Beckies Story, Produced By Yours Truly, Out On February 28th

 

When the Beckies’ sole album was released in 1976, it should have capped a remarkable era for keyboardist and songwriter Michael Brown. What had begun ten years before with the Left Banke and “Walk Away Renee” culminated in this band, whom Brown spoke highly of for the rest of his life. Despite good reviews, the album got lost in the shuffle of summer releases, unable to find a wider audience.

I first discovered the Beckies in the late 1990s, as I was diving deep into my Left Banke journey. I found a promo copy of the album on one of my first trips to Nashville. I was instantly drawn to the album, though the album’s muddy mix always seemed to hold myself and other fans back. 

I met Beckies guitarist Jimmy McAllister in 2003 vis email, when he wrote a magazine to complement an article I’d written on the Left Banke. He enthused about his time with the Beckies, and the demos that the band had made leading up to the album’s recording. He sent me a CD of the band’s first demos, and promised to send me more. When Jimmy died in 2006, an avid collector in England, John Kennedy sent me the entire set of demos, saying “Jimmy wanted you to have this.”

I had been thinking about a collection of the Beckies material for some time, featuring the original Sire album alongside the demos. When Omnivore Recordings asked me last year if I had any projects to put forth, I knew that this chance had arrived.

Over the past year, I reached out to band members Scott Trusty, Gary Hodgden (West) and Mark Abel, as well as the families of Michael Brown and Jimmy McAllister. All of whom gave me their blessings for this project. Trusty and Abel both did lengthy interviews with me, filling in a timeline that has never been properly explored, as well as picking out demos for the second disc. 

Omnivore licensed the album from Rhino, and mastering guru Michael Graves went to work. When I received his new mastering of the album, it was a stop everything moment for me. Songs and harmony parts that were once buried now sparkle, as do the demos that Graves also mastered for a complete package. After all these years, the Beckies now sound better than ever.

So here it is. Nearly fifty years after it was released, and nearly thirty years since I first heard of the band, the Beckies’ moment has finally arrived. I wrote the liner notes, and produced this project alongside Cheryl Pawelski, who has way more coolness and Grammys than I do.

To Michael, Jimmy, Scott, Gary, Mark and their families, thank you. To Omnivore Recordings, thank you. To those of you that have been with me, and put up with me during my time researching the Left Banke and its adjacent archives, thank you. The release of this collection marks the end of a chapter for me, but the music will always be out there, waiting for its next discovery. 

Good To Know: The Beckies Story, out February 28th on Omnivore Recordings. 

Left Banke, forever. Michael Brown, forever. Beckies, forever.

https://omnivorerecordings.com/shop/good-to-know/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdQtqACQOZ0&list=OLAK5uy_kPwwGux14OS5vJRgFTdT7e8eue7FAMCow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyZgBNrzbUA'

RIP Mary Weiss

 I shall call her Mary...

Mary Weiss commanded an awe and respect for all of us that loved the music of the 1960s. She was, and will always be the woman that sang about your heartache, of love, of walking in the sand, or running out in the streets.

Seeing Mary Weiss return to the stage at SXSW 2007 was literally a dream come true. I took a ton of photos, but all of my friends kept asking, "What was the setlist?" I was having so much fun, I didn't even think about keeping notes on that. "Everything but Leader Of The Pack" was the best answer I could give.

In March of 2011, I went to New York City for the Left Banke's first shows in 42 years. Mary Weiss came backstage to say hello to her old friends. It took me half the evening to work up the nerve to say hello to her. After I mentioned that I was from North Carolina, she said, "I've been looking at real estate in North Carolina. What's Charlotte like? What's Raleigh like?" Suddenly, I found myself in a ten-minute conversation with the leader of the Shangri-Las, discussing the pros of moving to North Carolina. As a wayward New Yorker, I knew that she might never make that move, but it was a wonderfully surreal moment. Mary also helped me coax a smile out of the Left Banke's Tom Finn for a photograph. Even Tom understood the power of Miss Mary.

