This song always takes me back to my high school days. When I was in the 10 grade I had a crush on a girl in my biology class. I'd also see her everyday in the cafeteria. We had a juke box in the cafeteria and it seemed that every time this song was playing, I'd see her. But I was too shy to approach. Toward the end of my sophomore year I learned that my family was moving out of state and I would not be coming back to that school the next year. On the last day this girl walked by me in the cafeteria and, as usual, I did nothing. I watched her walk out the door knowing I'd never see her again. Every time I hear this song, I think of her and wonder how her life turned out.
we all have those vignettes, razor sharp cuts from our memory, and yet poignantly sweet. Those lost girls and the lost possibilities. Your recollection is perfect for this track
The Left Banke. A group of teenage boys from New York City produced this beautiful, sadly romantic baroque rock classic. Michael Brown, the piano prodigy in the band (his father ran a recording studio on Manhattan's Lower East Side) would later co-found Stories, who had a hit cover of Errol Brown's "Brother Louie." Renee was a real young lady who was the sometime gf of the band's bass player Tom Finn. Brown was too shy to ever approach her, so he wrote this song instead. Thanks, Harri!
The Left Banke was the pioneer of Baroque rock, a movement between 1965-69. A blend of Lydian dominant and Mixolydian modes. it is meant to embrace a mournful, sad, yet upbeat tempo. Pretty Ballerina was their other top hit. The Hollies had a baroque rock hit with "Bus Stop", which is a very sad sounding song, yet it is a love song.
These guys were basically a one hit wonder band but they made some really great albums and deserve to be better known. Pretty Ballerina is another one by them that you should hit.
Since my name is Rene' my ex husband, would say "just walk away Rene" when we fought. One day I did, for good! 😆😅🤣 Still love my song, though! Thank you! Btw: I was born in the 1950s, The hospital left the 2nd "e" off my name, when my mom got the birth certificate, she said "oh well, too much trouble to change it now." When this song was popular, I wanted my missing "e" so I could be that Renée. 😉
This song came out when I was 8 years old. I was instantly mesmerized by the string arrangements & the haunting flute solo. The Four Tops did a nice version of this, but nothing beats the original.
Renee was my aunt’s name. Her, her husband, their daughters Amy and Lori, and their unborn child all perished in a small plane crash. My father was tasked with identifying the bodies and it haunted him his entire life. He would tear up every time this song played, and so would I. He’s gone now, too. Thank you for randomly popping up in my feed!
Thanks Harri, for this amazing song by Left Banke. One of my favorite songs from the 1960s. In 2005 Rolling Stone magazine placed "Walk away Renee" at No. 220 in the 500 greatest songs of all time.
Young Men are so stupid... How do you know if that young woman you are thinking about would spurn you?! What have you got to loose if she laughs at you, mocks you? A little dignity? @ least you learn something, two things, either she is or she isn't worthy of your regard and you can stop wondering and you learn for now and forever on, that you are a man and you have the courage needed for life! I once knew a girl, so beautiful she was a miss Montana contestent fo miss America.... And she told me how fed up she was with men, I asked why, she said the nice ones were too shy to approach her, (she knew she was dauntingly beautiful and it hurt her) & that only the jerks who wanted to parade her on their arm to make themselves the cool guy, ever asked her out and she was sick of them. One guy went to introduce her, showing off, but couldn't even remember her name. She was fed up. Would she have gone out with a geek? I don't know, but the point is neither do you til you ask, nicely, and find out.....
Back then many rockers had studied music and an instrument at some point in school. Many had exposure to classical music as well. Bring back music training in America’s schools! It creates so many opportunities!
Walk away Renee was arranged in a baroque Style. A lot of artists in the sixties used the Baroque style in some of their songs. Two notable examples were the Beatles using that style in their song she's leaving home. Also Paul Mauriat employed that style in his hit version of Love is Blue. Because of the richness of music education in schools back in those days, a lot of musicians, even ones playing rock and other popular music forms were classically-trained and from time to time would incorporate elements of the classics into their music. Eric Carmen was another example in the 70s. He employed elements of Rachmaninoff pieces into all by myself and never gonna fall in love again
One of my all time faves @Harri ❤ and John Chu !! you can feel so much emotion in every note! Brilliant! 🇨🇦 and a true story written by a heartbroken Brown.
