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Walk Away Rene
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Wikipedia article
"'Walk Away Rene'" 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.
In 2005, 'Rolling Stone' placed it at No. 220 in the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The track returned to nationwide charts with cover versions by The Four Tops (1967) and Rick Price (1993).
Background
Michael Brown has stated that the song is one of a number he wrote about Rene Fladen (later Fladen-Kamm), the then-girlfriend of the Left Banke's bassist Tom Finn and object of Brown's affection. She was associated with the band for a few weeks, and was described as a free-spirited and tall blonde. Brown wrote it one month after he met her.[http://larryhovis.net/leftbanke/walkawayrenee.php Walk Away Renee] from leftbanke.nu "Walk Away Rene" was one of a series of love songs the infatuated Brown wrote for his muse. Other works 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.
According to band member Tom Finn:
Brown says of his unrequited love for Rene:
Rene was looking on during the recording of the song, and her presence nearly prevented its completion. In an interview, Brown stated:
However, co-writer Tony Sansone has given a different version of the origin of the song and contends that he is the primary writer. Sansone has stated in interviews that he wrote the lyrics, and he randomly chose the name Rene because the Beatles used the name "Michelle" in their hit song of the same name; he likewise chose a French name, Rene.
Composition
The song features a flute solo played during the instrumental bridge of the middle portion of the song. Brown got the idea for the flute solo from 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 Rene " also includes a lush string orchestration, a jangling harpsichord part, and a descending chromatic bass melody. Its production was credited to World United Productions, Inc., but the session was produced by Brown's father, jazz and classical violinist Harry Lookofsky, who also led the string players.[http://larryhovis.net/leftbanke/session.php Session Notes For Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina LP] From Leftbanke.nu
Personnel
'Musicians'* Al Rogers drums
* John Abbott bass
* George (Fluffer) Hirsh guitar
* Mike Brown harpsichord
* Friends strings
* Jackie Kelso [uncredited] flute
* John Abbott arranger
* Steve Martin Caro lead vocal
* George Cameron & Tom Finn backing vocals
'Technical'
* Steve Jerome engineer
* Harry Lookofsky producer, strings
* Steve Jerome producer
* Bill Jerome producer
Chart performance
Weekly charts
'Year-end charts'
Four Tops cover
The Four Tops' recording was featured on their 1967 album 'Reach Out' and is the second most successful cover version, having reached #15 on the soul singles chart, #14 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100, and charting higher than The Left Banke in Canada at #2 on the RPM Magazine charts. Overseas, it peaked at #3 on the UK Singles Chart and #5 in the Irish Singles Chart in January 1968, The Andantes provided backing vocals on this Motown release in unison with the other Tops.
Personnel
* Lead vocals by Levi Stubbs* Background vocals by Obie Benson, Duke Fakir, Lawrence Payton, and The Andantes
* Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers
Chart performance
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Rick Price version
In May 1993, "Walk Away Rene" was released by Australian singer songwriter Rick Price as the fifth single from his debut studio album ' Heaven Knows'. The song peaked at #21 in Australia.
Weekly charts
References
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