Added: 5 years ago
From: joepro1964
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  • AH! NOTHING LIKE THE SNAP - CRACKLE - POP OF AN OLD 45 TO TAKE YOU BACK DOWN MEMORY LANE.

  • makes me cry as we get so old so fast--lovely song

  • Bernice where ever you are I LOVE YOU mm

  • Oh this song reminds me of my junior high school days, and my best friend Greg.

  • <3 great song. and i have to admit Alice Cooper's version was not that bad either..

  • It is interesting but more like the song writingof some psychotic person-wierd

  • iT'S A SWEET LITTLE SONG THAN NEVER HURT ANYONE. Thanks for bringing it to us.

  • BEAUTIFUL SONG..

  • anyone heard eels' version of this?

    it's on live with strings

  • anyone heard eels' version of this?

    it's on the live with strings cd.

    it's not often that a cover surpasses the original but in this case, i think it does.

    not that there's anything wrong with the original!

    rock on!

  • I did a sketch in charcoal to this song, and it was of a ballerina in silhouette with light streaming in a window onto her hair. I was a girl in seventh grade and 12 years old in 1963. I still have it the sketch.

  • This is extemely good quality.

  • This brings back memories, as I definitely remember the days of vinyl. Sure glad they came up with something better, got to love technology. Thanks for posting.

  • An exquisitely executed gentle song; it is so lovely in its simplicity.

  • This describes Renee as type of lady she is. A "Pretty Ballerina.

  • Sometimes things just come together: song/lyrics/ production/arrangement, vocals. This hits the mark...been one of my favorites for decades. Thanks for sharing!

  • John Mellencamp used to do a fantastic version of this song in concert in the 80's. A live of recording of it was the b-side of "Rain on the Scarecrow" Great song!

  • @BananasInMyPassway Really?

  • While Pretty Ballerina hardly got any AM airtime its haunting melody and lyrics were unforgettable ---even after hearing only once.

  • Yes

  • thanks for thisss LOVE THIS SONG!

  • I am só mad, that it doesn't even appear in our dutch top 2000 (which is broadcasted every year at the end of december on radio and tv>a thing to watch/hear)

  • tiny

    black hair

    dark eyes

    breathing

    so lightly

  • Tick, pop, groove noise...how I miss them.thanks for the post and an honest appraisial of why vinyl IS KING!!!!

  • Leonard Bernstein cited the this song on his late 60s tv special on innovative pop music. Beatles using mixolydian on Norwegian Wood etc. He cited Tommy James' Hanky Panky as R&B (!) at any rate it was great to see the Left Banke and especially Mike brown get their due from such a prestigious source at such a momentous time.,

  • can anyone point to the pregnant pause? can anyone see the significance of the pregnant pause? can anyone guess how many marriages this song caused?

  • cannot get this one out of my head

    there is a girl

    attached to

    the

    memory

  • I was in Paris on the Left Bank in 1997 visiting my son who was stationed in Germany. we drove to Paris and the d-day beaches. AS I stood on the Seine I immediately thought of Walk Away Rene. Loved that song when it came out. had the 8track.

  • I totally agree that they should be in the Hall of Fame, and so should Three Dog Night, I heard that they had some kind of contract disbute years ago with someone who makes decisions at the Hall of Fame now. Rediculous! They need to get rid of that person and give credit where credit is due!

  • @TDNCW look up who makes the decision and how. The Hall of Fame is a mockery of itself. Its all about selling tickets and getting money. The last ceromony thye ahd to drop a bank and get a rap band inorder to make it more "Balanced" (sell more tickets)

  • Honestly, is there a reason these guys arent considered for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There music has a lasting effect on Rock. Many of the early artists have gotten in.

  • The R n R Hall of Fame has only to do with

    record sales, actually. How much money a group made for the record company.

    Ha. Good old USA crap.

  • I posted yesterday and then pulled it. I just wanted to thank JoePro for posting this. I was thinking about Renee again and whatever happened to her. It is funny that these things pop up occasionally and you wonder if..................

  • she teaches music in the san francisco area according to my googling

  • Absolutely beautiful and always worth listening to. My best friend called from Florida today and mentioned Renee that I wrote about before out of the sky blue. We laughed about it and then he said, you should have kept in touch. Who knows how your life would have been. Thanks to joepro for posting this.

  • beautiful song from a beautiful moment in time when possibilities were......endless

  • So lovely, I remember it well. I love the ethereal quality it evokes. This reminds me of my youth. I also loved "Walk Away Renee." Thanks for putting this out for all to enjoy. I have thought of it from time to time though I could not remember the group! It is greatly appreciated - now I can find it!

  • Was dancing with my grandaughter, who is 2, ballet, and thought of this song. First time I have heard since it came out. So beautiful to hear it again. We took pictures of us dancing together. She is so tiny and I am so old.....haha.

