Stories: Stories

ONCE MICHAEL BROWN led a group called the Left Banke, who produced two of the most memorable singles of the mid-sixties, 'Walk Away Renee' and 'Pretty Ballerina,' along with one excellent album. After 'Ballerina' the group's commercial stature diminished drastically, and Brown eventually departed (after masterminding two superb but unsuccessful followups, 'Ivy Ivy' and 'Desiree'); the Left Banke turned largely lackluster and then sputtered out, while Brown merely vanished.