Moi aussi les années 60 me manquent énormément surtout avant que ce beau monde musical soit perturbé par les événements violents provenants de la Californie de 1969. On semble contaminé par l'Amérique. Merci à tout ceux qui nous font planer avec des airs subtils..
March 2024. I graduated from high school in 1971. I was on the road hitchhiking North America. Back packing the mountains of the west. Lots of people on the road. Lots of guitars and music at crowded on ramps. Great time to be young and free. Peace and love was in the air for a while. It was a magical and musical time. Namaste'
I didn't even know I was a fan of "baroque pop" until I found out that THIS is an example... turns out I've been a major fan of baroque pop all my life!
You hit the sweet spot, I always say I was born 15 years too late. You got to spend the prime of your life in the greatest two decades of all humanity. 60s-70s.
They are all gone now, which is sad. It seems like yesterday when these hits came out. The lead singer didn't like this song and thought it wouldn't be a success. So he didn't put much effort into singing it. But it worked out great because his voice sounded just right for the song. It had a sad, longing quality that matched the lyrics. They also have another song called "Pretty Ballerina" that is haunting and beautiful.
I have always thought this was one of the most beautiful songs every written. Other bands wrote great songs but this one just always make me drift away.
I Do, each song brings me back to a certain place,time, heartbreaks,loves. We were soo Lucky to live in the 60,70, music was the best... You could feel the words, emotion. I would give anything to go back and be young dumb and stupid again!! Those were the days... And then go running into my mommy's arms... And smell her perfume that she always wore Taboo By Prince matchabelli. 🙏R.I.P.🙏
I grew up in the 1960s. I'm lucky to have done so. Songs like this were a part of those innocent and great times. I will take my age and my memories over anything today.
Thank goodness I had parents who had an exspansive genre of music, From the 40's through the 70''s. You name it they had an album of them, r and b, jazz, rock, country, ......The radio was always on or a vinyl spinning on the record player we would dance and singing the day/night away. When this song played on the radio I truely believed it was about me. Yes my name is Renee and I was 6 when this song first aired on the radio. I told my dad and he thought I was pretending or didn't hear the words correctly. He heard it on the radio a few days later and came home with my very first 45 vinyl "Don't walk away Renee" I played it so much he had to get 2 more copies and had one preserved in a glass frame like a gold record. It has hung on a wall in every home I've lived in and the other 2 are in my 45 record holder. What a wonderful reminder of days gone past of a simplier time and the greatest era's of wonderful music. I picked where they left off with music from the 70's to now, continuing my love for music. I believe it's still out there it's just harder to find what touches the soul. ❤😊✌
I can't believe its been 54 years since this song came out in 1966. I was only 12 years old then. Now that I'm 66. This songs still sounds as fresh to me now, as it did when I was a 12 year old boy. Priceless!
Renee wasn't Steve's girlfriend. Michael Brown, their genius keyboard player, wrote this gorgeous music for the girlfriend of Tom Finn, their bass guitar player.
Still remember that moment when Johnny Carson asked his guest Linda Ronstadt if there was any popular song by anyone else that was special to her - and without much hesitation she mentioned specifically this song (Walk Away Renee) and this group. That meant something.
Super great classic song. 🥰 Takes me back many years to simpler times, fun times with friends. It was so great to be young and relatively carefree. We got along very well without cell phones and computers.
@@denysellyn : "Walk Away Renee" always, from the first time I heard it, had a "something" to it; and thanks to you I now realize that it is the "haunting" feeling that it inspired in me. And then I see the lyrics for the first time in a reply, and I realize that the "Haunting" is encrypted into the words. No wonder. I'm 68 here in 2018 still enjoying this song. Thanks for posting.
I had 100% forgotten about this song. Then a couple weeks ago (May 2024) I clicked a video about forgotten hits of the 60's. What the hcck why not listen to it. Glad I did and the memory was found hidden under piles of decades of music. Now I appreciate the song so much more, vocals, arrangement, excellent writing skills and the lyrics. The lyrics can be heard to mean different moods, not too sad but pine for time now lost. Listen to it every day now. Top of my 60's playlist.
Tony nice to read your comment. Can you please tell more about the collaboration? I know you were involved, but Michael tends to get most of the credit. He had a crush on Renee and she was the GF of which band member?
I was 15 years old when I first heard this song. I am 71 now and when I heard it today, I loved it more than I ever did. Along with NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN my 2 most loved songs That and a 100 more songs from the 60's----the best decade ever. The 70s were close behind. What a time to be a young man.