Fun Fact (To me, anyway!) Lead singe Carmelo Esteban "Steve" Martin Caro was the son of flamenco guitarist and vocalist Sarita Heredia, Female Flamenco guitarists were a very rare breed, she was the only one in the world during the 1950s and 1960s.
I am from the UK. They didn't have any hits over here (the Four Tops had a hit with this song), but I got hold of this album and it is an absolute gem! Many great tracks with a "classical music" feel.
It is, indeed, a gem of an album. If you like that 'Baroque' sound, or something that either precedes or coincides with the progressively classical and Romantic rock styles of The Moody Blues, Procol Harum, King Crimson, Emerson, Lake and Palmer and Yes, here are some songs in a strangely similiar vein from other U.S. bands that might interest you: Rain Song, Unlock My Door--Fever Tree; Mechanical World, Taurus--Spirit; On The Way Home--Buffalo Springfield; Splash 1--The 13th Floor Elevators; My Mirage--Iron Butterfly. Surprisingly, both Fever Tree and The 13th Floor Elevators are from Texas, my home state! 🤠
Hi Harri, well another old tune I'd forgotten about but I loved it when it came out. I'm sure I spent my 75 cent allowance (my entire income!) on the 45 rpm record.
A band with a similar sound was The Merry-Go-Round who had a couple of minor hits "You're a Very Lovely Woman" and "Live" (later covered by The Bangles).
I was a freshman in high school when this came out. I loved it then and now. Something so haunting about the music - so beautiful. Thank you. God bless you
Such a beautiful song from the past. The lyrics, melody and orchestral accompaniment all so lovely produced. This was so popular heard on many genres of radio. Great reaction Harri. Thanks Harri and John. 👏👏 Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
One of my favorite bands from the 6o's. They were amazing. Sadly, they're all gone now, except for guitarist Rick Brand, who wasn't with them for a very long time.
As someone else mentioned, Renee was the girlfriend of the band's bass player. Michael Brown wrote it & he also wrote their future hit Pretty Ballerina, which was also about Renee.
*_The Left Banke_* was one of the first groups to ever incorporate classical instrumentation and Baroque musical styles into their pop/rock catalogue --- in that respect, they more resemble the English groups around at the time that were doing similar things such as *_The Kinks, The Zombies, The Hollies_* and of course *_The Beatles._* They have many worthy songs that unfortunately go unheard because they were either not released as singles or simply lost to time and obscurity. In addition to *_Don't Walk Away Renee_* and *_Pretty Ballerina_* which are their most known tunes, try listening to such songs as *_I Haven't Got the Nerve, She May Call you up Tonight, I've Got Something on my Mind, Barterer's and Their Wives, Sing Little Bird Sing_* and *_Dark is the Bark._* Many of these tunes display a baroque pop sensibility and are quite good and worth listening to.
OK.. so now IOU and John, this is one of the most beautiful and memorable songs of the 60s. Rickie Lee Jones did a slower blusier cover in the 80s that's also wonderful.
@@garyarnett1220 Rickie Lee Jones is extremely underrated, in my book. She has so much talent, she has produced so much what I call "cinematic music" (guess i made that up?). Aside from Ghosty Head which I never really got, but respect her artistic choices.... I love all of her music. All of it. She is a gem, IMO.
@@floyd2222 Indeed she is deserving of a greater audience ... she was early on living in Santa Monica, CA and the station KCRW in Santa Monica which was dj moderated played her quite a lot...which is why I even knew of her.
Flute solo, sounds like an Alto Flute [plays lower than a regular one]. iLMS very familiar with this record...they sounded a little bit like The Association, another group of the same era of the late 1960's. In grade school we had a very nice student named Renee, and on the playground we used to sing this to her, and she'd smile and turn red from embarrassment lol. "Don't walk away Renee, we haven't finished singing yet..."😂
Great song. I first heard a version of this in the US TV series “Ally McBeal.” I really liked it and found a version by Southside Johnny and the Asbury Dukes. A New Jersey band contemporary with and similar sounding in a lot of ways to Bruce Springsteen and the East St Band.
This wonderful, iconic song is from 1966 and is the original. The Four Tops later covered it, and for some reason their version became more popular, perhaps because they were a Motown group and heavily promoted.
I was introduced to this song by an old friend of mines Dad Ron. I mentioned that I was really into the rock, pop and folk music of the 60s so he suggested that I check it out and im glad he did. I got so much flack about my musical taste over the years because people couldn't understand how I could be interested in music that was several decades before my time.
