The Left Banke - Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina
(1967)
Tracks
1 Pretty Ballerina
2 She May Call You up Tonight
3 Barterers and Their Wives
4 I've Got Something on My Mind
5 Let Go of You Girl
6 Evening Gown
7 Walk Away Renee
8 What Do You Know?
9 Shadows Breaking over My Head
10 I Haven't Got the Nerve
11 Lazy Day
Formed in New York in 1965,
The Left Banke were a band who mixed classical arrangements with sunshine pop, the result was to see them produce a version of “Baroque'n'Roll” not heard since. Driven musically by the teenage prodigy, chief songwriter and pianist; Michael Brown, whilst driven financially by Brown’s father, in 1967 they released one of only two albums,
Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina, released on Smash.
The album from track one; right through to track 11 is a piece of work which deserves its own wing at an art gallery. With tracks so beautifully arranged mixed with sweet harmonisation running through its core, the music on this record literally glows from the speaker it is that stunningly good.
The album contains the band’s hits, reaching number 15
Pretty Ballerina is a glorious song and a fine opener. The other hit from the album was their number 5 single,
Walk Away Renee, which features on track 7. Both songs however are the tip of a much bigger and bolder iceberg, for all these songs on this record are of a quality unrivalled by many of the better known bands from the sixties.
However to create these beautiful songs, session musicians would be drafted in which in turn led to the downfall of this promising band. Creating such wondrous records as they did, they were never able to consistently recreate their beautiful signature tunes out on the road, a fact further exacerbated by Michael Brown’s decision to focus more on studio work then tour dates. The band would fall victim to this and indeed dissolved in 1969
The Left Banke despite their marvellous and gorgeous debut (their follow up aint bad either), are today largely unrecognised. In fact so unrecognised are
The Left Banke that none of their albums or subsequent compilations are still in production, meaning the price for any of their works has inflated out of control, which to be honest is a shocking state of affairs. If you like anything remotely wistful, beautiful and sweet, wrapped in a blanket of brilliance, then this album is surely for you.
Despite the market value, not all is lost, get in touch with your local independent record shop; they’ll know what to do.