left banke - walk away renee

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this is most beautiful song i've ever heard.

― ethan, Friday, 1 March 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

"Walk Away Renee" was the perfect song the Beatles were always trying to write and never quite did.

― Ian, Friday, 1 March 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Vs. the Four Tops - Walk Away Renee--GO!

― Keiko, Friday, 1 March 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Neither. Go for the Lotion vers.

― JM, Friday, 1 March 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Absolutely gorgeous 60's pop.

― Pump Wellington, Saturday, 2 March 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

take the b-side and sample one bar of the first harpsichord riff then loop. funky as shit

― ddd, Saturday, 2 March 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I like Desiree, that backing vocals are beautiful.

― A Nairn, Saturday, 2 March 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

The Mod's talking crazy again. Go for the IDA version. (The Lotion version's pretty OK, though.) (And the original is unfuckwithable.)

― David Raposa, Saturday, 2 March 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

The lotion version doesn't touch the lotion version of Fly Me To the Moon. The four tops version is the worst. The good thing about the lotion version is it is MORE unintelligible and dreamy than the original. Good song allround, Desiree is incredible too though. As I've written elsewhere however, "She May Call You Up Tonight" is truly superb. I like the empty sidewalk crying her name, because that image is SO FUCKING POETIC.

― Sterling Clover, Sunday, 3 March 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

And the only song Ida ever did a perfect cover of is Eno's Golden Hour.

― Sterling Clover, Sunday, 3 March 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Heard a few of the new Michael Brown/Steve Martin recordings yesterday. You will not believe how brilliant they sound. Steve's voice sounds exactly like it does on those early Left Banke records, while Michael's arranging genius is still all there too. A real treat is a-comin' your way.

― harveyw, Sunday, 3 March 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Christ on a bike, Harvey - when are these recordings due out and where? I must know!

― Rob M, Monday, 4 March 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

The recordings I heard are just demos, yet they sounds pretty complete & releasable to me as they are. One was just piano/vocal, another full band, another mainly strings. Can't remember any titles, sorry. (Apologies if this is all a bit vague, they were on in the background in a shop. I genuinely thought they were lost 60s recordings by the band, that's how good they sounded).

If you want any more info Rob, email me off board.

― harvey williams, Monday, 4 March 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Wrongo, Sterlingo. Try "Are You Tired of Me, My Darling?" (The Carter Family), or "Shoe-In" (The Secret Stars) in conjunction w/ "Golden Hours" for Ida coverage goodness. I would point you to an archived Rhubarb Cake show featuring said group in studio, but I don't believe it's actually archived.

― David Raposa, Monday, 4 March 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

"Walk Away Renee" is one of my favorite songs. It truly is beautiful and never fails to move me. For the curious...go to the Audiogalaxy website and search under Cyndi Lauper. There is a duet of this song that she did,with whom I don't know,that is quite lovely. You can download it there. I've always wanted my favorite band Cheap Trick to do a cover version of this song.

― robert silverman, Wednesday, 17 April 2002 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

need the words walk away renee

― frank brett, Wednesday, 24 April 2002 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

Revive!

I'm downloading the Left Banke best of - "There's gonna be a storm". It's ridiculously good.

― bert (bert), Thursday, 7 August 2003 20:49 (9 years ago) Permalink

well, the first half is good, anyway...

― amateurist (amateurist), Thursday, 7 August 2003 20:59 (9 years ago) Permalink

"walk away renee" is ace, but let's not forget about "pretty ballerina". hot damn.

― lauren (laurenp), Thursday, 7 August 2003 21:03 (9 years ago) Permalink

Has anyone heard those Stories records that Michael Brown was responsible for?

(P.S. I love this stuff but when I'm not actively listening to it, it always seems a little too fey for me. Also the lyrics for things like "Men Are Building Sand" are kind of embarrassing.)

― amateurist (amateurist), Thursday, 7 August 2003 21:06 (9 years ago) Permalink

Let's also not forget "She May Call You Up Tonight"

If I'm not mistaken There's Gonna Be A Storm is not the best of, but the entire recorded works of the Left Banke, and, yeah, the second half isn't very good.

― Sonny A. (Keiko), Thursday, 7 August 2003 21:31 (9 years ago) Permalink

The Four Tops' version is magnificent.

― Tom (Groke), Thursday, 7 August 2003 21:40 (9 years ago) Permalink

the Stories' first record marries Brown's chamber pop feel with faces-style 70s boogie rock. Not really recommended, though a couple of nice melodies still shine through.

More than the Left Banke, I love Montage, especially the stripped down, pannicky version of Desiree!