There was so much great, unique music in the 60's. One hit wonders or bands that went on and on. You, Harri, have hit many. This one, and recently I watched your reaction to We Five, You Were On My Mind. Great stuff!
Harri, they call it Baroque rock, after the Composers in the Renaissance/Baroque transitional era 1600- 1760. Walk Away Renée" is a song written by Michael Brown, Bob Calilli, and Tony Sansone for the band the Left Banke, released as a single in July 1966. Steve Martin Caro is featured on lead vocals. It spent 13 weeks on the US charts, with a top spot of No. 5. The song has been widely considered a quintessence of the baroque pop genre.This song features a flute solo played during the instrumental bridge of the middle portion of the song. It was inspired by the Mamas & the Papas song "California Dreamin'" which had been recorded in November 1965, but was not an immediate hit until early 1966. The arrangement for "Walk Away Renée " also includes a lush string orchestration, a jangling harpsichord part, and a descending chromatic bass melody. The session was produced by brothers Bill and Steve Jerome, along with Brown's father, jazz and classical violinist Harry Lookofsky, who also led the string players. The session took place in March 1966.
John, another great submission You instantly took me back to when this song was played nearly around the clock for quite some time. Very nice review, Harri.
John Chu: great choice and one of my all-time favorites! I was going to pick it for one of my May choices, but you beat me to the punch. Harri, nice reaction. This is one of the best examples of 1960's Baroque Rock, the harpsichord is a give-away.
Even more beautiful is their other hit "Pretty Ballerina" - I'd love to hear your response to this one! Few bands were using strings and/or a harpsichord back in the '60s (except Procol Harum) so they were tagged with that "baroque rock" classification. Still hoping you review the blue-eyed soul of Lulu doing "Oh Me, Oh My" that Aretha Franklin would later cover. Lulu was married to Maurice Gibb, of the Bee Gees, back in the day and most folks are more familiar with her classic from the movie, "To Sir With Love". Please check this one out for "diamonds in your ears", compadre!
Harri I had always loved this song done by The Left Bank. It reminds me if my high school days. Linda Ronstandt has done a great rendition of it. You should check it out and compare the two.
I've always loved songs with strings in them (like The Troggs' "Love Is All Around"). I do love this version but like The Four Tops' version just a little more. Great song and great singing!
Great Classic song choice John. One of the great sixties songs. Pretty Ballerina was another of their hits. Nice reaction Harri. I think the Four Tops covered this. I like this version a bit better. 👍🙃🇺🇸🇨🇦🇬🇧🤴
This song has always been a favorite. I was very young when it came out, but even then, it had something that just spoke to me. I’ve heard a few remakes that were great too, such as the version by Rickie Lee Jones.
First time viewer and I have subscribed. I thinking there is something haunting and heartbreaking about the lead singer's voice and the words he's singing. This is one of my favorite songs, thanks for sharing it.
This song always takes me back to my high school days. When I was in the 10 grade I had a crush on a girl in my biology class. I'd also see her everyday in the cafeteria. We had a juke box in the cafeteria and it seemed that every time this song was playing, I'd see her. But I was too shy to approach. Toward the end of my sophomore year I learned that my family was moving out of state and I would not be coming back to that school the next year. On the last day this girl walked by me in the cafeteria and, as usual, I did nothing. I watched her walk out the door knowing I'd never see her again. Every time I hear this song, I think of her and wonder how her life turned out.
I mirror me in your words.....a sad reminder !
we all have those vignettes, razor sharp cuts from our memory, and yet poignantly sweet. Those lost girls and the lost possibilities. Your recollection is perfect for this track
Perfect reply .... we've all been there when we see THAT girl and we just can't approach them.
Me too guys, And her name was Renee. Too chicken and inexperienced to approach her.
Yes she was Renee and I let her walk away. Still think of her today
The Left Banke. A group of teenage boys from New York City produced this beautiful, sadly romantic baroque rock classic. Michael Brown, the piano prodigy in the band (his father ran a recording studio on Manhattan's Lower East Side) would later co-found Stories, who had a hit cover of Errol Brown's "Brother Louie." Renee was a real young lady who was the sometime gf of the band's bass player Tom Finn. Brown was too shy to ever approach her, so he wrote this song instead. Thanks, Harri!
I absolutely love this song and for some reason, I thought Harri had already reacted to it.