  • hauntingly beautiful

  • Try ebay, they sometimes have this.

  • I was thinking about a girl named Renee that I dated for 3 weeks in late 1967 before she left for flight attendant school for United Airlines. I always think of her when I hear this or Walk Away Renee. This song has such a haunting sound yet it is just beautiful to listen to. I haven't seen her since December of 1967 when she left for school and often wonder how life turned out for her.

  • The B side of Walk Away Renee. Loved them both.

  • Baroque rock gem..I'm not surprised some dance teachers used this in class...

  • I have not heard this song since I was in junior high school, when I was taking ballet classes! Thank you!

  • I just heard this song for the first time today on Radio KYA. Gorgeous. Must get the mp3.

  • Wow... I knew I wasn't crazy! I knew this song existed! Thank you so much for sharing!

  • love it everytime i hear it

    priceless

  • Amen!

  • I never tire of this song or Walk Away Renee

  • sixth grade

    first infatuation with a girl

    mimi

    pretty ballerina

    was i suprised

    not at all

  • My 45 copy of this is MUCH more scratchy, LOL. And it was one record I could play as loud as I wanted without my parents banging on the wall to "Turn that noise down!" Lovely, lovely song.

  • @AZHappy , I know ! Is this cool or what ? I could make you a disc .... just the shipping , what , 2 or 3 dollars ? I have the cd .

  • Mint condition and one of my all time favs..

  • Love it, Love it, Love it.

  • ahead of it's time....put it on my list with Ruby Tuesday,Walk Away Reneee. & Eleanor Rigby....

    ah...renaisssance rock!.....delicious!

  • Being a Dad of a young Ballerina, this song tears my heart from my chest. The thought of your little girl growing up to dance for someone else. The "dreary Sunday morning" being referred to is the rainfall that fills a father's eyes when he realizes that his life is so mortal and his daughter's life was meant to go on.

  • very well said

  • @munchkiecocoa , very cool

  • @munchkiecocoa ..BEAUTIFUL SENTIMENTS..AND A HEARTFELT COMMENT..PEACE AND LOVE

  • Not just the 60s but of all time! Love it Love it Love it!

  • Always liked the Oboe.

  • luv it! wish i could find the whole album!

  • LOVE this song! :)

  • Yes, this is an incredibly beautiful song. Thank you for playing your old 45 for us! For the person who was looking for "Wake Me, Shake Me", it was a Four Tops song, which came out in 1966. It can be found on U-Tube under "wake me shake me four tops". Back in October, Levi Stubbs, long-time member, died, by the way. A great soul / pop group, I think.

  • This has to be one of my personal favorites. Anyone out their who knows of the whereabouts of a song that was called either "Wake Me Shake Me or "Don't Let Me Sleep Too Long"? It was done by a 60's group called the Myddle Class from the Albany N. Y. area. Please post any info you may have to share! Thank you!

  • Her hair so brilliant that it hurt my eyes.

  • John Mellencamp did this live and it was a B side. If anyone could post it you'll be my hero and thank you very much. It was great and live.

  • I had this 45 and the memories that went with it...I haven't heard this in years. Thanks for the posting.

  • Very Beatlesque, very mod and advante garde. I really love this period of time where the variety of music was quite eclectic.

    Love this tune.

  • Was I suprised yeah, was I suprised, no not at all!!!! Great, great song. Still have the original album.

  • Whooooooohoooooo. I love this stuff...was I surprised yeah, was I surprised no, not at all.. Great song, miss the feel that music used to have...so tired of all the digitally dasdardly deeeescusting crap today..what do kids have to look forward too? I remember driving to the beach over topanga canyon, burning the back of my thighs on the hot seats of the car with my sister driving the canyon..waitin for the ocean..gosh dang, good times..

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  • LOVE that song!

  • Thanks for posting this great song, and for showing the original 45 on the turntable.

  • I love this song beautiful lyrics, haunting music a true classic thanks for posting.

  • I couldn't have worded it better myself! exactly the way I've always felt about it too! what is there about those 'haunting' sounding songs that are so goosebump inducing?

  • Absolutely transcendental and beautiful.....

  • Ever since I first heard this when I was in Jr. High, I thought this was the most beautiful song. Just lovely. Thanks for the memories! So glad you've still got your 45! Geez, I remember the parties with stacks and stacks of 45's and LP's on the turntable.

  • alice cooper does an incredible cover of this song!

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  • This song captures the mystical, magical reality of young love.

  • There was an '80s movie about Vietnam war called "Off Limits". This was the theme song.

  • she'll be there...just close your eyes.

  • joepro can you do another video of Pretty Ballerina with a better sound quality.

    Cheers mate.

  • Well, there you are, Pussycat! :D

    You might wanna check out the version by Alice Cooper (see related videos).  It's pretty amazing!

