The Left Banke and Stories : The Michael Brown Story

THE ALBUM DEBUT of Stories was one of the most exciting musical events of 1972. A number of excellent LP's in a new American lightweight pop-rock style, harking back to the Beatles/Hollies/Searchers axis of the British Invasion (often with a bit of Byrds or Beach Boys mixed in), appeared last year (both Raspberries, Grin's 1+1, Big Star, etc.). But Stories sounded best of all to me with their haunting melodies and harmonies, stirring rock-riffing, fine Angloid lead vocals, and the striking keyboard arrangements which dominated their instrumentation. The man in charge of this last facet was none other than Michael Brown, the former leader of a group which produced during its short heyday some of the most charmingly memorable American music of the 60's: the Left Banke.