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Rating: The God of Pop gives a blank slate. In his cosmic horizon, each person finds an infinite space for their own creative freedom. It was up to Michael (Lookofsky) Brown to give status and identity to Baroque Pop. The sentient body of Rock belonged to the chamber arrangements for string instruments. Not a chimerical intellectual decomposition, followed by an addition. But a bit of that dreamy, airy lyricism that sometimes surpasses the fragile human matter. Thus, the Albion perfection of the harmonies of the Beatles and Zombies met eschatologically the refined orchestrations of "Pet Sounds".
"Walk Away Renee" (1966) by New York City's Left Banke, a definitive piece for classical instruments and contrapuntal structures, was the first Baroque Pop single in history. A harpsichord, two violins, viola, cello, and even the flute give the song a sinuous flexibility, a baroque yet light taste, dramatic yet measured, without betraying its Rock flair. The song narrates an unrequited love, in a late-adolescent yearning, descending into a shadowy cave where being sad is becoming beautiful. Declining, with captivating naturalness, the last hour of the night that drinks all the moonbeams. The second single "Pretty Ballerina", another diadem of pain and poetry, lingers on the same evocative formula, always supported by Caro's uncommon singing. Both are pure beauty. And they gave the name to the 1967 album, which, besides interpreting the newborn idiom, touched on Sunshine Pop and Psychedelic/Garage grounds. "She May Call You Up Tonight," "I've Got Something On My Mind," "Shadows Breaking Over My Head," "Lazy Day" were also signs of introspection and circumscribed generational intents.
"Walk Away Renee/ Pretty Ballerina" was an achievement for Michael Lookofsky Brown, pianist, songwriter, true talent and the mind of the group, who inevitably dreamed of becoming another Brian Wilson. It was a success for producer Henry Lookofsky, Michael's father. It was an honor for the band, as during the recording sessions, session men prevailed by far (see the official guitarist, Rick Brand, who played on only one of the eleven tracks). It was an authentic exaltation for the lead vocals of Steve Martin-Caro: his voice contains the fog and the sun and all their confused gradations in a state of grace, sealing Brown's motifs magnificently and offering us at the same time, in a single expression, the honey and the addiction to the melancholy of living.
Michael Brown left the Left Banke during the first recordings for the second LP "Too" (in which, curiously, Steve Tallarico/Steven Tyler will make a cameo appearance). In '69, the breakup occurred, then oblivion barely interrupted by some covers (Richard Thompson, Rickie Lee Jones, Alice Cooper), by an archaeological collection, and by a partial reunion. When only a handful of days were missing to finally have Caro and Brown live together again, Michael died of a sudden cardiac arrest in his home in Englewood, New Jersey, on March 19, 2015. At the last hour of the night. When even the moonbeams returned to the heart of a jealous God.
Tracklist and Lyrics
06 I Haven't Got the Nerve (02:12)
I haven't got the nerve
I haven't got the nerve
to tell you our love is over
and to say I'm through with you
I can't take much more of you girl
you make all my days so blue
leave me lonely and forget me
days of may will soon be gone
girl I know you never loved me
It won't hurt to see me gone
I haven't got the nerve
I haven't got the nerve
I have realized a lot girl
since the day that we first met
I'm not like I used to be girl
I won't hide my fears no more
you won't hurt me anymore, girl
listen to these words and leave
there's no more love left inside me
Is not me that you deceive
09 Pretty Ballerina (02:38)
Pretty Ballerina
I had a date with a pretty ballerina
Her hair so brilliant that it hurt my eyes
I asked her for this dance
and then she obliged me
Was I surprised, yeah
Was I surprised,
no not at all
I called her yesterday,
it should have been tomorrow
I could not keep
the joy that was inside
I begged for her to tell me
if she really loved me
Somewhere a mountain is moving
Afraid it's moving without me
I had a date with a pretty ballerina
Her hair so brilliant that it hurt my eyes
I asked her for this dance
and then she obliged me
Was I surprised, yeah
Was I surprised, no not at all
And when I wake on a dreary Sunday morning
I open up my eyes to find there's rain
And something strange within said,
"go ahead and find her
Just close your eyes, yeah
Just close your eyes and she'll be there"
She'll be there...
10 I've Got Something on My Mind (02:49)
I've got something on my mind
It's no lie, I'm telling you why
I've got something on my mind
It's no lie, I'm telling you why
Up to now I've been afraid to say that
You're the cause of all my pain
If you keep this up, my friend,
I think I'll go insane
I've got something on my mind
It's no lie, I'm telling you why
You've been treating me so bad
Since the day that we met
But now I am oh so glad
And my girl you can bet
I will say what's on my mind
And this time there'll be no lie
I've got something on my mind
It's no lie, I'm telling you why
You've been treating me so bad
Since the day that we met
But now I am oh so glad
And my girl you can bet
I will say what's on my mind
And this time there'll be no lie
I've got something on my mind
It's no lie, I'm telling you why
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