Has anyone heard the Left Bake reunion record from the 80's/early 90's?

― pulpo, Friday, 8 August 2003 08:07 (9 years ago) Permalink

Odd query: Am I right in saying one of (the actors who played one of) Spinal Tap was in fact a member of Left Banke at some point?

(honestly)

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Friday, 8 August 2003 08:10 (9 years ago) Permalink

Michael McKean was a member after they had their hit.

There is an interview with a couple of the original members of the Left Banke in one of the last issues of The Big Takeover.

― earlnash, Friday, 8 August 2003 08:52 (9 years ago) Permalink

I was in a record shop at the weekend and "Walk Away Renee" came on and wow, it's what music should be all about

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 8 August 2003 12:22 (9 years ago) Permalink

Hmmm...haven't finished downloading the second half yet. "Sing Little Bird Sing" sounds pretty good though.

― bert (bert), Friday, 8 August 2003 14:26 (9 years ago) Permalink

i've always been fascinated by how incredibly short the verses in "walk away renee" are. they're so short they almost don't qualify as verses. they're more like pre-choruses or little mini-bridges. the fact that the first word of the song is "and" just heightens the effect -- that you missed the beginning and you're tuning in somewhere in the middle of the song. only later do you discover that there was, in fact, no beginning.

to my ears, the structure of this song is: pre-chorus/chorus/pre-chorus/chorus/etc.

it's kind of brilliant.

― fact checking cuz, Friday, 8 August 2003 16:46 (9 years ago) Permalink

the blades of grass did a pretty good version of walk away renee.

i love the fact that "what do you know" is a country song sung in faux british accents.

― call mr. lee (call mr. lee), Monday, 11 August 2003 05:58 (9 years ago) Permalink

8 months pass...

pretty ballerina is SO GOOD!!!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 7 May 2004 02:30 (9 years ago) Permalink

The comp is their first LP, "Pretty Ballerina/Walk Away Renee," on Smash, and their second one, which came out in '68, I believe, "Left Banke Too." Plus singles, etc. I think it's almost all great stuff, love "Desiree" and "Goodbye Holly," "Bryant Hotel," "Sing Little Bird Sing," etc. Very hothouse pop music. I actually like the words to "Men Are Building Sand" myself. "She May Call You Up" is a perfect song, very proto-power-pop. If I'm not mistaken, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith sings backup on "Too." Very few things say "'60s" to me like "Left Banke Too."

Not a big fan of Stories, though...just seems mannered and lacking in energy, without the saving grace of callowness found on the LB recordings. Michael Brown's dad, Harry Lookofsky, did the string arrangements on the early stuff--he was a big-time NYC arranger/session man...

― eddie hurt (ddduncan), Friday, 7 May 2004 03:11 (9 years ago) Permalink

Re sampling: I believe Folk Implosion used a slowed-down bit of "I Haven't Got the Nerve" for "Natural One."

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Friday, 7 May 2004 07:07 (9 years ago) Permalink

I like the Billy Bragg version. Or, according the 12": (version). Has some of my favourite lines:

"And you have to take the crunchy with the smooth I s'pose"
and
"And then one day it happened - She cut 'er hair and I stopped lovin' 'er"

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Friday, 7 May 2004 08:20 (9 years ago) Permalink

I love early Left Banke. Gotta get the Desiree / I´ve got something on my mind 45 because they´re fantastic songs! Esp. I´ve got something ong my mind.

You should download the masterpiece Black Cab from Jens Lekman/Rocky Dennis homepage (he released stuff on Secetly Canadian etc) It was the best single last year.

It samples I´ve got something on my mind.

http://www.srvice.com/rockydennis.html

― heroes + villains, Friday, 7 May 2004 09:46 (9 years ago) Permalink

Some people on soulseek have stuff which isn't on 'There's Gonna Be A Storm'. I downloaded their Coca Cola advert, it's great.

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Friday, 7 May 2004 12:03 (9 years ago) Permalink

http://www.srvice.com/rockydennis.html

You sure about that link? Didn't work for me.

― Rick Massimo (Rick Massimo), Friday, 7 May 2004 16:50 (9 years ago) Permalink

yeah it the adress or try

http://www.srvice.com/mp3/rockydennis_blackcab.mp3

― heros + villains, Friday, 7 May 2004 23:44 (9 years ago) Permalink

http://www.secretlycanadian.com/secretlycanadian/catalog/sc70.htm

his page on secretly

― heros + villains, Friday, 7 May 2004 23:46 (9 years ago) Permalink

Another interesting cover of "Walk Away Renee" came from the Boston band Orpheus in 1968. They arranged it around the harmonies of "Never My Love" and, for reasons that elude me, opted to only sing the refrain several times, omitting the verses entirely. It actually kinda works, with the caveat that I'm a sucker for overblown overorchestrated pop.

