I'm old enough to know this group, this song and still love it. 🥰

Great band! I remember hearing this song as a kid. The Left Banke was a baroque pop band in the 60's. Their two biggest hits were "Walk Away Renée" & "Pretty Ballerina".

This was on the B side of "Walk Away Renee" as a 45 that I bought way back then.

Well I'm sitting alone in the dark, 73 years old, listening to Judy Collins Sisters of Mercy from 1967 and then I see your face asking "How have I never heard this?" I realize I haven't heard Pretty Ballerina since I was in high school in the '60's. Only the avante guard intellectual hippie types listened to it in my school - all four of us. Ha ha ha.

I was 9 years old in '66 when it came out, and got to see them in 2012. It is truly an unforgettable song!

when Fil gets that smile, you know it's gonna be good. That piano riff is so good

Brings back so many memories, I’m now 70. Terrific !

Pretty Ballerina, She May Call You Up Tonight and Walk Away Renee were all written by the piano player Michael Brown about his infatuation with the guitar players girlfriend, Renee Fladen. Wonderful music, filled with so many emotions...

"Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina" feel like mini operas. So many emotions evoked. There have been quite a few covers of "Walk Away Renee", but they always sound just like standard pop tunes. (For the love of all, please world, don't let anyone try to autotune these treasures!)

I'm 62, and after all these years "Walk Away Renee" can still bring tears to my eyes--just the melody, but the lyrics help!

Excellent analysis of how the melody is used to help tell a story by triggering our emotional responses. Rick Beato cited a university study about how musical compositions have become less complex over time and why music to some of us doesn’t sound as satisfying as it has in the past.

I was fortunate enough to discover the band 30 years ago and found a used copy of the compilation already out of print, and it massively influenced me. All members of the band present in that pic are sadly gone now, but I chatted a lot with their bass player Tom Finn on FB Messenger. The Left Banke history in his own words: "Oh my god we were just a bunch of kids. We were really into our music and singing and being a part of our generation. You know that back then we were the only guys with long hair around New York. There were a few others but not many. We thought we were so cool. - One thing I can tell you about how The Left Banke recorded is first we gathered around the piano with Michael Brown playing (he was 16 years old) and sang our asses off, very extremely spontainiously, next we plug in instruments and had fun jamming. Then we play and sing for Michaels father who owned the small recording studio we used at night. After that he hires an arranger, who writes string parts etc., then we record the songs, then Mikes father takes sings to record companies. One company liked Walk Away Renee and signs us to a short term contract. Then they release it, 8 months later it hits the US charts. - And believe me, it was like a big family nobody did anything alone. -Tom Finn"

I am amazed by how upbeat and informative the comments are on Phil’s channel. Just a pleasure to read them.

I was 12 when this tune hit the radio, and I have liked it ever since. BUT, it's your genuine smile of delight that says it all.

Loved The Left Banke. They only charted with 2 songs but they were both so memorable.

They were dubbed Baroque Rock. Utilizing harpsichord and strings, etc.

No surprise you haven’t heard this, you’re not 65 like me. Great job. Big thanks for requesting this whoever you are. Adding to my playlist!

It really is about the most perfect pop-rock song, isn't it? And so worthy it is to have gotten the Fil breakdown and analysis. After Fil's analysis, I took another look at their wiki page, just to refresh. How tragic that most of the members, if not all in that recording, have passed on. But great songs like this one, are eternal. And how cool is it to watch Fil smile as he takes in the great hooks this song features? His joy is like that of our own, as we first heard this song, a long time ago. The Left Banke may have been star crossed and short lived, but their two main songs remain eternal!

Fil--You commented how crisp and clear the lyrics were. Thank goodness they were, because most of us in '66 were listening to those lyrics on AM radio stations. It wasn't until albums started printing the lyrics on the reverse that we found out we were missing so much. I was 17 at the time and the instrumental interlude was mind blowing. Nothing else on radio like it.