An interesting piece of trivia regarding the lead singer. His name is Steve Martin but he eventually added his family surname, "Caro" to avoid any confusion with the comedian/actor of the same name. If you use your imagination he looks a little like Paul McCartney.
Cedarcity1 I knew the song but had never seen the band members until watching the videos on RUclips. Never realized the lead singer was such a hottie! Love his voice, too. After the band broke up did Steve ever do anymore singing do you know? I don't recall hearing anything. And yes, he does look like a very young Paul McCartney! Thanks for the info.
L Broderick I haven't heard one mention of Steve Martin since the band broke up amid turmoil in 1969. Some of the original members reunited a few years ago but Steve wasn't among them. Walk Away Renee is a great song but what puts it over the top, in my opinion, is the fact that it was written by a 16-year-old member of the group and it proclaims his deep infatuation with the girlfriend of one of his band mates. He simply could not function in her presence! Shortly after the song was released, Renee moved with her family to Boston, and no one associated with the band ever saw her again.
Cedarcity1 That's too bad about Steve because he really had a unique voice. Actually, the sound of the whole band was very unique. What a shame they could not work out their problems and stay together!. Very interesting story about the girl, Renee. Thanks for all the info.!
I love this song. I used it to catch a stallion when we moved the family of horses - the stallion, lead mare and two offspring, a filly and a colt. These were semi- feral horses and frankly, I like them as they were/are. No need to " tame" or " train" them, as I see it. Anyway, they were going to a new stable I built for them. But the stallion wouldn't allow me to catch him to load him onto the trailer. He loved that pasture with its hill where he could look out over the landscape. So the trailer left without us. The next morning, I went into the field - about 10 acres - and began singing Walk Away Renee. I changed one word: instead of Just Walk Away, I sang Don't Walk Away Renee. I sang this beautiful song to that magnificent horse for about an hour. Walking with him. Trying to gain his trust. Just quietly singing Renee, over and over. And it worked. He stopped at one point, looked at me, and then just walked over to me. This was 6 years aho. These horses are still here with me. This sire, still proud, albeit a bit stiff and grey in these, his later years. I still sing Walk Away Renee to him sometimes. I think he loves it too.
It's difficult knowing the people who brought such great music are passing on. Seeing all my friends and family grow old and pass is the the toughest part of growing old One thing I am glad of is all the fantastic music Ive experienced since the 1950s
I heard the song while stationed in the Coast Guard in Monterey Ca, I was 17. 1966, I ran down to the record store and listened to it 10 times in a listening room. Best 79 cents I ever spent.
I was 7 yrs old in grammer school living in Marina! You probably heard it on the AM radio station KNBY on Cannerey Row!!!! When Ft. Ord was BOOMING...now its just low cost housing and shopping!
This song came out the summer before 7th grade. Totally blew my mind. Melodic perfection expressing the romantic longings of an 11 year old. I have played this song well over a thousand times, and I never tire of it.
Sixties music was so real. No technology. Just heart felt, authentic songs. I feel lucky I was there to experience it. There are just a wealth our great songs.
Man, this group hit it out of the park with that song! As a child of 6-7 I was heartbroken long before I even knew the meaning from listening to this one.
I know what you mean... I first heard this song when I was 16 and was hooked on 'romance' not just sex with a girl ... It is so heartwarming and genuine and full of 'heat brake'.. I listened to this song at many 'make-out' Parties in the sixties when back then kissing and hugging was heaven on earth..Today it seems nothing is far enough or satisfying.
I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said---"Your not getting too old, the music just sucks!" The 60's and 70's were great creatively in so many ways. The cars, the music, the art, architecture, the clothes. I could go on, but, I've said my piece.
"Walk Away Renee" by The Left Banke is a timeless classic that emerged during the mid-1960s, marking a pinnacle in the era of baroque pop and rock. Released in 1966, the song has endured as a symbol of the period's musical innovation and emotional resonance. The Left Banke, a band hailing from New York City, crafted a unique sound that blended elements of pop, rock, and classical music. "Walk Away Renee" exemplifies this fusion, characterized by lush orchestration, intricate arrangements, and the emotive vocals of lead singer Steve Martin Caro. At the heart of the song's appeal is its poignant narrative. The lyrics tell a story of unrequited love and heartbreak, capturing the bittersweet essence of romantic longing. The protagonist, unable to bear the pain of unreciprocated feelings, pleads with his love, Renee, to walk away and spare him the anguish of watching her with someone else. This theme of unfulfilled love is universal, contributing to the song's enduring emotional impact. The distinctive harpsichord riff that opens "Walk Away Renee" immediately sets the tone, creating a sense of melancholy and nostalgia. The song's orchestral arrangement, featuring strings and woodwinds, adds a layer of sophistication that distinguishes it from other pop songs of its time. The combination of Caro's heartfelt vocals and the lush musical backdrop creates a rich and evocative sonic experience. The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "Walk away, Renee," becomes an unforgettable and emotionally charged hook. Caro's delivery adds a sense of urgency, as if the singer is imploring Renee to make the painful decision to walk away for both their sakes. The arrangement supports and enhances the emotional weight of the lyrics, creating a beautifully orchestrated composition that resonates with listeners on a deep and personal level. "Walk Away Renee" has endured through the decades, covered by various artists and featured in films, television shows, and commercials. Its timeless quality lies not only in its musical craftsmanship but also in its ability to tap into the universal theme of heartbreak and unfulfilled love. The Left Banke's contribution to the baroque pop genre, epitomized by "Walk Away Renee," continues to be celebrated for its enduring emotional impact and musical artistry.