    Love ya,

    NightOwl

  • Cheers Nightowl.

    I allready herd the Alice Cooper version. Its cool.

    Love ya too

    Pussycat

  • Agreed.

    Who knew AC could sound...well, human?

    If you're an AC fan, locate his interview during the 2002 Kentucky Derby.

    It's quite good (in fact, considering the atmosphere/average IQ of the crowd & media covering the event, it's a miracle).

  • one of the most beautiful pop songs ever written

  • Someone said "haunting melody", indeed, haunting, romantic, magical Baroque Rock....

  • Anybody have John Mellencamp's cover of this song ? It is great and should be on Youtube.

  • so obsessed with this song. can't seem to find this song anywhere! 7digital and itunes don't sell it. and amazon is selling the cd for £40!! anyone knows where to get it in uk?

  • Thanks very much for posting the song and to do it like this was genius.

  • Wow!....great tune, I forgot how good this song was, thanx for posting it.

  • Despite the scrathiness, a very cool song and long time since I last heard it, perhaps back in the 60's it was.

  • Hey, what happened to the video of this song? Used to be on YouTube. Have the "Coppyright Pigs" struck again!?

  • I think it's moving in on me...Brings back great memories!

  • I think this is a haunting melody...

  • Funny that you used "haunting" As a kid we had a playroom in the basement with a record player. The light switch was set up that you had to turn it off on the FAR side of the room before you could cross the DARK room to leave.

    I was alone first time I heard this song, I found it spooky. I was reading one of the "creepshow"comic books too. Together, they just put the geebies in me. Let's just say, when I turned off the lights I set a new personal best time for getting across the dark room.

  • I like the way the piano sounds. Strangely beautiful.

  • I dated a girl named Renee for about three weeks in late 1967 until she went to flight attendant (stewardesses in those days) school for United Airlines. Walk away Renee and this song always remind me of her. I was a senior in high school and she graduated the year before. I wonder what she is doing now. I never saw her again and yet I remember how beautiful she was and how my friends thought that she was something. I wonder how many guys had a girl like that in their life?

  • I know how these questions can be...I have several in my life too.

  • Looking at some of the old United adds those girls were quite beautiful.

  • Nice song, and may I also add that you have a very psychedelic stroboscope on that turntable of yours.

  • As for rock's Generation One, this song is perhaps in the top FIVE for me!

  • again and again> this song belongs to my top 50 of all times!!!!

  • the greatest! thank you :)

  • Brings back memories! Thanks for posting!  Smile...

  • one of my absolute favorites - thank you for posting

  • mimi, flushing nyc

    listening?

  • This song bring's bach soooo....many good memorie's of my teen year's. Thank's for posting it for all to enjoy..

  • Another hauntingly beautiful song by the Left Bank. This song brings back such sweet memories of my childhood. The sound of this group reminded us so much of the whole British explosion sound....we loved it..

  • Actually these guys were New York, I think!!

  • Wow, really??? I always assumed they were from England. Cool....

  • Yeah these were American guys, from New York!

  • This may have been posted already but this wonderful song can be heard in the opening sequence of a film called Saigon or Off Limits with Willem Dafoe

    Regards

    Peter

  • Truly a GREAT Vietnam-era hit.

  • WoW, great memories. I'd do it ALL OVER AGAIN!

  • love the scratches!!  really!! all of mine had at least a small one on it.. love the sound.. thanks!!

  • I saw the Left Banke play a Concert in Columbus , Ohio . Don't remember anything other than they did their. 2 top 40 hits " Walk Away Renee " was always and still is one of my favorite songs. Thanks for posting it and the memories how ever faint. of the Concert.

  • So many memories, and such a great song, thank you Joe!

  • This is at the top of my favorites list...after all the Beatles songs, that is. May all the new musicians out there have a chance to hear the incredible music of the 60's so they can adapt their styles more in an effort to bring back MUSIC instead of just negative RAP or hip hop....

  • You are 100% correct my friend

  • Not available on iTunes, so this video of the 45 playing is a fitting way for those who would have purchased it there to get a chance to enjoy it once again. Again, quite fitting.

  • One of my top three singles of the sixties. Gorgeous!

  • sixth grade and the first girl i fell in love with, mimi, loved this song

    great memories

    haunting sound

  • perfect for a song that never got off the ground, how sad and nice a pleasant sound, great lyrics and some great hooks and bridges

  • Thanks Joe! A great memory. 5 Stars!

  • Wonderful, from a wonderful magic time.........

  • I like the Alice Cooper version. It was great because his wife is a pretty ballerina.

  • God!  Thank you for posting!

  • Had an epilectic fit watching the turn-table spin aclown :o)

  • Haunting and compelling; and weird bridge aside, it rocks. This song still resonates; it is a complete original.

  • I wish someone could make a video of this based on the "Flowers in the Attic" series.