When I was 16 (1986) and was a bit of a burnout/stoner, my sis and I were driving around, listening to the radio when this song came on. I never heard it before and… I started crying. I don’t know if it was hormones or what😂 My sister slooowly looked over at me and started cracking up. It was just so beautiful that I couldn’t help it. She still makes fun of me for it. We later went and got a Left Banke album and it was so good! Great video👍

As you might guess from my handle, a fact interesting to me is that singer Steve Martin's mother was the Flamenco guitarist Sarita Heredia. A Flamenco guitarist in the USA was rare enough, but a woman who was a Flamenco guitarist was even rarer and virtually unheard of, even back in the Spain of the family's origin.

If you haven't done their other hit "Walk Away Renee" it might be worth a dive to explain why it's still so popular after almost 60 years.

Shows my age here. That was the flip side of Walk Away Renee. When I got the 45 I was jazzed to hear that song too. for me it was a "two fer"

Glad you found it! These guys produced two of the most hauntingly beautiful songs of the 60s. Great work on your part, as always.

Steve Martin Caro was only 18 when he sang this song. What a beautiful voice! I believe they were ALL just teenagers. Amazing! The song is hauntingly beautiful! It always stops me in my tracks when I hear it. Thanks for this one! So, now do. "Walk Away Renee" next! The flip side.

Thanks Phil for profiling this great band. Unfortunately Steve Martin Cato died at 71 in relative obscurity. Voice of an angel.

Fil, there is a reason we Boomers are so cool, this is our music.

I have always loved this group and their unique sound or approach to music is the reason why. They sound like no one else.

I was supposed to see the Left Banke at a music gathering along with other music people ( Association and Brian Hyland) but for some reason they never came. I was very disappointed. I also liked their song Walk Away Renee. They had that interesting sound that made you want to keep listening tothem. I was 16 at the time 1967 and my girlfriends and I had to take the train to get to the city of the gathering. Lots of walking for us too. Unfortunately, we didn't pay attention to the time and we missed the last train for the day home. The station guy felt sorry for us and let us stay on one of the train cars until the next morning when we were able to take the train home. I was so disappointed not seeing the Left Bank but it was a fun music adventure. Thank you for talking about their great music 👍🙂👍

Such a gorgeous song…sad most original members have passed

I saw them perform at a roller rink in Ohio when they were touring with several other acts (I think it was 1967). It was not well publicized and only about 100 people showed up. They came out and performed wonderfully despite the meager crowd. They managed to capture the sound of the records live (mostly because the vocals were so good).

I'm 60 and I love this song. I I was born here in Southern California in the 1963. This song reminds me of cruising to the beach listening to groovy tunes like this on the radio. ✌🏼☮️

This analysis was just fascinating. You certainly do understand music theory and you explain how we are feeling emotionally when we hear a chords/ tunes/ words. Music touches our hearts, doesn’t it? You show us so much about that. Thank you, Fil!

Iam 77 I remember very well, I like them and the Beau Brummels!

This band had such a 60s sound! Love it! "Walk away Renee was wonderful as wel! Thanks Fil!!! ✌️💜l

And this was written by a 15 year old, with the lead vocal by a 16 year old! Now, listen to "Walk Away Renee," which is even more amazing -- in fact, listen to their entire first LP, which is great all the way through!

Beautiful baroque pop. I fell in love with this tune fifty years ago.

I remember this song very well. Thank you for explaining what makes it so good. I now have a new appreciation for it.

This is truly one of my favourite songs. Thanks for listening to it!

This is wild. Love these songs. I’m in my 60s and these songs are deep in my heart. And these are just KIDS! Walk Away Renee and this songs are lovely.

Thank you for taking a look at this song. As you said, “ once you’ve heard it, you can’t get it out of your head.”. While rare, the times I’ve heard this on radio, it’s a bit of a celebration to hear it again.

Excellent. Was a Big TopTen hit here in Canada 🇨🇦. I remember it all over the radio here as a kid. Love it.

Have never stopped playing this album since it was new. She May Call You Up Tonight is another great track

Phil should know how grateful his viewers are for his efforts to expand the public’s appreciation for music. It is so generous for this expert teacher to share his erudition in a way accessible and entertaining to all. And we are all grateful a treasure trove of real music still exists to explore. The fraud of digital manipulation in modern music would be grounds for a class-action lawsuit in any other industry.

