentrate on the upper register, though neither approaches the caliber of Stories frontman Ian Lloyd, let alone the Left Banke’s Steve Martin. Attractive melodies in Brown’s distinctive vein surface throughout, yet overly polished production prevents the band from fully realizing the material’s potential.