I am so fortunate to be part of the 60's& 70's music era. The greatest music ever written and sang. It will never, I mean never never happen again. No offense to anyone, and a lot of listener will agree, that today's noise is just noise.
that is so true ....my grand-daughter loves the '60s music and would liked to have lived in the era...if i could i'd take her back in time to a history that will never be repeated!
certainly one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs ever written and recorded. How many of us had "walk away Renee" experiences in our lives? How deeply this song touched that chord in my soul. Thanks for posting this.
following susan lang back home, before that vivian kinney,...put me down for the walk away renee experience....I knew renee in prep school, but she followed me back home.
Another awesomely beautiful song is (Lamour est Blu) love is blue by Paul Meraiut(cant spell last name sorry) & sung by Claudette Longett. Yes its in french but that makes it even more beautiful. Have a listen i think all will agree. Peace!
Aloha, gorgeous music, fab looking guys. Remember some members of the band strolling along the mighty streets of Greenwich Village ,1966/7. Best times of my life. Jimi Hendrix practicing at Cafe Wha. Totally the most glorious teenage years. I feel so blessed🎸🥁🌿🌎✌️💕🌻🌈.
This song came out when I was 9 years old and I still love it today! I am now 63 and when I listen to this song it is still hauntingly beautiful but there's a feeling of loneliness that accompanies it...❤
It was one of those songs that when it came on the old AM car radio, everyone just shut up. When it finished, we'd pick up the conversation where we left off. It was that good.
Took me forever to rediscover this song! It haunted me for decades. I love the flute bridge. The vocals are great. Oh, the '60s yielded some true classics.
@@johngrauman4208 Or more realistically, not yet brainwashed by leftist "progressive" socialism. They could express themselves more honestly, and not be forced to conform to phony woke narratives.
takfam07 republicans have been stifling arts programs and civics. The mortar and bricks of creative thinking being banned by radicalized conservative zealots
@@johngrauman4208 In fact, the exact opposite is true. In the last thirty years we've seen the progressive socialist takeover of society. Moreover, there is a direct correlation between this fascist neo-Marxist takeover and the erosion of the quality of music. Again, that's due to Leftist cancel culture censorship stifling individual expression and creativity--via fear. Same thing has happened to comedy, movies, and other previously flourishing creative arenas.
takfam07 that is about the dumbest load of crap 😆. Conservatives have been eliminating arts programs in schools for decades. Few musicians support republicans because of it. Fascists and marxists are different theologies 🖕🖕🖕the attack on public education is a republican sponsored agenda
Perfect arrangement,the instruments, that beautiful haunting voice . A masterpiece . Rip, to those gifted to share the most powerful, and beautiful music the world has known.
WOW IMAGINE IF KIDS COULD MAKE MUSIC LIKE THIS AGAIN INSTEAD OF THE STUFF THE PUT OUT NOW!!! SO SAD!! THANK GOD FOR ALBUMS, CD'S, AND THE YOU-TUBE ! 60S AND 70S JUST THE BEST!!
@@Laura4Cats Nope, I know, sometimes it's like why the fk not? But I appreciate how the thumbs up turns blue, so you know you already voted. Peace, cat loving sister!
Conrad Dev If only! This is what you actually CAN call music -actual singing, playing with actual instruments, and real lyrics. Nothing from these days could ever compare. Sadly, the "music" now is this computerized noise, or some off-shoot of hip-hop. You said it -thank goodness for albums and RUclips.