I know the song. It's ok, but I never heard of the name of the band.
I really love that song . You should listen to A younger girl by the critters in the same vein.
The Left Banke was so much better than Stories... Michael Brown (Michael Lookofsky) had the potential to be a superstar but he led a troubled life.
@@NoSnoozeBlues1 He was crazy talented.
The Left Banke was the pioneer of Baroque rock, a movement between 1965-69. A blend of Lydian dominant and Mixolydian modes. it is meant to embrace a mournful, sad, yet upbeat tempo. Pretty Ballerina was their other top hit. The Hollies had a baroque rock hit with "Bus Stop", which is a very sad sounding song, yet it is a love song.
Their song Pretty Ballerina was inspired by the same girl named Renee, which one of the bandmembers had a crush on. She was a ballet dancer.
Have always loved this beautiful and haunting song. Thank you for sharing your opinions on it. it's a timeless classic.
That chorus is one of the greatest in music history...
These guys were basically a one hit wonder band but they made some really great albums and deserve to be better known. Pretty Ballerina is another one by them that you should hit.
Oh yes. Pretty Ballerina is fantastic. Actually covered by Alice Cooper if all people.
She May Call You Up Tonight is just as good as Pretty Ballerina. Check it out.
Another big hit of the Left Banke is. Pretty Ballerina !
That song is haunting and melancholic. Take my advice: Don't listen to it after a breakup. I'm pretty sure the singer was in fact 16.
Since my name is Rene' my ex husband, would say "just walk away Rene" when we
fought. One day I did, for
good! 😆😅🤣 Still love my song, though! Thank you!
Btw: I was born in the 1950s, The hospital left the
2nd "e" off my name, when my mom got the birth certificate, she said "oh well,
too much trouble to change
it now." When this song was popular, I wanted my missing "e" so I could be that Renée. 😉
Being 74 yrs old now has its memoirs that will always live on, and on..
Thank you for sharing,
Bob
Good choice I played with these guys over the years. George Harrison fav American band in 1967.
This song came out when I was 8 years old. I was instantly mesmerized by the string arrangements & the haunting flute solo. The Four Tops did a nice version of this, but nothing beats the original.
Michael Brown who wrote the song, his father played violin on Walk Away Renee.
Great song. You don’t hear it a lot, so when it is played it sticks out as special.
One of my favorite songs from the 60s.
Love this song! Had it on a '45.
The original is my favorite, but The Four Tops and Linda Ronstadt did covers that I like too.
Always loved this song...the Four Tops also did a killer cover version in 1968.
Yup, for years I assumed the Four Tops did the original.
Renee was my aunt’s name. Her, her husband, their daughters Amy and Lori, and their unborn child all perished in a small plane crash. My father was tasked with identifying the bodies and it haunted him his entire life. He would tear up every time this song played, and so would I. He’s gone now, too. Thank you for randomly popping up in my feed!
aaw how sad God BLess your aunt
Such a Great Oldie Harri, one of My Faves 😍
one of the greatest one-hit wonders
2 actually!
One of my favorite songs from the 1960's 1966 ! The Left Banke were genius writers and musicians ❤❤
I remember this song, but I never knew who the band was. So thank you for the memories Harri and John Chu
One of my great memories of Middle School back in the 60's.Still holds up today.
Thanks Harri, for this amazing song by Left Banke. One of my favorite songs from the 1960s.
In 2005 Rolling Stone magazine placed "Walk away Renee" at No. 220 in the 500 greatest
songs of all time.
Loved it so much as a teen, it seemed to encapsulate all time, to date..... Stepping back into teen love, 60's &, every Era.... Beauty!
Young Men are so stupid... How do you know if that young woman you are thinking about would spurn you?! What have you got to loose if she laughs at you, mocks you? A little dignity? @ least you learn something, two things, either she is or she isn't worthy of your regard and you can stop wondering and you learn for now and forever on, that you are a man and you have the courage needed for life! I once knew a girl, so beautiful she was a miss Montana contestent fo miss America.... And she told me how fed up she was with men, I asked why, she said the nice ones were too shy to approach her, (she knew she was dauntingly beautiful and it hurt her) & that only the jerks who wanted to parade her on their arm to make themselves the cool guy, ever asked her out and she was sick of them. One guy went to introduce her, showing off, but couldn't even remember her name. She was fed up. Would she have gone out with a geek? I don't know, but the point is neither do you til you ask, nicely, and find out.....
