Walk Away Renee - The Left Banke

ABOUT THE REAL RENEE
The song is one of a number Brown wrote about Renee Fladen-Kamm, then-girlfriend of The Left Banke's bassist Tom Finn and object of Brown's affection. She was associated with the band for a few weeks, and described as a free-spirited and quite tall blonde. The song was written one month after Brown met her. "Walk Away Renée" was one of series of love songs the infatuated Brown wrote after meeting his newfound muse. Other songs written about her include the band's second hit "Pretty Ballerina" and "She May Call You Up Tonight". After decades of obscurity, she was identified in 2001 as a noted singer, vocal teacher and artist on the West Coast.

Brown says of his unrequited love for Renée: "I was just sort of mythologically in love, if you know what I mean, without having evidence in fact or in deed...But I was as close as anybody could be to the real thing"

Fladen-Kamm was looking on during the recording of the song, and her presence nearly prevented its completion. In an interview, Brown stated: "My hands were shaking when I tried to play, because she was right there in the control room," he says. "There was no way I could do it with her around, so I came back and did it later."

ABOUT THE GROUP
The Left Banke was a 1960s American pop-music group best remembered for its two hit singles, "Walk Away Renée" and "Pretty Ballerina". The band often utilized what was referred to as "baroque" string arrangements, which led its music to be termed "Bach-rock". The band's use of harmonies saw it compared to contemporaries such as The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Zombies, and other British Invasion groups. In 2004, Rolling Stone placed "Walk Away Renée" at number 220 in the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

ABOUT THE SONG
"Walk Away Renée" is a song made popular by the band The Left Banke in 1966 (single release: July 1966, Smash Records, title printed as "Walk Away Renee"), composed by the group's then 16-year-old keyboard player Michael Brown (real name Michael Lookofsky) and Tony Sansone. Bob Calilli is also credited as a writer, though he didn't actually write any of the lyrics or music - he received credit in exchange for setting up the session in which the writing stage of the song was completed.[citation needed] The song was also a chart hit for the Motown group The Four Tops in 1968.

The song features a flute being played during the instrumental portion of the middle portion of the song. Michael Brown got the idea for the flute solo from The Mamas & the Papas song "California Dreamin'" which had been recorded in November 1965 but wasn't a hit and in heavy rotation until early 1966. The song also includes a lush Obbligato string orchestration, memorable harpsichord accompaniment, and a falling chromatic bass melody which led critics to refer to the group's sound as Baroque pop, "Bach-Rock" or Baroque n Roll.

Rolling Stone placed the song at number 220 in the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.After its initial release, it spent thirteen weeks on the charts with a top spot at #5. It has been widely covered by artists in a wide range of genres and styles, often with great success. For example, Linda Ronstadt and Ann Savoy recently covered the song on their album Adieu False Heart. The New York Times' reviewer Jon Pareles stated of their cover version that:

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[douglasskinner]

The composer of this video seems to weedling a political statement into this otherwise nice video; what with images of food banks and bums. I could be wrong but I think...just a wee bit!...that this is a love song, am I right? Don't try to be profound, just be truthful.

[deafsubtitles]

@douglasskinner Bro. listen to the words. In one part it is a love song of a guy who lost his girl. While he remembers his love, he's falling apart mentally and emotionally.

At having met Renee years later (?), in his condition, he assures her he will not stock her though he still remembers their time together. Alone now, he continues falling apart, not blaming Renee or anyone.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[TheOtherRoger]

To 'deafsubtitles'

I believe your lyric set to be the most accurate, and the vid the most compelling.

[deafsubtitles]

@TheOtherRoger Thank you.

[bill5758]

Have always loved this song, it touches a place within.........

[deafsubtitles]

@travisdee50 THAT would just screw things up. The lyrics follow the singer as it is sung. Your suggestion would make it feel like a bad Japanese movie. I have doing this for 5 years and the present way is by far the best. THANKS for your comments.

[fwainseattle]

This song makes me have a good cry. That young man must have been really feeling it when he sang.

[deafsubtitles]

@douglasskinner We're cool. Hope you still like it, the way I interpreted it.

HAVE a great weekend, bro.

[douglasskinner]

@douglasskinner 

[douglasskinner]

@deafsubtitles I think we're in violent agreement! It IS

[dewatif]

Beautiful song , timeless. Thankyou

[MrHwy61]

I thought about this tune as I drove to Walmart to pick up a Christmas card for you Marah. A very nice tune to take in and ponder!