― Joseph McCombs, Saturday, 8 May 2004 14:40 (9 years ago) Permalink

A trivial point I know, but one of the things I like about this is that the first word is 'and' - gives the impression of a continuation of something. I prefer the Four Tops version, as the singing is better (Levi Stubbs is one of my favourites), but I do understand the people who prefer the original, which is a great record too.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 8 May 2004 22:01 (9 years ago) Permalink

7 months pass...

Don't forget the Pink Lady version.

― Brad Baker, Saturday, 25 December 2004 05:15 (8 years ago) Permalink

Everybody otm, particularly fact checking cuz. There is also a nice live version by Elliott Smith that you can find at sweetadeline.et

― Ken L (Ken L), Saturday, 25 December 2004 17:14 (8 years ago) Permalink

this stuff is a little too twee for me

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Saturday, 25 December 2004 19:25 (8 years ago) Permalink

(P.S. I love this stuff but when I'm not actively listening to it, it always seems a little too fey for me. Also the lyrics for things like "Men Are Building Sand" are kind of embarrassing.)

-- amateurist (amateuris...), August 7th, 2003 6:06 PM. (amateurist)

i guess you're not actively listening to it!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Saturday, 25 December 2004 19:48 (8 years ago) Permalink

i meant that i only can love it when i'm not actively listening to it! bad grammar strikes again!

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Saturday, 25 December 2004 20:27 (8 years ago) Permalink

According to Tom Sholz, Walk Away Renee is one of the primary influences that inspired More Than A Feeling. (G D F# Em7 D) Pretty freaky.

― jim wentworth (wench), Sunday, 26 December 2004 06:20 (8 years ago) Permalink

i think an essay on the songs that influenced the formal structure of "more than a feeling" is in order. bruce springsteen has cited "louie, louie" as another possible antecedent.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Sunday, 26 December 2004 07:14 (8 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

Urgent and Key: why is none of this band's material available anymore?

― the pinefox (the pinefox), Monday, 13 November 2006 14:08 (6 years ago) Permalink

Because it's out of print at the moment. Wow does anyone actually pay $62 for these CDs on Amazon or is it just wishful thinking?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 13 November 2006 22:17 (6 years ago) Permalink

-- fact checking cuz (factcheckingcu...), August 8th, 2003.

I love songs like that. The Raspberries' "Go All the Way" and "I Wanna Be With You" are like that too.

― Rick Massimo (Rick Massimo), Monday, 13 November 2006 22:39 (6 years ago) Permalink

Skipping 53 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

There's Gonna Be A Storm cd has practically everything and there is a lot to love imo.

― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 28 October 2009 02:33 (3 years ago) Permalink

"She May Call You Up Tonight" f'rinstance.

― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 28 October 2009 02:33 (3 years ago) Permalink

Actually, thanks to youtube, here's a couple of the strays:

Man, "Desiree" is awesome.

― Roomful of Moogs (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 28 October 2009 02:36 (3 years ago) Permalink

totally

― Trip Maker, Wednesday, 28 October 2009 02:37 (3 years ago) Permalink

<3 tweethan threads :)

― velko, Wednesday, 28 October 2009 03:03 (3 years ago) Permalink

3 months pass...

Oh my goodness... "there's Gonna Be a Storm" is possibly one of the GREATEST compilations ever. A least at this moment. On headphones. God, I love this band...

― François de Roobabe (Capitaine Jay Vee), Friday, 12 February 2010 09:41 (3 years ago) Permalink

Nah. Guggit. It is one of the GREATEST compilations ever without a doubt. Godhead.

― François de Roobabe (Capitaine Jay Vee), Friday, 12 February 2010 09:42 (3 years ago) Permalink

Er..."Fuggit".

― François de Roobabe (Capitaine Jay Vee), Friday, 12 February 2010 09:43 (3 years ago) Permalink

Anybody heard this import? It's both albums in correct track order plus the stray tracks and a song not on There's Gonna Be A Storm. Never heard of the label but the reviews are uniformly positive and the it's a good deal cheaper on cd than Storm.

