Walk Away Renee
Encyclopedia
"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. The song was also a chart hit for the Motown group The Four Tops in 1968.
The song features a flute solo played during the instrumental bridge 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 13 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:
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 a 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:
Fladen-Kamm was looking on during the recording of the song, and her presence nearly prevented its completion. In an interview, Brown stated:
They also recorded an Italian language
version, L'arcobaleno (The rainbow).
Rickie Lee Jones recorded a version (with "Letter From the 9th Ward") on her 1983 release, "Girl at Her Volcano."
The Left Banke
The Left Banke is an American baroque pop band that formed in New York City in 1965 and disbanded in 1969. They are best remembered for their two U.S. hit singles, "Walk Away Renée" and "Pretty Ballerina"...
in 1966 (single release: July 1966, Smash Records
Smash Records
Smash Records is an American record label. It was founded in 1961 as a subsidiary of Mercury Records by Mercury executive Shelby Singleton and run by Singleton with Charlie Fach. Fach took over after Singleton left Mercury in 1966...
, title printed as "Walk Away Renee"), composed by the group's then 16-year-old keyboard player Michael Brown
Michael Brown (rock musician)
Michael Brown , is an American keyboardist-songwriter. The son of violinist and arranger Harry Lookofsky, he is best known as the principal songwriter for the 1960s baroque-pop outfit The Left Banke and for writing their two hits "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina".After internal band...
(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. The song was also a chart hit for the Motown group The Four Tops in 1968.
The song features a flute solo played during the instrumental bridge of the middle portion of the song. Michael Brown got the idea for the flute solo from The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas were a Canadian/American vocal group of the 1960s . The group recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968 with a short reunion in 1971, releasing five albums and 11 Top 40 hit singles...
song "California Dreamin'
California Dreamin'
"California Dreamin is a popular song by The Mamas & the Papas, first released in 1965. The song is #89 in Rolling Stones list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time...
" 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
Obbligato
In classical music obbligato usually describes a musical line that is in some way indispensable in performance. Its opposite is the marking ad libitum. It can also be used, more specifically, to indicate that a passage of music was to be played exactly as written, or only by the specified...
string orchestration, memorable harpsichord accompaniment, and a falling chromatic
Diatonic and chromatic
Diatonic and chromatic are terms in music theory that are most often used to characterize scales, and are also applied to intervals, chords, notes, musical styles, and kinds of harmony...
bass melody which led critics to refer to the group's sound as Baroque pop
Baroque pop
Baroque pop, Baroque rock, or English baroque, often used interchangeably with chamber pop/rock, is a pop and rock music subgenre which originated in the mid-1960s in the United Kingdom and United States...
, "Bach-Rock" or Baroque n Roll.
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
placed the song at number 220 in the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. After its initial release, it spent 13 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
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
and Ann Savoy recently covered the song on their album Adieu False Heart
Adieu False Heart
Adieu False Heart is a Grammy-nominated 2006 album by American singer/songwriter/producer Linda Ronstadt featuring Cajun music singer Ann Savoy...
. The New York Times' reviewer Jon Pareles stated of their cover version that:
- “ Their spare reading of the Left Banke's 1965 hit "Walk Away Renee" brings the lyric's ache into full relief, and allows Ronstadt a brief return to the pop-rock milieu from which she emerged ”
The real Renée
The song is one of a number Brown wrote about Renee Fladen-Kamm, then-girlfriend of The Left Banke's bassist Tom FinnTom Finn
Tom Finn is a founding member of the 1960s baroque rock chart hit vocal group the Left Banke.After the Left Banke disbanded, Finn went on to become an engineer at Bell Sound Studios as well as working with jazz drummer Buddy Rich at his night club "Buddy's Place" as stage manager and MC.In 1982...
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 a 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
Pretty Ballerina
"Pretty Ballerina" is a song written by pianist Michael Brown and was a number 15 hit for his band The Left Banke on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The original Left Banke version of the song, released December 1966, was sung by Steve Martin Caro...
