Groovy 60s rock/pop: #8 "Walk Away Renee" The Left Banke (1966)

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The Left Banke was described as baroque pop which is a term I was unfamiliar with in association with rock. Baroque refers to a European artistic period that began in the 1600s. The connection is personified in “Walk Away Renee” with string section, flute solo and harpsichord. The Left Banke was formed in 1965 in New York and had hits with “Walk Away Renee” (Billboard #5) and “Pretty Ballerina” (#15). The album was titled “Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina” and the song written by Michael Brown, Bob Calilli and Tony Sansone. Keyboardist Brown said the song was inspired by his infatuation with bassist Tom Finn’s girlfriend Renee. Sansone disputed this but Brown claimed “Pretty Ballerina” was also Renee. Lead singer is Steve Martin Caro. The band was strife with infighting and turnover. Brown formed a new Left Banke that included future actor Michael McKean (“This is Spinal Tap”). That did not work out and Brown rejoined the original Left Banke which broke up in 1969. There were reunions until Brown’s 2015 death. “Walk Away Renee” was covered by the Four Tops and Linda Ronstadt and Ann Savoy for their “Adieu False Heart” album.