Growing up in the NYC area I was fortunate to become acquainted with the Left Banke early on. As did millions worldwide, of course, though how many followed the band post their two hits is likely a question readly answered by reviewing the ease with which certain of the bands later releases can be found. Especially with the two elusive US picture sleeves. My interest in the group was rekindled with the arrival of Alan Betrocks' seminal Rock Marketplace magazine in spring 1973. The in depth article on the band contained within was the first serious bit of historically focused 60's centric rock writing I ever encountered. Which makes sense, as TRM was , along with Greg Shaw's & David Harris's Mojo Navigator & Greg's Who Put The Bomp, essentially the first magazines of their kind, with the notable exception of Alans prior 'zine JAMZ.
The arrival of TRM #1 in my sweaty teenage mitts sealed the deal. Whereas Rock, Hullaballoo, Circus, Creem Melody Maker, NME
et. al. were all ravenously devoured on those rare blessed days when a copy could be procured, begged or borrowed, these worthy mags were generally contemporary in the nature of their reportage. Yes, while Lenny Kaye, Vince Aletti & innumerable others would pen terrific articles on yonder days of olde, none of these papers / magazines had the in depth discographies & historical minutia that filled the pages of TRM. Promo only pic sleeves? Non - LP 45's & B- sides? Mono mixes? All this & infinitely more was suddenly revealed. I'd collected records previously, mostly LP's, but this was a whole new ballgame. I became a lifer.
So, via an admittedly somewhat roundabout transit, events lead
/ led ? {
Urgent DJB grammatical clarification notification requested & warranted) to this post. With undeniably killer circa 1965 - 66 tracks such as She May Call You Up Tonight, I've Got Something on My Mind and I'm A Nothing to the band members credit , the Left Banke delivered goods of the highest order. And if any further proof of the bands bona-fides are required by dubious doubters simply check out the attitude laden pic on page one of the below reproduced article. (they were from the Bronx, after all...) Two 45's are missing from the label pic, an unfortunate reality that I intend to redress in due course. Dropped the Magic Plants in to partially atone for this. Till then, I'll sign off with the TRM piece on the band, secure in the knowledge that this may prove to be of interest to certain observers...