Thank you, Mary. For a lifetime of moments that will live forever, and you will always be there, singing of life's joy and pain.

Until I hear you, and photograph you again, someday....

-Daniel

January 19, 2024

RIP Scott Schinder

I first met Scott Schinder in Austin during the 2000s, during my many SXSW travels. We got back in touch in 2020, as we put together the Strangers On A Train CD for our beloved Left Banke. Scott was my co-producer on the CD, and wrote the liner notes.

Scott, I was looking forward to working more with you. Someday, someday. RIP Scott. Tell the Left Banke guys, Gary Brooker and all of our friends that I said hello, and see you in the stars.  

-Daniel

June 12, 2023

New Interview With Ken Michaels

This was lots of fun, with news on the Cyrkle, a Left Banke discussion, and more.

Enjoy,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuWb5ncjVXQ

-Daniel

March 24, 2022

Vote For The Left Banke For Album Of The Month!

https://americanahighways.org/2022/03/03/vote-for-favorite-album-of-feb-22/

-Daniel

March 9, 2022

Strangers On A Train Thank You's

It's taken me several days to put together my thoughts on the release of the Left Banke CD, Strangers On A Train, which I co-produced. The path to this release was a two-year journey that goes far deeper than I can say. In life, we never say thank you enough, so I'm going to say my thank you's now, before the world distracts me again.

To the Omnivore Recordings team. Cheryl, Glenn, Lee, Greg. To Michael Graves, who did the amazing mastering for this release. Thank you. 

To all of those that became very used to my emails, calls and texts over the last two years. Yvonne Vital, and your beautiful family, Marg Finn, Patricia McAllister, Sam Kogon, Jon Ihle, Cookie Dakes, and others. Thank you. 

To Charly Cazalet, the true Mayor of New York City, and bassist for much of Strangers. You've always been part of the Left Banke story, and once again, you are.

To Mike Fornatale, Rick Reil, Susan Aquila, Paul Alves, Mickey Finn and others. This CD is the continuation of the work that you did, and I have not forgotten. Thank you.

This CD could not be created without those that came before me. Scott Schinder (who is also my co-producer on this CD), Andrew Sandoval, Bill Inglot, Bill Levinson, John Kennedy, Char Fezza, Jim Burns, Evan Ottersland, and many more. Thank you.

To Jan Barley, Chris Garges and Neil Allen. I wish that you were here for this, but somewhere, I know that you still are.

Lastly, to Michael, Steve, Tom and George, the work that you began in a studio in New York in 1965 will live forever. And I'm proud to help carry your work to the next person that needs to hear you. 

Left Banke, forever.

Thank you all, and see you on the road.

http://omnivorerecordings.com/shop/the-strangers-on-a-train/

-Daniel

March 2, 2022

Friday

Friday, photos of the Make A Wish Ball, Charlotte Symphony, my first record production (of one of my favorite bands, the Left Banke) got released, the new Bob Lind album (which features two of my photos) got released, and the Avett Brothers posted on their social media about my show.

That, my friends, is a full day.

Thank you all. Miss you. See you soon, and see you on the road.

-Daniel

February 26, 2022

Out Today

Two years of work to bring this to fruition, and a lifetime of listening.

Co-produced by yours truly, with Cheryl Pawelski and Scott Schinder.

So many people to thank. A separate email is coming later today.