" 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. "
Session details
- Drums: Al Rogers
- Bass: John Abbott
- Guitar: George (Fluffer) Hirsh
- Harpsichord: Mike Brown
- Strings: Harry Lookofsky & Friends
- Flute: unknown session musician
- Arranger: John Abbott
- Lead Vocal: Steve Martin Caro
- Backing Vocals: George Cameron & Tom Finn
- Engineer: Steve Jerome
- Studio: World United NYC
- Date: early (1966)
- Produced By Harry Lookofsky, Steve Jerome, Bill Jerome
Cultural references
- Tom ScholzTom ScholzDonald Thomas "Tom" Scholz is an American rock musician, songwriter, guitarist, pianist, inventor, and mechanical engineer, best known as the founder of the hard rock band Boston. He is also the inventor of the Rockman guitar amplifier...
of the arena rockArena rockArena rock is a term used to describe rock music that utilised large arena venues, particularly sports venues, for concerts or series of concerts linked in tours...
band BostonBoston (band)Boston is an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts that achieved its most notable successes during the 1970s and 1980s. Centered on guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Tom Scholz, the band is a staple of classic rock radio playlists...
has credited the "heart-tugging mood" of "Walk Away Renee" as the main inspiration behind his band's signature hitSignature songA signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
"More Than a FeelingMore Than a Feeling"More Than a Feeling" is a song by the rock band Boston, released as the lead single from their self-titled debut album on Epic Records in September 1976, with "Smokin'" on the flipside. The single peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100...
". - The title of Storm ThorgersonStorm ThorgersonStorm Thorgerson is an English graphic designer, known for his work for rock bands such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, 10cc, Dream Theater, The Mars Volta, Muse, The Cranberries, and Biffy Clyro.-Biography:...
's 1978 book "The Work of Hipgnosis 'Walk Away René'". - The Belle and Sebastian song "Piazza New York Catcher" contains the line "You’d settle for an epitaph like 'Walk Away, Renee'." The opening of 'The Model' uses the same arrangement as the opening of 'Walk Away, Renee'.
- Gwen StefaniGwen StefaniGwen Renée Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock and ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over...
's middle name, Renee, was inspired by this song. - Singer Rod StewartRod StewartRoderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
named his daughter born in 1992 Renée because "Walk Away Renée" is one of his favorite songs. Her mother is model Rachel HunterRachel HunterRachel Hunter is a New Zealand born American model, actress and reality TV show host who now resides in the U.S. She is best known for her appearance in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues and her longtime marriage to singer Rod Stewart, which ended in 2006...
. - Celebrity manicurist and Jazz recording artist, Deborah Lippman has a line of celebrity inspired nail colors which are frequently named after songs. One of her popular colors is a shade of burgundy co-created with Renée ZellwegerRenée ZellwegerRenée Kathleen Zellweger is an American actress and producer. Zellweger first gained widespread attention for her role in the film Jerry Maguire , and subsequently received two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her roles as Bridget Jones in the comedy Bridget Jones's Diary ...
and named after the song Walk Away Renée.
Notable cover versions
- Four TopsFour TopsThe Four Tops are an American vocal quartet, whose repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, hard rock, and showtunes...
' recording of the song was featured on their 1967 album Reach Out and is arguably the most famous coverCover versionIn popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the song, having reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and #3 on the UK Singles ChartUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in 1968.
They also recorded an Italian language
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
version, L'arcobaleno (The rainbow).
- The CowsillsThe CowsillsThe Cowsills are an American singing group from Newport, Rhode Island. They specialized in harmonies and the ability to sing and play music at an early age. The band was formed in the spring of 1965 by brothers Bill, Bob, and Barry, then shortly thereafter added John...
performed the song on their 1969 live album The Cowsills In Concert. - Frankie ValliFrankie ValliFrankie Valli is an American musician, most famous as frontman of The Four Seasons. He is well-known for his unusually powerful falsetto singing voice...
recorded and released a discoDiscoDisco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
version on his 1975 album Our Day Will Come. - The female JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese pop duo Pink LadyPink Lady (band)is a Japanese female pop music duo of the late 1970s and early 1980s, featuring Mitsuyo Nemoto and Keiko Masuda...
included a version of "Walk Away Renee" on their Kiss in the DarkKiss in the Dark (album)Kiss in the Dark is Pink Lady's debut album in the United States. It was released on September 5, 1979. They only released one single from the album, "Kiss in the Dark", which reached the #37 position on the American Billboard Charts...
