Walk Away Renée/Pretty Ballerina is the debut studio album by the American baroque pop band the Left Banke, released in January 1967. Named after its two hit singles, "Walk Away Renée" and "Pretty Ballerina", it peaked at number 67 on the Billboard Albums chart. Although the album was not widely popular upon its initial release, and fell into relative obscurity for a time, it is now viewed as a definitive example of baroque pop music.
The album spent eleven weeks on the Billboard 200, peaking at number 67. After its initial release, the album remained out of print for decades. It was, however, available in its entirety on the 1992 compilation There's Gonna Be a Storm: The Complete Recordings 1966–1969. On June 28, 2011, Walk Away Renée/Pretty Ballerina was reissued on Sundazed Music, remastered by Bob Irwin.
Background During 1966, the Left Banke released the singles "Walk Away Renée" and "Pretty Ballerina", which peaked at number 5 and number 15 respectively on the Billboard Hot 100. Written by keyboardist Michael Brown, the son of producer and jazz violinist Harry Lookofsky, both singles and their B-sides were incorporated into the album.
Early recording sessions for Walk Away Renée/Pretty Ballerina started in December 1965 in the small World United Studio at 48th and Broadway in Manhattan, with sessions for the singles taking place in March and then November 1966. The remaining album sessions took place in January 1967 at Mercury Studios in New York. During the course of 1966, Michael Brown's father and the band's manager/producer, Harry Lookofsky, fired both original drummer Lisa David-Schierhorst and guitarist Jeff Winfield, replacing them with George Cameron and Rick Brand.
Most tracks on the album featured lead singer Steve Martin Caro, with harmony vocals by bassist Tom Finn and drummer Cameron; most tracks are also augmented by session musicians, with keyboardist Brown being the only band instrumentalist to appear on every song. However, the band itself does play on the tracks "Let Go of You Girl" and "Lazy Day". "What Do You Know", featuring lead vocals by Brown, is an early example of country rock, contemporary to similar efforts by the Byrds, the International Submarine Band, and Buffalo Springfield.
Critical reception
Mark Deming of AllMusic rated Walk Away Renée/Pretty Ballerina four-and-a-half stars out of five. He praised the album's diverse sound and noted that the record had marked the Left Banke for some time as "one of the best and most innovative American bands in rock & roll."
Track listing
Personnel The Left Banke Steve Martin Caro – lead vocals Michael Brown – piano, harpsichord, clavinet; lead vocals (on "What Do You Know") Tom Finn – bass guitar, backing vocals George Cameron – drums, percussion, backing vocals; co-lead vocals on "I Haven't Got The Nerve" Lisa David-Schierhorst – drums Jeff Winfield – electric guitar Rick Brand – electric guitar
Additional personnel Hugh McCracken – guitar Al Gorgoni – guitar George "Fluffer" Hirsh – guitar John Abbott – bass, guitar, string arrangements Seymour Barab – bass, cello Joe Mack – bass Al Rogers – drums Buddy Saltzman – drums Harry Lookofsky – violin George Marge – oboe Jackie Kelso – flute (uncredited)
Chart positions Album YearChartPeak Position1967Billboard 200671967Cashbox59 Singles YearSingleChartPeak Position1966"Walk Away Renée"Billboard Hot 1005Cashbox2RPM magazine3"Pretty Ballerina"Billboard Hot 10015Cashbox12RPM magazine41967"She May Call You Up Tonight"Billboard Hot 100120
References
External links LeftBanke.nu DJ Tom Finn