Spread the word. Left Banke, forever.

http://omnivorerecordings.com/shop/the-strangers-on-a-train/

-Daniel

February 25, 2022

New Interview With Me About The Left Banke, And More

Hello all-

Here is a new interview I recently did with Mark Arnold and his Fun Ideas podcast about the Left Banke, the Cyrkle, the Avett Brothers, and more. Enjoy.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIH5kIJFvqY

-Daniel

February 1, 2022

News Stories About The Forthcoming Left Banke CD

 https://www.thevinyldistrict.com/storefront/2022/01/demand-it-on-vinyl-left-banke-strangers-on-a-train-in-stores-2-25/

https://theseconddisc.com/2022/01/05/until-the-end-omnivore-reissues-expands-the-left-bankes-final-album-strangers-on-a-train/

https://www.goldminemag.com/news/left-bankes-strangers-on-a-train-to-be-reissued-in-february

-Daniel

January 5, 2021

Announcing The Strangers On A Train Reissue, out February 25, On Omnivore Recordings

Hello everyone. This is Daniel Coston. Longtime Left Banke fan, photographer, writer, and co-producer of the new reissue of Strangers On A Train. If it seems like this morning's announcement was a surprise, well, it was. Much like the last two years, things did not according to plan. But here we are, nonetheless.

Over the last eighteen months, I have been working with Omnivore Recordings on securing a release for these Left Banke songs that I care about so much. Originally, we had a much larger plan to cover the band's recordings after 1968. These recordings, including what we have found during that search, will be released in due time. For this release, we eventually decided to focus on the band's third album, Strangers On A Train, and the recordings that Michael Brown and Steve Martin Caro made in 2001 and 2002.

Many of us, including the Left Banke themselves, believe that Strangers never received a proper release on either side of the Atlantic. Buried within that album is a lot of good songs, and a lot of hard work that was never rewarded. Now, Omnivore has put together new mastering for this album, and fixed the muddiness that other versions of Strangers have had. This album has never sounded this good before, and to my ears, finally sounds like a cohesive album. We also chose to go with the UK running order for the album, which flows a lot better, and lets you hear this collection in a new way.

Although the recordings that Michael Brown did with Steve Martin Caro came twenty-three years after Strangers, they act as a remarkable bookend, while telling a story all their own. As some of you know, some of these songs were released as a rare promo EP in 2002, credited to the Left Banke. Brown finished six more songs later that year, and that collection was even harder to find than the first. For this release, we have put together the best of what Brown released during that time, and given them new mastering. The fact that many people will finally get to hear "Airborne" on a legitimate release, and sounding so good, gives me great joy.

To answer your next question. Is there more? Yes, there is. Over the next several weeks, as we prepare for the release of this CD, I will be putting together a few articles exclusively here, and on the Official Left Banke Fan Page, detailing what we have found, what is out there, and what we are still looking for. This CD is not the end, but a beginning of more to come, a long overdue mission to give the music of the Left Banke the respect and prominence that they deserve.

To the friends, family members and associates of the Left Banke, I saw thank you. It's taken a while, but we are almost there. To my co-producers Scott and Cheryl, and everyone at Omnivore, I say thank you. To those of you that have followed the story of the Left Banke along with me, I say thank you, and stay tuned. And to four guys- Michael, Tom, Steve and George- I say thank you. For changing my life, and for the journey that your music put me on. I won't let you down.

Please spread the word, and check back here often for updates, and some surprises. Now more than ever, the world around us needs more Left Banke. And that time has finally come.

Love to all, and more soon.

Everything returns again,

-Daniel

January 5, 2021

https://www.goldminemag.com/news/left-bankes-strangers-on-a-train-to-be-reissued-in-february

Tom Finn Photos, 2011 to 2013

All photos copyright Daniel Coston

God bless you, Tom.

-Daniel

-Daniel
June 29, 2020

RIP Tom Finn

Godspeed, Tom Finn. Your voice, and your adventures changed my life. You lived several lifetimes, and your stories and music will go on forever. Thank you for letting me be your friend, and document the Left Banke's rebirth. I know that you have many things to tell St. Peter now, but just know that those of us down here will never forget you. Rest easy, you beautiful, complex angel. Say hello to George, Mike, Tom and Steve for me. See you in the next adventure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KluG57DMzAs

-Daniel
June 28, 2020

RIP Alan Merrill

RIP Alan Merrill. Thank you for the music and stories. Say hi to George for me. Safe travels, wherever you are tonight.
-Daniel
March 29, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw9Yb4Ps6Bk 

Some thoughts on Steve Martin Caro, RIP, singer for the Left Banke.