album in 1979. - John O'BanionJohn O'BanionJohn O'Banion was an American vocalist and actor.-Early career:He was born in Kokomo, Indiana in 1947 and was performing in theater by the age of 13 as well as in a local Indiana band Hog Honda & the Chain Guards...
covered the song on his 1st EP John O'Banion 1981. - Bon JoviBon JoviBon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
covered the song in their tours between 1983 and 1997 as a prelude to "Runaway". - Rickie Lee JonesRickie Lee JonesRickie Lee Jones is an American vocalist, musician, songwriter, and producer. Over the course of a three-decade career, Jones has recorded in various musical styles including rock, R&B, blues, pop, soul, and jazz standards.-Childhood:...
covered the song on her 1985 EP Girl at Her VolcanoGirl at Her VolcanoGirl at Her Volcano is an EP and the third release by musician Rickie Lee Jones.- Overview :After touring through much of 1982 following the release of Pirates, Rickie Lee Jones released the Girl at Her Volcano EP...
. - Southside JohnnySouthside JohnnySouthside Johnny is an American singer-songwriter, who usually fronts his band Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes.-Early days:...
covered the song on his 1986 album At Least We Got Shoes. As a single, it reached #98 on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. - HerbsHerbs (band)Herbs are a New Zealand reggae vocal group formed in 1979 once described as "New Zealand's most soulful, heartfelt and consistent contemporary musical voice". It has been said their debut EP Whats' Be Happen? "set a standard for Pacific reggae which has arguably never been surpassed".-History:Herbs...
covered the song on their 1990 Joe WalshJoe WalshJoseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
-produced Homegrown album. - Jimmy LaFaveJimmy LaFaveJimmy LaFave is an American singer-songwriter and folk musician born in Wills Point, Texas, a small farming community located near Dallas. At a young age, LaFave's family moved to the Dallas suburb of Mesquite, Texas where he attended junior high and high school. By the early teens LaFave was...
includes a live version on his 1993 album Austin Skyline. - Marshall CrenshawMarshall CrenshawMarshall Crenshaw is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist best known for his song "Someday, Someway".-Biography:...
included a cover version with slightly altered lyrics on his 2001 album I've Suffered For My Art...Now It's Your Turn. - Billy BraggBilly BraggStephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
has covered the song, but with different lyricsLyricsLyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
. - LotionLotion (band)Lotion was a Manhattan indie rock band formed in 1991 by brothers Bill and Jim Ferguson , drummer Rob Youngberg, and vocalist Tony Zajkowski.-Career:...
covered the song for their 1995 release The Agnew Funeral E.P.The Agnew Funeral E.P.The Agnew Funeral E.P. is a 1995 extended play from Lotion, released through spinART Records.-Track listing:All songs composed by Lotion, except where noted#"Marijuana Vietnam" – 4:49... - Vonda ShepardVonda ShepardVonda Shepard is an American pop/rock singer. She appeared as a regular in the television show Ally McBeal from seasons 1-5 in which she played a resident performer at the bar where the show's characters drank after work. She plays piano, guitar, and bass.-Biography:Vonda Shepard was born in New...
sang it on the television series, Ally McBealAlly McBealAlly McBeal is an American legal comedy-drama series which aired on the Fox network from 1997 to 2002. The series was created by David E. Kelley, who also served as the executive producer, along with Bill D'Elia...
, referring to one of the characters who was called Renee. Her version appeared on the album, Songs From Ally McBealSongs from Ally McBealSongs from Ally McBeal is an album by Vonda Shepard released in 1998 as a soundtrack for the American television series Ally McBeal.It reached number three in the UK album charts and was a success in the US, Canada and many European countries too...