#220? This had to be rated in a least the top 100.
Great song from the 60s. Used to listen to it all the time back then.
Now you should try the next song listed on the cover, 'Pretty Ballerina', arguably even better.
The label put on their music was Baroque Rock. The keyboard player was classically trained. Their other huge hit was Pretty Ballerina. Check it out.
Always loved the close harmonies on this record.
Great stuff!
You should play “Pretty Ballerina”
Back then many rockers had studied music and an instrument at some point in school. Many had exposure to classical music as well. Bring back music training in America’s schools! It creates so many opportunities!
If "No Child Left Behind" AKA 'teaching to the (achievement) test' is eliminated, music training and other arts will return to U.S. schools.
I've always loved this song. Great 60s memories
@johnchu. This is my absolute favorite flute solo. Of all of music.
Favorite of mine, covered by others through the years, Beautiful number great violin makes the song
Walk away Renee was arranged in a baroque Style. A lot of artists in the sixties used the Baroque style in some of their songs. Two notable examples were the Beatles using that style in their song she's leaving home. Also Paul Mauriat employed that style in his hit version of Love is Blue. Because of the richness of music education in schools back in those days, a lot of musicians, even ones playing rock and other popular music forms were classically-trained and from time to time would incorporate elements of the classics into their music. Eric Carmen was another example in the 70s. He employed elements of Rachmaninoff pieces into all by myself and never gonna fall in love again
Don’t forget “She’s a Rainbow”… ✌️
Great reaction, great song. The Four Tops (especially Levi Stubbs) also did a terrific cover.
Linda Ronstadt and Ann Savoy did a beautiful cover of this song on their album Adieu False Heart.
Such a great song! I still have the 45rpm I bought when this came out. I was 12 or 13❤️
Thanks for the background on the band. Part of my life back then.
I LOVE this song so so much ❣️ THANKS! I WAS YOUNG AND IT WAS ONE OF MY FAVS AND STILL IS.
A beautiful song with an unforgettable melody. The music throughout is beautiful.
It's a very haunting song, I'm glad hat you like it.
One of my all time faves @Harri ❤ and John Chu !! you can feel so much emotion in every note! Brilliant! 🇨🇦 and a true story written by a heartbroken Brown.
Of all the songs I grew up with in the 60's and 70's this is my very favorite, I love it. It gives me chills,beautiful!!!
❤Thanks for the play....Hadn't heard this for decades .....always a great listen ....After this I have to add it to my playlist !!!
Thanks, Harry. Brought back memories of many years gone by. 💓
Fun Fact (To me, anyway!) Lead singe Carmelo Esteban "Steve" Martin Caro was the son of flamenco guitarist and vocalist Sarita Heredia,
Female Flamenco guitarists were a very rare breed, she was the only one in the world during the 1950s and 1960s.
Wow. I haven't heard this is ages. I love this. Good memories even though it is a sad song. 🇨🇦👍💖
This was a favorite of mine back in the day. Nice use of classically inspired orchestration.
You've done it again Harri. Thanks
I'm impressed. These teenagers are awesome. I always loved this song.
I am from the UK. They didn't have any hits over here (the Four Tops had a hit with this song), but I got hold of this album and it is an absolute gem! Many great tracks with a "classical music" feel.
It is, indeed, a gem of an album. If you like that 'Baroque' sound, or something that either precedes or coincides with the progressively classical and Romantic rock styles of The Moody Blues, Procol Harum, King Crimson, Emerson, Lake and Palmer and Yes, here are some songs in a strangely similiar vein from other U.S. bands that might interest you:
Rain Song, Unlock My Door--Fever Tree; Mechanical World, Taurus--Spirit; On The Way Home--Buffalo Springfield; Splash 1--The 13th Floor Elevators; My Mirage--Iron Butterfly.
Surprisingly, both Fever Tree and The 13th Floor Elevators are from Texas, my home state! 🤠
Thank you for reacting to one of my favorites. Their is 2 videos that shows them performing this song, too, which are great.
Once again, John Chu educates us and Harri provides great commentary. It doesn’t get any better🌺✌️
Another auditory gem from the two decades that delivered tons if them, 60's and the 70's.
Hi Harri, well another old tune I'd forgotten about but I loved it when it came out. I'm sure I spent my 75 cent allowance (my entire income!) on the 45 rpm record.
Wonderful song by two-hit wonders. Great analysis Harri.