Much like the band that he fronted, Steve Martin Caro was a comet that burned quickly across in the sky, and then spent much of his travels moving through the darkness, as many of us remain blinded and amazed by his brightest moments. The original span of that group, the Left Banke, was three years, made up of musicians that were in their teens for much of those days. It is somewhat of a miracle that their first single, “Walk Away Renee” exists at all. Thankfully it does, an enduring testament to a group of people that loved and fought each other with equal measure, yet created a body of work that speaks to them, and for them better than they could ever verbalise.

When the spirit moved him, Steve knew no boundaries. He and bandmate George Cameron co-wrote the first two songs that the band recorded, “I Haven’t Got The Nerve” and “I’ve Got Something On My Mind”, laying down the template that fellow bandmember and writer Mike Brown would take further. He co-wrote with Brown on some of the band’s best songs. That’s Steve on drums on “Goodbye Holly”, bass on “Bryant Hotel”. He played guitar, marimba, any instrument that he got his hands on. All with one of the best voices of the 1960s, a sound that melded with one of the era’s best harmony vocalists, Tom Finn. A sound that never left him, even when he spent decades retreating from the world. 

I never got to meet the man born Carmelo Esteban Martin Caro. For those of us around the Left Banke orbit, Steve was a Godot-like figure. Always discussed, but never to arrive. I made many attempts to reach him through his precious few longtime friends. Perhaps I was never supposed to meet him. Perhaps he had said everything there was to say. Be it those transcendent first two Left Banke albums, or those precious few recordings from the 1970s on. Some of which has been heard, some of which hasn’t. I hope that it all is heard, someday. Sooner or later, the passing conversations fade away, and we are left with a life’s work. And through that prism, the music of Steve and the Left Banke lives forever. 

To Steve, I say, safe travels. And thank you. To Mike, George, and Tom Feher, who now welcome Steve to the great highway, I say, continued travels. Just close your eyes, and they will be there. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdUovuUJ0fk 

-Daniel Coston

January 16, 2020

RIP Steve Martin Caro Of The Left Banke

RIP Steve. The man is gone, but the voice lives on. Just close your eyes, and he'll be there.

-Daniel
January 15, 2020

RIP Tom Feher

Hello all-

Tom Feher, the man who co-wrote songs for the Left Banke's first album, and then later wrote much of the Left Banke's second album, as well as the lone album from the Michael Brown-produced Montage, passed away yesterday. He died as he lived, climbing a mountain that many others would not have done. Tom was a true character, with a brain fully on fire, all of the time. As George Cameron said about Tom, "He's a brother." He was their brother and friend, and every bit the equal of what Michael Brown had previously brought to the band.

Safe travels, Tom, wherever your next adventure takes you. Thank you.

Photo of Tom playing "Sing Little Bird Sing" with the Left Banke, March 2011.
-Daniel
August 7, 2018

photo copyright 2011 Daniel Coston

George Cameron Photo, 2012

George Cameron
Annapolis, Maryland
Photo copyright 2012 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
June 27, 2018

ABC Radio Article On George Cameron That Features My Photo

http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2018/6/25/left-banke-drummer-george-cameron-dead-at-70.html

-Daniel
June 27, 2018

RIP George Cameron

RIP George Cameron. You were, and always will be the good time boy, drummer and singer in the Left Banke. The one that always believed in the dream of the Left Banke, and who started the band towards it's amazing rebirth in 2010. You. Tom Finn, Steve Martin Caro and Michael Brown changed my life, way before I first met you in 2011. Thank you for all the music, interviews and friendship. Safe travels, and may love stay with you, wherever you go. Until we meet again, someday.

-Daniel
June 24, 2018