  • Bless you for posting.

    Wish you could have seen "Stop Stop Stop" performed by Nervus Rex at CBGB with Miriam Linna on the drums.

    Trust me.

    Greetings from France, and I send my love to The Pharoah. He knows who he is and what we had.

  • Wasn't this a Bside? I remember playing it over and over when I first got my 45 (gone long ago). Melancholy but simply beautiful. Love the Zombies too....

  • I Don't think so.

  • what's on the flip side of pretty ballerina?

  • No, it was the A-side.

  • Great song. Although I believe your record player is slow.

  • Yes it is a great song! It is slow by half a key!

  • discovered this via erol alkans a-z on radio 1. brilliant singer!

  • Oh boy, does this bring back memories!

    I loved this song back then and still do.

    Thanks for the memories, joepro 1964.

  • great tune & arrangement; I also recommend 'Leave Me Be' by the Zombies.

  • you know how to talk to people! Zombies & Left Banke such great bands!

    i would add some stuff by the Hollies like "butterfly" or "king midas in reverse"

  • Great Song! Added it to my Favorites.

  • Amazing how music turns time.A very haunting song.

  • This song reminds me of high school. Thankyou soooo much. hugs, Chris

  • Now THAT'S !!!! what I'm talking about!!!!

    You got it Joe, you win the Grammy!!

  • pero que exquisitez de cancion!

  • Thought this was from 1962? Someone put 1967.

    Vintage stuff.....timeless. Great to here it.

  • thanks, I heard this song on a local radio station while on my morning cummute. Thankfully, a radio station here does a good job of playing oldies but goodies like this one. But, man, this one took me waaay back.

    I just had to hear it again.

    thank you!

  • Have searched for 30 years for this song! Thnx for getting it here on YouTube!

  • I love this song. Thanks for putting this one up and sharing. Good stuff!

  • I've always loved this song. Hard to find it. Glad to see/hear it on YouTube. Just found an interview with MB from a few years ago.

  • I always thought that this should have been a bigger hit than "Don't Walk Away Rene."

  • "There's Gonna be a Siorm has first two lb albums plus three Bert Sommer vocals (Rhino Records). Montage and Beckies are also Lefte Banke since MB was able to get singers who could cover Steve Martin's vocals. "Strangers On A Train" is a great Lefte Banke album without MB. Well worth digging up.

  • wheres all the excellent videos go to this and their other stuff,someone re-post them please.

  • Thank you for posting this. I remember this song, love it and am glad to re-discover it.

  • turntable's slow

  • Great song, very inventive melody, beautiful orchestration..funny around 1966-67 a lot of rock and pop acts were using this kind of instrumentation..in addition to the Beatles who used everything from a Bach trumpet on "Penny Lane" to the LSO on "A Day in the Life", the Stones used a classical string section on "As Time Goes By", folk divas Joan Baez and Judy Collins each released albums with classical orchestration (JOAN and WILDFLOWERS, respectively), etc.

  • I couldn't agree with you more. I see you are a historian of rock. I would just like to add the Moody Blues and the use of the melotron that gave their songs such an atmospheric classical sound not to mention their album Days of Future Past, which was recorded with the entire London Symphony Orchestra. Brilliant. Peace.

  • along the same lines, jon lord of deep purple scored and wrote a concerto for dp and the royal philharmonic in '69 (40 yrs ago!) check it out on youtube....amazing

  • nice song. was featured in the beginning of the willem dafoe/gregory hines movie 'off limits'. nice film about nam.

  • I had a 66 Plymouth Fury just like the one they drove.

  • what no vidieo, oh well lets just put their songs back on the wall since they won't sing for us at all,oh it seemed like such fun until they lost all that they won raine

  • what a great classic song. glad alice cooper did a great cover of this too.

  • Alice Cooper's cover is actually better. And I usually don't go for covers of original songs.

  • I remember this lovely song from the winter of 1967.

    Thanks for posting.

  • thank you laura for sending me this......

  • Great song from the sixties. How I love music from that time period. Thanks for posting.

  • Every time I hear this song, I go to heaven.

  • I cherish this song and will always remember the good old days...

  • Ah, this is the one! I heard this song in the car with Mom about 4 years ago, she told me who sung it, but I've been wondering about it ever since. Nice to finally put the pieces together here!

  • Timeless and very beautiful song ..thx for the post.

  • there is also "Sugarless" by Caviar witch uses samples from Pretty Ballerina. and u may find it on the Gone in 6o seconds soundtrack (2000)

  • Another hard to find oldie.About the only thing you hear from Left Banke is Walk Away Renee,which I've been expecting Kenny Chesney to cover,ha ha.

  • i miss my old turntable. sigh.

  • they make LPs with usb outlets now, rejoice, and be at peace

  • --huh? LP's with USB cords?? plz explain. 64citykid.