Album of the Day

This one-off, self-titled album from studio group The Beckies is the last major recording from Michael Brown, the ill-starred genius behind 1960s baroque-rock hitmakers The Left Banke. Brown co-produced the 1976 Sire collection, plays keyboards and co-wrote all 11 songs, which include the terrific melodies and occasional classical influences for which he's best known while falling squarely into power pop territory. Such highlights as “Can’t Be Alone,” “On the Morning That She Came” and “The Other Side of Town” rank with prime Raspberries or Rundgren, and one can only wonder what might have happened had this set gotten a little more exposure upon issue. But thanks to the recent digital release of THE BECKIES, this longtime favorite of the power pop cognoscenti is now poised for rediscovery...