. - T'PauT'Pau (band)T'Pau was a 1980s British Rock group led by singer Carol Decker. They had a string of Top 40 hits in the UK, and several hits in the United States and Europe...
performed the song at their concerts, and used a recording from one such performance as one of the 'B' tracks for the CD single of their hit, "I Will Be With You." - Tori AmosTori AmosTori Amos is an American pianist, singer-songwriter and composer. She was at the forefront of a number of female singer-songwriters in the early 1990s and was noteworthy early in her career as one of the few alternative rock performers to use a piano as her primary instrument...
performed the song in honor of Schapelle CorbySchapelle CorbySchapelle Leigh Corby is an Australian woman convicted of drug smuggling who is imprisoned in Indonesia.Corby is serving a 20-year sentence for the importation of of cannabis into Bali, Indonesia...
at her May 10, 2005 show in BrisbaneBrisbaneBrisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. - Les FradkinLes FradkinLes Fradkin is a guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, composer and record producer. He is best known for being a member of the original cast of the hit Broadway show Beatlemania...
has a version on his 2006 release- Goin' Back. - David CassidyDavid CassidyDavid Bruce Cassidy is an American actor, singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for his role as the character of Keith Partridge in the 1970s musical/sitcom The Partridge Family. He was one of pop culture's most celebrated teen idols, enjoying a successful pop career in the 1970s, and...
covered the song on his 2003 album Touch of Blue. - The Ronstadt/Savoy cover was used as a closing song for NBC's Crossing JordanCrossing JordanCrossing Jordan is an American television crime/drama series that aired on NBC from September 24, 2001 to May 16, 2007. It stars Jill Hennessy as Jordan Cavanaugh, M.D., a crime-solving forensic pathologist employed in the Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Medical Examiner's Office...
in January 2007. - GJORGI covered the song on his 2nd EP Now And Forever in 2008. This version was produced by Eran Phillips and one of the song's co-writers, Tony Sansone, including an extra verse which was written by Sansone in 1975 for Frankie ValliFrankie ValliFrankie Valli is an American musician, most famous as frontman of The Four Seasons. He is well-known for his unusually powerful falsetto singing voice...
. - Eric CarmenEric CarmenEric Howard Carmen is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist.He scored numerous hit songs across the 1970s and 1980s, first as a member of the Raspberries , and then with his solo career, including hits such as "All By Myself", "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again", "She Did It",...
included a cover version of the song on his 2000 album I Was Born to Love YouI Was Born to Love You (album)I Was Born to Love You is an album released by Eric Carmen in 2000. It was originally released in Japan as Winter Dreams in 1997...
. - Rick PriceRick PriceRick Price is an Australian singer and songwriter.-Early life:Price was born in Beaudesert, a small country town near Brisbane, Queensland. He began playing music at the age of nine appearing with his family band "Union Beau". "It was kinda weird I guess...
covered "Walk Away Renée" on his 1992 album Heaven KnowsHeaven Knows (Rick Price album)Heaven Knows is the 1992 debut album by Rick Price. The second single Heaven Knows charted in many countries in Europe and Asia.-Track listing:#"What's Wrong With That Girl?"#"Not a Day Goes By"#"A House Divided"#"Walk Away Renee"#"Heaven Knows"...
. His version of the song was also released as a single and in Australia it peaked at #21. The song was also included on his 2008 album Revisited. - Alan MerrillAlan MerrillAlan Merrill is an American vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. In the early 1970s Merrill was the first westerner to achieve pop star status in Japan...
covered the song on his Left Banke tribute EP "Rive Gauche" in 2007. - Jonah MatrangaJonah MatrangaJonah Rzadzinski Matranga is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist who has released a variety of solo material under his own name and onelinedrawing, and has previously been part of the bands Far and New End Original and Gratitude...
covered the song on his self-released cassette album Songs I Hope My Mom Will LikeSongs I Hope My Mom Will LikeSongs I Hope My Mom Will Like is Jonah Matranga's first solo recording, released in 1994. The project started as a present for his mother; however, he eventually started packaging the recording as a cassette and selling it at shows....
in 1994. - The song is best known in Iceland under the title Þó liði ár og öld ('Though years and ages pass'), originally recorded by Björgvin HalldórssonBjörgvin HalldórssonBjörgvin Helgi Halldórsson is an Icelandic pop singer from Hafnarfjörður...
in 1969, with a slightly different premise, and no mention of anyone with the name Renée.
Rickie Lee Jones recorded a version (with "Letter From the 9th Ward") on her 1983 release, "Girl at Her Volcano."