― Roomful of Moogs (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 12 February 2010 15:27 (3 years ago) Permalink

um
i will probably be banned

but I'm not sure I get the love for this song

the singing sounds kind of strained & off key or something

― lukevalentine, Saturday, 13 February 2010 19:54 (3 years ago) Permalink

i'll listen some more tho

― lukevalentine, Saturday, 13 February 2010 19:55 (3 years ago) Permalink

the slight straining in the vocals helps convey the tune. Please listen some more

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 14 February 2010 21:17 (3 years ago) Permalink

Found that import I linked to a few posts up on Ebay for a lower price and got it in the mail today. Surprise surprise it's a bootleg with no liner notes or credits outside of the bare minimum. Sounds ok, no needledrops--I assume it was ripped from There's Gonna Be A Storm. Some of the stuff from the second lp sounds kinda muffled and some of the first album stuff is in mono instead of stereo with no explanation why.

― Roomful of Moogs (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 22 February 2010 21:55 (3 years ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

Is it just me, or does "Pedestal" have serious early 70s Bowie thing goin' on? The ache in the vocals, wounded romanticism in the lyrics, Ronson-esque axe heroics...

― Roomful of Moogs (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 26 March 2010 19:17 (3 years ago) Permalink

this fuckin' song guys

― Freddy 'The Wonder Chicken' (Gukbe), Monday, 29 March 2010 00:22 (3 years ago) Permalink

9 months pass...

Sundazed just revealed on Facebook today that they're doing a reissue of at least the first lp.

― Your cousin, Marvin Cobain (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 18 January 2011 23:13 (2 years ago) Permalink

UPDATE: First AND Second lps, on hd vinyl & cd, possibly in May, no bonus tracks.

― Your cousin, Marvin Cobain (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 19 January 2011 01:36 (2 years ago) Permalink

― yuoowemeone, Wednesday, 19 January 2011 01:47 (2 years ago) Permalink

And they're doing a reunion:

http://www.rockedition.com/news/the-left-banke-to-reunite/

― Alba, Tuesday, 1 February 2011 22:38 (2 years ago) Permalink

― Me and a Monkey on the Moog (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 1 February 2011 22:46 (2 years ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

Shared by Sundazed on Facebook this morning:

― Your cousin, Marvin Cobain (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 6 March 2011 18:05 (2 years ago) Permalink

Cool. Did not know Doug Sahm was in The Left Banke

― ilxor astro-ilx? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 6 March 2011 18:37 (2 years ago) Permalink

Sundazed Reissue Product Synergy.

― Your cousin, Marvin Cobain (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 6 March 2011 18:42 (2 years ago) Permalink

Wait, now I looked at the actual personnel and I see that Mike Fornatale did the lead vocals, the same guy who filled in for The Monks. The guy is some kind of genius.

― ilxor astro-ilx? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 6 March 2011 18:46 (2 years ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

Remasters in June

― Handjobs for a sport (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 3 May 2011 00:03 (2 years ago) Permalink

I wonder why Sundazed didn't just reissue their albums as a twofer with the two non-album singles as bonus tracks, the way Mercury did with the oop single-disc There's Gonna Be a Storm collection. still, the liner notes and remastering job should be first-rate, so I'm not complaining too much.

― every time you touch me (I get hives) (unregistered), Tuesday, 3 May 2011 01:33 (2 years ago) Permalink

Bob Irwin (or whomever it was posting for Sundazed on fbook, usually it's him) replied to a similar query back when they made the initial announcement that the rights holder stipulated that the discs would not have bonus tracks. I guess the stray songs are still a sore point to someone.

The bootleg of the two albums that I have & wrote about upthread has the extras from There's Gonna... plus the mysterious outtake "Foggy Waterfall". The same label (Red Cap) did another twofer comprising the Montage album* and the 80s Left Banke album plus the Montage rarities and the Left Banke Coke ads.

*Apparently the Sundazed edition of this went OOP recently.

― Handjobs for a sport (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 3 May 2011 04:43 (2 years ago) Permalink

4 weeks pass...

Amazing acapella version from the Four Tops

http://youtu.be/bp0OHYnuuXs

― that's not my post, Tuesday, 31 May 2011 06:00 (2 years ago) Permalink

7 months pass...

OK, this is really awesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SsJodqBURNA#!

― Darin, Monday, 9 January 2012 07:29 (1 year ago) Permalink

4 weeks pass...

Unable to resist calls for a reunion, founding members Tom Finn and George Cameron have reformed The Left Banke for their first live performances since 1970.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 7 February 2012 17:44 (1 year ago) Permalink

Didn't that already happen?

