Song Called Love: Omnivore Readies "The Beckies Story" For February Release

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The Beckies are back! Following Omnivore Recordings' 2022 expansion of The Left Banke's Strangers on a Train, the label is exploring another chapter of the Michael Brown story with the February 28 release of Good to Know: The Beckies Story on 2 CDs.

Michael Brown (also known for his work with Montage and "Brother Louie" band Stories) was known for fusing baroque and classical sounds with rock and roll, but The Beckies emphasized the latter. The band was anchored by Brown and vocalist Scott Trusty, with whom he had collaborated on a Trusty solo single in 1970 on the Big Tree label. Post-Stories, Trusty introduced Brown to some friends of his from Kansas City who had recently made the move to New York City. With these friends - Jimmy McAllister and Gary Hodgden (a.k.a. Gary West) - they began recording the demos that earned them a deal with Sire Records' Seymour Stein.

The Beckies (named for Gary's wife) fit comfortably within the power pop scene of the day, and their lone, self-titled 1976 studio album recalls the best of The Raspberries, Badfinger, and Todd Rundgren. Though the LP failed to make waves upon its initial release, it wasn't long before it became a cult favorite. CD release eluded The Beckies until a 2015 edition arrive via the Real Gone label. Now, ten years later, Omnivore is fleshing out the band's discography with Good to Know. The first disc presents a remastered edition of the 1976 LP. The second disc, The Demos, presents 13 of the original recordings that garnered The Beckies their deal with Sire (all of which are previously unreleased), including demos of "River Bayou" and "Song Called Love" and a number of tunes that didn't make the album.

Good to Know: The Beckies Story has been freshly mastered by Michael Graves. The new liner notes by compilation co-producer Daniel Coston features interviews with surviving band members. This crackling set is due from Omnivore Recordings on February 28. (The Demos is also available as a standalone digital album.) You'll find the track listing and pre-order links below. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

A final word: Our hearts go out to our good friends at Omnivore who have been affected by the devastating Southern California wildfires. If you might be able to help (and hear some great music in the process), please visit here for more information.

The Beckies, Good to Know: The Beckies Story (Omnivore OV-569, 2024) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Omnivore)

CD 1: The Original Album (Sire LP SASD-7519, 1976)

Right by My Side (Etude)
River Bayou
Midnight and You
Fran
Other Side of Town
Song Called Love
Can't Be Alone
River Song
On the Morning That She Came
One of These Days
Run Jenny Run

CD 2: The Demos

Blue Monday (Demo)
She Wrote a Song (Demo)
Song Called Love (Demo)
Day Break (Demo)
Do I (Demo)
Baby Oh Baby (Demo)
Lonely Times (Demo)
Good to Know (Demo)
Caroline (Demo)
River Song (Demo)
River Bayou (Demo)
She Wrote a Song (Demo Version 2)
Blue Monday (Demo Version 2)

Joe Marchese

JOE MARCHESE (Editor) joined The Second Disc shortly after its launch in early 2010, and has since penned daily news and reviews about classic music of all genres. In 2015, Joe formed the Second Disc Records label. Celebrating the great songwriters, producers and artists who created the sound of American popular song, Second Disc Records, in conjunction with Real Gone Music, has released newly-curated collections produced by Joe from iconic artists such as Johnny Mathis, Bobby Darin, Laura Nyro, Melissa Manchester, Chet Atkins, and many others. He has contributed liner notes to reissues from a diverse array of artists, among them Nat "King" Cole, Paul Williams, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield, B.J. Thomas, The 5th Dimension, Burt Bacharach, The Mamas and the Papas, Carpenters, Perry Como, Rod McKuen, Doris Day, Jackie DeShannon, and Andy Williams, and has compiled releases for talents including Robert Goulet and Keith Allison of Paul Revere and the Raiders. Over the past two decades, Joe has also worked in a variety of capacities on and off Broadway as well as at some of the premier theatres in the U.S., including Lincoln Center Theater, George Street Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, and the York Theatre Company. He has felt privileged to work on productions alongside artists such as the late Jack Klugman, Eli Wallach, Arthur Laurents, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. In 2009, Joe began contributing theatre and music reviews to the print publication The Sondheim Review, and in 2012, he joined the staff of The Digital Bits as a regular contributor writing about film and television on DVD and Blu-ray. Joe currently resides in the suburbs of New York City.