A band with a similar sound was The Merry-Go-Round who had a couple of minor hits "You're a Very Lovely Woman" and "Live" (later covered by The Bangles).
In the era of the "garage band" rave anytime these groups did a studio produced ballad it blew me away.
One of my favorite oldies ❤
I was a freshman in high school when this came out. I loved it then and now. Something so haunting about the music - so beautiful. Thank you. God bless you
A song from my high school days. I JUST posted this to my Facebook timeline.
"your name and mine, inside a heart upon a wall... Still finds a way to haunt me, though they're so small"... Heartbreaking
This is the only song with my name in it!
Not a bad one! Memorable song!
Hello Renee! 😊
I heard this song for over 50 yrs and its always beautiful, why can't teens today make a song like this !
Such a beautiful song from the past. The lyrics, melody and orchestral accompaniment all so lovely produced. This was so popular heard on many genres of radio. Great reaction Harri. Thanks Harri and John. 👏👏 Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
I remember when this song was popular - I was born in 1956, so I was a young preteen or teen when I first heard this - always loved it!!!
One of my favorite bands from the 6o's. They were amazing. Sadly, they're all gone now, except for guitarist Rick Brand, who wasn't with them for a very long time.
As someone else mentioned, Renee was the girlfriend of the band's bass player. Michael Brown wrote it & he also wrote their future hit Pretty Ballerina, which was also about Renee.
Back when music was real played and sung by talented artists
Tom Scholtz of the band Boston was inspired by this song to write "More Than a Feeling" with the lyrics "till I see Marianne walk away".
Love this song Harri! Their other song "Pretty Ballerina" is nice too ☺
Whenever the question of the greatest pop song of all time comes up, I only have one answer. And here it is.
*_The Left Banke_* was one of the first groups to ever incorporate classical instrumentation and Baroque musical styles into their pop/rock catalogue --- in that respect, they more resemble the English groups around at the time that were doing similar things such as *_The Kinks, The Zombies, The Hollies_* and of course *_The Beatles._* They have many worthy songs that unfortunately go unheard because they were either not released as singles or simply lost to time and obscurity. In addition to *_Don't Walk Away Renee_* and *_Pretty Ballerina_* which are their most known tunes, try listening to such songs as *_I Haven't Got the Nerve, She May Call you up Tonight, I've Got Something on my Mind, Barterer's and Their Wives, Sing Little Bird Sing_* and *_Dark is the Bark._* Many of these tunes display a baroque pop sensibility and are quite good and worth listening to.
OK.. so now IOU and John, this is one of the most beautiful and memorable songs of the 60s. Rickie Lee Jones did a slower blusier cover in the 80s that's also wonderful.
^ thanks for posting this - YES YES YES - Rickie Lee's cover is amazing. ;-)
@@floyd2222 It's so soulful...and from an obscure EP at that...love the whole EP
@@garyarnett1220 Rickie Lee Jones is extremely underrated, in my book. She has so much talent, she has produced so much what I call "cinematic music" (guess i made that up?). Aside from Ghosty Head which I never really got, but respect her artistic choices.... I love all of her music. All of it. She is a gem, IMO.
@@floyd2222 Indeed she is deserving of a greater audience ... she was early on living in Santa Monica, CA and the station KCRW in Santa Monica which was dj moderated played her quite a lot...which is why I even knew of her.
Absolutley loved Ricki Lee version.
Hi Harri Always liked this song for obvious reasons lol 💜 nice to hear my name in such a beautiful song ! Thank you luv your channel 💜
Flute solo, sounds like an Alto Flute [plays lower than a regular one]. iLMS very familiar with this record...they sounded a little bit like The Association, another group of the same era of the late 1960's. In grade school we had a very nice student named Renee, and on the playground we used to sing this to her, and she'd smile and turn red from embarrassment lol. "Don't walk away Renee, we haven't finished singing yet..."😂
Or, like the lyrics say: just walk away renee lol!
This was always one of my favorite songs. Brilliant Baroque style, which I love.
A song that brings back some good times for me. Thanks John.
Yes, I had a crush on a girl when this song came out. Brings back memories.
Great song. I first heard a version of this in the US TV series “Ally McBeal.” I really liked it and found a version by Southside Johnny and the Asbury Dukes. A New Jersey band contemporary with and similar sounding in a lot of ways to Bruce Springsteen and the East St Band.