― I Can't Give You Any Zing (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 7 February 2012 20:01 (1 year ago) Permalink

Don't know. I copied and pasted that from a Baltimore nightclub's website touting an upcoming appearance by the Left Banke. Perhaps they just copied it from an old press release

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 7 February 2012 20:06 (1 year ago) Permalink

last march

― dayove cool (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, 7 February 2012 20:10 (1 year ago) Permalink

Think forks or someone went. Believe the lead singer is the same ringer who sang at The Monks reunion. Guys got a great gig

― I Can't Give You Any Zing (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 8 February 2012 03:03 (1 year ago) Permalink

Or, what I said in March

― I Can't Give You Any Zing (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 8 February 2012 03:04 (1 year ago) Permalink

― wolf kabob (ENBB), Wednesday, 8 February 2012 03:05 (1 year ago) Permalink

Thanks. I shoulda read upthread first.

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 8 February 2012 05:39 (1 year ago) Permalink

just found this
rough b+w version

& a Shadows Breaking Over My Head

― Stevolende, Wednesday, 8 February 2012 09:59 (1 year ago) Permalink

I forgot this song existed!

― the greates (crüt), Wednesday, 8 February 2012 10:03 (1 year ago) Permalink

What's the classical melody this sounds a lot like? Something from Beethoven, maybe? I'm blanking.

― Only the RONG Survive (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 10 February 2012 21:46 (1 year ago) Permalink

I never figured it out, did you?

― curmudgeon, Monday, 13 February 2012 15:00 (1 year ago) Permalink

I meant to ask somebody but didn't get a chance yet.

― AINT ET ENNE (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 13 February 2012 15:38 (1 year ago) Permalink

My quick google search came up empty

― curmudgeon, Monday, 13 February 2012 15:52 (1 year ago) Permalink

this song is responsible for Belle and Sebastian

― Poliopolice, Monday, 13 February 2012 16:19 (1 year ago) Permalink

It's not really an exact copy, like "A Lover's Concerto" is, so it won't be on the intranetz, it's more that it's reminiscent of something.

― AINT ET ENNE (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 13 February 2012 17:07 (1 year ago) Permalink

D'oh, it's "Ode to Joy" I'm thinking of. Se me hizo una laguna.

― AINT ET ENNE (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 13 February 2012 17:16 (1 year ago) Permalink

this song is responsible for Belle and Sebastian

You heartless bastard you

― Charles Kennedy Jumped Up, He Called 'Oh No'. (Tom D.), Monday, 13 February 2012 17:17 (1 year ago) Permalink

6 months pass...

http://open.spotify.com/user/grannykart/playlist/3bDTFicBI01pDFT8vFqmlp

The Left Banke – Walk Away Renee
Four Tops – Walk Away Renee
Linda Ronstadt – Walk Away Renee
Jimmy LaFave – Walk Away Renée
Billy Bragg – Walk Away Renee
The Arrows – Walk Away Renee
Karla Devito – Walk Away Renee
Gabor Szabo – Walk Away Renee
Willie Bobo – Walk Away Renee - Instrumental
Jim Wilson – Walk Away Renee
Theodore – Walk Away Renee
Karmaley Ween – Don't Walk Away Renee
Mamontovas – Walk Away Renee
Angel – Walk Away Renee
Rick Price – Walk Away Renee
Orpheus – Walk Away Renee
Jive Bunny And The Mastermixers – Walk Away Renee
Lake Forest – Walk Away Renee
St. Cecilia – Just Walk Away Renee
Pan Pipes Chillout Band – Walk Away Renee (Instrumental Version)
Michael Higgins – Walk Away Renee
Steve Lalor – Walk Away, Renee
Alisa Fineman & Kimball Hurd – Walk Away Renee
Doug Spartz & Larry Suess – Walk Away Renee (with Larry Suess)
Alvin Stardust – Walk Away Renee
Somerdale – Walk Away Renee
Robey, Falk & Bod – Walk Away Renee - Bonus Track
Gjorgi – Walk Away Renee
John De Roo – Walk Away Renée
Hands – Walk Away Renee
Catgut & Steel – Walk Away Renee
Katch 22 – Walk Away Renee
Lee Newman – Walk Away Reneé
Thomas Kovacs – Walk Away Renee

― ezra kleine nachtmusik (get bent), Saturday, 25 August 2012 01:10 (9 months ago) Permalink

Heh, cool...I did one of these for "Never My Love" last month.

― Bobby-fil-A (WmC), Saturday, 25 August 2012 01:14 (9 months ago) Permalink

It is almost inconceivable to me that Jive Bunny did a remix of "Walk Away Renee."

― Naive Teen Idol, Sunday, 26 August 2012 04:15 (9 months ago) Permalink

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