By Ken Paulson
Stories’ “I’m Coming Home” was a fresh burst of pop on AM radio in 1972, rivalled only by Emitt Rhodes’ “Fresh As A Daisy” for simple exuberance. Unfortunately, it aired on too few stations and the single stalled at number 42 on the Billboard chart.
But the band, build around the talents of the Left Banke’s Michael Browne and vocalist Ian Lloyd, soldiered on, turning out hook-laden rock for years to come, including the huge hit single “Brother Louie.”
They weren’t always consistent (their “Louie” follow-up “Mammy Blue” was a baffling choice), but they could be very good, as evidenced on Stories Untold: The Very Best of Stories on Real Gone Music.
The package is comprehensive, beginning with two obscure Brown tracks recorded under the name “Steve Martin” and concluding with a cover of the creepy-in-retrospect “Do You Wanna Touch Me,” the Gary Glitter hit.
It’s a fine collection for fans of the band, spanning almost a decade of album cuts and near-hits.
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