I am glad when young pups (No offense intended) like you get to discover and enjoy the music I grew up with.

Baroque pop or rock. Fil did an analysis of "She's Not There", an example of British baroque in 1964 by the Zombies (they were known for their clear enunciation). "Pretty Ballerina" is so atmospheric. Glad to learn why it sounds so unusual.

My all-time favorite song is 'Walk Away, Renee'. And yes, I have that Greatest Hits LP. I have always loved "Pretty Ballerina'. Thank you SO much for this!! 💚💜💙

I was 15 when this came out in '67, so no wonder you never heard of it! Walk Away Renee was their most popular song. The sound of this song was different to me but now that you explained it, I get why it was different. I loved it. Some great songs back then for sure. Thanks for playing it Fil.❤

This and "Walk Away Renee" are two absolute perfect pop songs, and they perfectly define their era. When I hear either one, I'm instantly transported to a place and time I never really knew, but imagine in my head.

This is a great love song from my past. I remember it well. Many thanks, FIL, for reviewing this gorgeous Pop ballad.

😎👍 I always tell young people who accidentally discover this track, that there are two other singles that date from this same period (late 1966 - early 1967) that will also blow them away. Check out "You're A Very Lovely Woman" by The Merry-Go-Round and "She Comes In Colors" by Love. Baroque 'n Roll is an extremely captivating genre of music. 🎻

My 7 year older brother had a Left Banke album in the late 60's/early 70's, so I was familiar with the band. I had not heard this song until a few years ago, and instantly fell in love with it. You're right - once you've heard it you don't forget it. Enjoyed your analysis!

One of my favorite groups! Baroque pop. Love it. The whole 60's dreamy feel etc. There's gonna be a storm 😉. I have their best of. 💖💝🌸🌹

I always loved this song when I was younger. I still love it. Glad you discovered it Fil. I was 12 when this came out. Just started listening to the radio while in the car with my parents or the transistor when in my bedroom. This was a great groupl.

I am 68. I did not remember the song till I thought about the title and when I heard the song. Probably haven't heard this song in over 55 years. A beautiful track,indeed.

I've Loved this song for a long, long time, but I'm pretty old. ❤❤❤

I love The Left Banke. I bought a compilation CD back in the ‘90s. All the songs are fabulous. They deserved bigger success.

Wonderful memories! He really was a skillful singer.

So glad this song found you! It is a great tune- has held up well over the years and yes, excellent vocal performance

Keyboardist / Composer Mike Brown was a member of The Stories who did "Brother Louie" 1973

heard The Left Banke live in the Filmore Room at the Norton student center at UB late sixties

Very nice ! Another forgotten band is the Zombies and their wonderful album "Odessey and oracle" ! Just listen to the first song "Care Of Cell 44" and you won't stop till the end of the album, I promise !

I just love when you "find" music that I grew up with. I was 10 when I first heard Just Walk Away Renee.... it seems like just yesterday. I hear the opening chords & know exactly what words are coming! Thanks for reviewing. SO many good bands in the late 60's & 70's. Grateful that I was around & heard so many of these bands everyday; AM radio was where it was at!!!

Great analysis! I *think* I've heard this song before, though it wasn't totally familiar, and I liked it instantly. When you explained about the raised 4th, I realised that this is exactly why I liked it instantly! I'm not always good at picking it out, but I like those notes that make people feel "uneasy".

Over 700 comments, so someone may have mentioned this already, but Alice Cooper does a great cover of "Pretty Ballerina" from his 2005 album "Dirty Diamonds".

Absolutely love the strange melody in this song. I have heard it, but not as much as their bigger hit Walk Away Renee. I think the crazy intervals in the melody and dissonance against the chord structure is a big part of what makes the song so unforgettable. that and the smoothness of that vocal.

When I used to listen to The Left Banke on the radio, I always assumed that the ‘pretty ballerina’ and ‘Reneé’ were the same girl.

I'm 65 and never heard it. I remember Walk Away Renee. That's why I clicked on Fil.

I loved this song, I was 12 when it came out. Glad you're hearing it now. It's so beautiful, haunting. Mood like Dangerous Type by the Cars....something sad and lonely about it.