I was 20 years old and sang along in my test car 1 of 5 in CANADA yes later in the year became 442 on the side rear fender so thanks for the song & MEMORY
Omgoodness I was 11 yrs old when I heard this song..and I would actually Sing Along and did through out the years..I know all the songs from the 60s and 70s...decades have come and gone and I still love this song..absolutely great memories...those WERE the days weren't they???
I was fortunate to grow up during the 60's AND be a musician. Man, what a time for us all and songs like this were on radio rotation like ever 45 minutes. Talk about competition! The Beatles. The Byrds. The Stones. I just can't name them all but they were all so fine.
I was born in 1973 but I'm infatuated with music from the 60s🌻 you guys had it all when it came to the music, style,cars,homes...... what an awesome to have been alive✌
When this song came out, it was an instant anthem for my romantic adolescent heart, and it still works its magic today. Back then, old farts invariably complained (Leonard Bernstein was a notable exception) that long-haired rock musicians like these didn't know a thing about music and couldn't hold a candle to the classic crooners and songwriters of their youth. Clearly, nothing has changed!
Always loved this song since it came out in the 60's,..now it hurts to listen to it,..loved his beautiful voice!. Sleep with the Angels Steve Martin-Caro,...you will be forever loved & missed!
I feel bad for generations who grew up after us because they never got to experience the joy of the music in the 60's and 70's. We can always relive the music, the times and the memories anytime we want but what do they have? Clown rappers, Justin Bieber, and Lady GagGag? WOO HOO!
The illegal downloading has killed all development and investment in the music like they had- now they are all shooting for one hit wonders. The public created this mess...by not supporting songs with their 99 cents on itunes.
Don't feel sorry for them, they think their music is the best, the same as we did & our parents before us with the big band sound. We loved our music because it was what we grew up with, and I do like a lot of the music of today
many many breakups this was played, including my own.. 58 yrs old going on 17 here, MS colon Cancer issues.. gotta love stuff like this, takes you "away to better times"
It's hard to imagine that almost 50 years ago, when this was made, people experienced this amazing performance in clear, spotless audio and visual quality.
Such a perfect voice for this deep and beautiful song. This tune has got to be one of the most emotionally stirring I have ever heard. What a genius the young man who wrote this must have been!
@@TheBlueCream That is what Wikipedia says, but proof that they can also have misinformation on rare occasions, like this one. Michael Brown never once claimed to have written the song. He never even said a word about it after it came out for the 50 years he was still alive. He was “assumed” to be the principle writer because a female journalist heard that the bassist’s girlfriend Renee was in the studio when Michael Brown was recording the harpsichord part of the song and said his hands were shaking when Renee was nearby. The journalist thought Oh, this girl named Renee must be the muse for “his” song, and he’s in love!. Misunderstandings can become the accepted truth in a band, that became splintered from drug usage and a fast breakup. Michael Brown’s older friend Tony Sansone, is the only one with the background on how he was the principle writer and the song references he used were from his Bronx neighborhood ("And when I see the sign that points One Way. The block we used to pass by every day"). And how he wanted a French sounding name like Renee since he was inspired by the French lyrics in the Beatles song Michelle. Sansone's interview is in the Catholic Register. He's the oldest and only surviving connection to the Left Banke.
Written by a 17 year old, sung by an 18 year old. Still being played 54 years later. I so miss 60s music.
An epic, moving expansive sounding ballad - in less than two minutes
Yep, study hall is just not the same today.
Moi aussi les années 60 me manquent énormément surtout avant que ce beau monde musical soit perturbé par les événements violents provenants de la Californie de 1969. On semble contaminé par l'Amérique. Merci à tout ceux qui nous font planer avec des airs subtils..
Mind blowing ! 17 damn that’s genuine genius!....
@@derekgee ty for info bro lol 🇺🇸👍❤️
March 2024. I graduated from high school in 1971. I was on the road hitchhiking North America. Back packing the mountains of the west. Lots of people on the road. Lots of guitars and music at crowded on ramps. Great time to be young and free. Peace and love was in the air for a while. It was a magical and musical time.
Namaste'
Same here...but I didn't hitchhike. The best of times for young people.
I AM CLASS OF 71 AS WELL . . . BOLSA GRANDE . . . GARDEN GROVE . . .GUITAR PLAYER . MUSIC LOVER! love this song! Had a girlfriend Renee way back when
This song played during my first gay experience at a Texaco bathroom stall.
So was ted bundy
Glad you got to experience that. I wasn't born but just a few years later, but it's good to know that there were decent people around.
Anyone else miss this time period and the music, art, and culture?
Definitely yessss
I was just a kid, but yes, I miss those times.
Everyday
Yes, me!
I didn't even know I was a fan of "baroque pop" until I found out that THIS is an example... turns out I've been a major fan of baroque pop all my life!