This wonderful, iconic song is from 1966 and is the original. The Four Tops later covered it, and for some reason their version became more popular, perhaps because they were a Motown group and heavily promoted.
I was introduced to this song by an old friend of mines Dad Ron. I mentioned that I was really into the rock, pop and folk music of the 60s so he suggested that I check it out and im glad he did. I got so much flack about my musical taste over the years because people couldn't understand how I could be interested in music that was several decades before my time.
Who cares, if you like it, you like it! ✌
There was so much great, unique music in the 60's. One hit wonders or bands that went on and on. You, Harri, have hit many. This one, and recently I watched your reaction to We Five, You Were On My Mind. Great stuff!
A very beautiful bittersweet song i remember when I was a kid when it was new. It brought a tear to my eyes .
Harri, they call it Baroque rock, after the Composers in the Renaissance/Baroque transitional era 1600- 1760.
Walk Away Renée" is a song written by Michael Brown, Bob Calilli, and Tony Sansone for the band the Left Banke, released as a single in July 1966. Steve Martin Caro is featured on lead vocals. It spent 13 weeks on the US charts, with a top spot of No. 5. The song has been widely considered a quintessence of the baroque pop genre.This song features a flute solo played during the instrumental bridge of the middle portion of the song. It was inspired by the Mamas & the Papas song "California Dreamin'" which had been recorded in November 1965, but was not an immediate hit until early 1966. The arrangement for "Walk Away Renée " also includes a lush string orchestration, a jangling harpsichord part, and a descending chromatic bass melody. The session was produced by brothers Bill and Steve Jerome, along with Brown's father, jazz and classical violinist Harry Lookofsky, who also led the string players. The session took place in March 1966.
John, another great submission You instantly took me back to when this song was played nearly around the clock for quite some time. Very nice review, Harri.
Damn I completely forgot about this song, love it, thanks
If you want to be really heartbroken by this song, watch "Things Behind the Sun", a beautifully sad & touching film that this song plays a part in.
John Chu: great choice and one of my all-time favorites! I was going to pick it for one of my May choices, but you beat me to the punch. Harri, nice reaction. This is one of the best examples of 1960's Baroque Rock, the harpsichord is a give-away.
Even more beautiful is their other hit "Pretty Ballerina" - I'd love to hear your response to this one! Few bands were using strings and/or a harpsichord back in the '60s (except Procol Harum) so they were tagged with that "baroque rock" classification. Still hoping you review the blue-eyed soul of Lulu doing "Oh Me, Oh My" that Aretha Franklin would later cover. Lulu was married to Maurice Gibb, of the Bee Gees, back in the day and most folks are more familiar with her classic from the movie, "To Sir With Love". Please check this one out for "diamonds in your ears", compadre!
Harri I had always loved this song done by The Left Bank. It reminds me if my high school days. Linda Ronstandt has done a great rendition of it. You should check it out and compare the two.
Linda Rondstat does a beautiful cover of this, a bit slower, with another lady singer whose name I forget. It’s so lovely!
I've always loved songs with strings in them (like The Troggs' "Love Is All Around"). I do love this version but like The Four Tops' version just a little more. Great song and great singing!
A power pop song
Baroque
Great Classic song choice John. One of the great
sixties songs. Pretty Ballerina was another of their hits. Nice reaction Harri. I think the Four Tops covered this. I like this version a bit better. 👍🙃🇺🇸🇨🇦🇬🇧🤴
I was sure you had picked this Daniel. ✌
@@Cynthia... Definitely on my long list. By the way, Guess who I thought picked it? Yeah you. 😉🇨🇦🇺🇸🇬🇧👍🙃
@@DanielVolk-jm4nt 😅✌
@Cynthia I was sure it was Daniel's picks for sure. Lol Great minds... 😂😊
@@marybaillie8907 We Canadians have great taste in music Eh? 🇨🇦😉👍🙃
This song has always been a favorite. I was very young when it came out, but even then, it had something that just spoke to me. I’ve heard a few remakes that were great too, such as the version by Rickie Lee Jones.
One of my favorite oldies on my playlist❤❤❤❤❤
I love your comments - reactions please keep up good work to all music.😉😉😉
I love your reviews!
They are very honest, and heartfelt!
First time viewer and I have subscribed. I thinking there is something haunting and heartbreaking about the lead singer's voice and the words he's singing. This is one of my favorite songs, thanks for sharing it.