The Left Banke

Recognized as quintessential practitioners of 1960s Baroque pop, The Left Banke fused elaborate orchestral textures such as string sections and harpsichord with introspective compositions and intermittent bursts of psychedelic distortion. Although the ensemble never attained the broad commercial stature of peers like the Zombies or the Beatles, it secured two notable successes through “Pretty Ballerina” and the frequently revisited Top Five single “Walk Away Renee.” Revolving around keyboardist Michael Brown’s compositions, the group experienced frequent personnel shifts and recurring internal frictions that triggered multiple dissolutions and reformations. Its initial incarnation spanned roughly four years from 1965 to 1969, after which the musicians reconvened in 1978 to complete the long-delayed third album Strangers on a Train; later listeners encountered the band’s early chamber-pop work through anthologies such as 1992’s There’s Gonna Be a Storm: The Complete Recordings 1966-1969. Individual members pursued separate musical activities at varying intensities across subsequent decades, with several reuniting in 2011 for a series of concert appearances.

Formed in New York during 1965, the lineup included teenage prodigy Brown on keyboards and primary songwriting duties alongside the soaring, near-falsetto vocals of Steve Martin (also known as Steve Martin Caro), bassist Tom Finn, drummer George Cameron, and guitarist Jeff Winfield. Early sessions produced by Brown’s father, Harry Lookofsky, failed to attract label interest, prompting a temporary breakup and Brown’s relocation to California. A backing track for “Walk Away Renee” had already been laid down, allowing the remaining members to add vocals without him; the finished recording appeared on Smash and became a 1966 hit, drawing the musicians back together for touring and further sessions. Follow-up single “Pretty Ballerina” likewise charted successfully, and material was gathered for a debut album built around these two tracks. Released in 1967 under the straightforward title Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina, the LP supplemented the hits with nine additional examples of Baroque pop. Because the ornate arrangements often relied on session players, reproducing the sound live proved challenging, and Brown preferred to focus on writing and studio work while the others handled road commitments. Multiple guitarists, both as hired musicians and nominal band members, moved through the roster; Rick Brand, listed as guitarist on the first album, actually appears on only a single track. Tensions escalated when Brown’s bandmates sought to remove his father from the managerial role. In early 1967 Brown recorded a Left Banke single without them, enlisting vocalist Bert Sommer; issued as “And Suddenly,” the track drew limited notice. For a short period in September 1967 the original members worked together once more, but after the single “Desiree” Brown departed permanently. The bulk of the second album, The Left Banke Too, was completed in his absence; although still featuring Baroque arrangements and several strong moments, the lack of his contributions was evident. Brown subsequently collaborated with the Baroque-psych outfit Montage, which issued material in the late 1960s, and later formed Stories with vocalist Ian Lloyd, achieving a number-one hit via the 1973 single “Brother Louie.”

Scattered Left Banke-related recordings surfaced over the ensuing years, yet the band’s activities essentially ceased after the second album in 1969. Brown, Martin, and additional musicians cut several tracks in late 1969; unexpectedly, the original lineup reassembled for an early 1971 Buddah single (“Love Songs in the Night” b/w “Two by Two”), though the release carried only Steve Martin’s name. Another attempt to record together occurred in 1978, but Brown exited the studio after a single day. The remaining members finished an album’s worth of material without him; these recordings stayed unreleased for years before appearing in 1986 as Strangers on a Train.

The group’s cult audience expanded gradually, particularly following the 1992 compilation There’s Gonna Be a Storm, which gathered the entire Smash Records output on a single disc. Songs by the Left Banke have been interpreted by artists ranging from Rickie Lee Jones and Susanna Hoffs & Matthew Sweet to Richard Thompson and Alice Cooper. In 2010 Tom Finn and George Cameron organized two reunion concerts at Joe’s Pub in New York City, augmented by vocalist Mike Fornatale, guitarist Paul Alves, bassist Charly Cazalet, drummer Rick Reil, and keyboardists Mickey Finn and Joe McGinty. The performances proved both critically and popularly successful, leading the reconstituted lineup to play occasional dates in following years. Sundazed Records reissued Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina and The Left Banke Too on vinyl and CD in 2011, restoring the original running order of both albums for the first time since they went out of print in the 1960s. Michael Brown joined the current ensemble onstage in New York City in April 2013 to perform “Pretty Ballerina,” and on March 18, 2015 it was announced that Steve Martin had agreed to return as lead vocalist. These planned reunions ultimately did not materialize, as Brown passed away shortly after the announcement. In the years that followed, the remaining original members—Cameron, Martin, and Finn—also died between 2018 and 2020, leaving several projects unfinished.