Lead singer had an incredible voice, could tell that in the first 20s....great control.

Had that 45 as a teen in the 1980's. I was open to experiencing a lot of different kinds of music in my youth.

Have this one on my playlist with Green Tambourine right after!!!😊❤🎉

Ive never heard this before! Great song. I did love the song Walk Away Renee. Thanks Fil🤘

Oh dude - hope you can spend some time with this band and their catalog. There's an amazing compilation album out there that will cover some of the later work that most of the world missed and is top notch.

I heard this song last week on the radio while I was driving in my car. It had been years since I last heard it. Great song!

I've never heard it before either, but what an awesome song. I love that awkward almost 'made a mistake' feeling running throughout the whole tune. I'll definitely be listening to this again. Thank you Fil. Brilliant record!

Damn Fil.....you truly have a gorgeous singing voice.

8:40 I believe the tritone is called "The Devil's Interval."👹 The example that's often cited is "Maria" from West Side Story. (Bernstein used it a lot in that score.)

Thank you, Fil, I haven’t heard song in decades. I always LOVED IT as a young teen! Now I know why it was so great!

Just learned something new even though I had heard this song back when I was still a kid!

Great video! Richard Thompson covered the Left Banke's "She May Call You Up Tonight."

Brilliant analysis! I though that I had not heard this song before either, but as soon as the first few notes came on, it took me right back. We were so lucky in the 60s to have such a variety of sounds and song construction.

always loved this, one of my favorites of the entire decade.

Am I surprised ? No not at all. Love this song.

This is a great song 🎶 It’s been on my playlist for years. Thanks for your input 😊

Fil, thank you for covering this beautiful song! I remember hearing this on the radio when I was a child...I would have been about 8 yrs old when this came out and my husband about 14. It is one of the husband and mine's favorites from back in the day. They also did Walk Away, Renee. The Left Banke....what beautiful music makers! I think the disection you did of this song and "the devil's note" explains exactly why we are drawn to this song. Edit: We referred to this type of music as "baroque rock" back then. I haven't heard that term used in a long time.

This has a lovely, middle eastern quality to the song. We had lots of quirky ,exotic tunes like this in the 60's !

The reason the “mood” is so cool is because in the last verse you realize it was all a dream.

I'm so glad you analyzed this song; besides the memories, I really enjoyed learning about its unusual structure.

I loved that group and song. Have not come to mind for decades. Thanks.

Love that melody. Thanks for turning us on to this! I've always loved using lydian and major seventh notes in my songwriting. It's so beautiful.

One of the songs that Michael Brown wrote about singer Renee Fladen, the girlfriend of Left Banke guitarist Tom Finn and the object of Brown's affections. I first noticed this song watching the 1988 Movie 'Off Limits' as the song features quite well there, I must have heard it before as it's used in 'Apocalypse Now' from '79 as well. Not to mention it hit #4 back in the day here in Canada. Great tune, a regular on my playlist. Cheers.

I love Just walk away Renee, always have. This is a new one.

I remember this haunting, beautiful song from my youth. Thanks for reviving it. It’s not featured nearly enough. Great music lesson- Thank you for that, too!

Thank you! What an interesting song that is. I hadn't heard it before (nor the phrase mentioned below/above 'Baroque Pop' which seems perfect for this as a genre). Beautiful vocal, simple backing and yes, that elevated 4th to resolution, all make this eerie. Great little review!

Hi Fil, I had never heard this cool song before, but I liked it! Such an accurate vocal, I was watching the pitch monitoring software and just amazing to hear him sing. Had hints of Madrigal songs and heard a bit of a Doors influence. Really great song to analyze for today with so many interesting musical things going on… You Rock… Love Ya’ Debbie☮️

Excellent. I remember their hits on the radio. Walk Away being my favorite. I play piano, and admire the writing.

67 here. Very pretty song and a top 40 radio station hit.

I have heard the term the Devil's note, so I enjoyed your easy to understand explanation and demonstration of exactly what it is. Once again, I watch a WoP video, and I learn something new. 😊

Never heard of them lol. Fun analysis again. Congrats on 354k🎉!😊🌵🍻🎈🎉🎊🎼