I am 75 but feel like 17 when I first heard this song, feel very lucky.
Yea
Time flies doesn't it.
I was dead when this came out.
Growing up in the 60s and 70s we were privileged to hear and see some great music. We were so very lucky
Yes in deed! I'm grateful all the time ;) I was 10yrs old...
Yes we were so lucky to have been teenagers and young adults during the 60 and 70s.
Yes we were too bad it went by much to fast.
BLESSED...not lucky. We believed and sang about God.
I agree 100% the music in the 60's and 70's were wonderful
So young, oh youth. Enjoy that life. Best years of my great life. I'm 75. Thank you God.
I don't think any of these youths made it to 75. I'm sure they'd think old age was not so bad.
The ‘60’s and early ‘70’s were some of my best years too. I’m 70 now. Sure miss those days
You hit the sweet spot, I always say I was born 15 years too late. You got to spend the prime of your life in the greatest two decades of all humanity. 60s-70s.
So wisely said 1:42
Iam 70. God bless us!
Such a beautiful, haunting song with such depth. So glad we can still enjoy all these years later. Nothing like it in this day and age. Pure magic.
the music of today is pure shit and I am not a bitter old asshole.
The most amazing song. It has everything- ballad, angst, heart, harmony, style, melody, catchy lyrics. This sweet song has everything.
They are all gone now, which is sad. It seems like yesterday when these hits came out. The lead singer didn't like this song and thought it wouldn't be a success. So he didn't put much effort into singing it. But it worked out great because his voice sounded just right for the song. It had a sad, longing quality that matched the lyrics. They also have another song called "Pretty Ballerina" that is haunting and beautiful.
Angst? This must be the least angst-ridden song ever written! Along with "More than a feeling" :D No need for Valium here...
Both the Beatles and The Rolling Stones were influenced by this group. They should have been far more famous. So talented and such beautiful songs.
For sure!.....
@@velvetbees yes I know that other song too. Gone but never forgotten!....
One of the most beautiful songs ever recorded in my opinion.
This and Cara Mia
@@paulryan4947 Excellent song!
I wonder how many girls, were named Renee, after this song.
@@paulryan4947 Love Cara Mia! However I saw “Jay” in person, he was So drunk. I can’t listen to his music anymore.
@@maureenmcgovern6119 Wow, that's so sad to hear. What a voice he had.
Man I love this song, I was 21 the first time I heard it am 78 now.🌹
I have always thought this was one of the most beautiful songs every written. Other bands wrote great songs but this one just always make me drift away.
For sure....
May be the greatest song ever. Maybe
Songs like this ..prove just how much rap sucks. Autotuner sample crap.
I named my first daughter after this song ♥️♥️♥️ I love it still 👍
@@knails5638 de p no me sorprende la
So here we are 60 years later, and still listening to, and making comments about this song. Can there be a better compliment?
Damn! Does anyone else yearn for the days of their youth again when hearing these classics?
I Do, each song brings me back to a certain place,time, heartbreaks,loves. We were soo
Lucky to live in the 60,70, music was the best... You could feel the words,
emotion. I would give anything to go back and be young dumb and stupid again!!
Those were the days... And then go running into my mommy's arms... And smell her perfume that she always wore Taboo
By Prince matchabelli.
🙏R.I.P.🙏
Yes I do everyday. I miss those days so much
Me too. I'm now 70 and can't believe it! Wish I could go back.
I'd like to be that age again and know what I know now....
@@andreamaldonado681 was called TABU.. 😁
1966 training to go Vietnam the first time. last night in the States and this was on the radio.
Thank for your service
Thank you for your service...👍🏻🇺🇸
That almost makes me want to cry...so poignant.
perfect intro for Khe San, lovely song, fucked up war
Here you man.
Who's listening now 2024?
Join me❤❤❤
great tune- and the 4 tops too!
I'll be listening until the day my hearing fails
I do almost ever weekand
Beautiful song.❤❤❤
I am I still come back ,fab sad memories.
I grew up in the 1960s. I'm lucky to have done so. Songs like this were a part of those innocent and great times. I will take my age and my memories over anything today.
Me too
This song by the Left Banke will haunt all of us forever.
This really is a fantastic song. It's both sweet, and haunting.
Yes it absolutely is.
loved this song, I gave my daughter the middle name of Renee...Susan Renee DuPee She's half French too and a total beauty
... along the lines of "Boys of Summer."' Great song; great lyrics; sad, sweet and haunting all at the same time.
@@vivianpatterson1434 Beautiful name.
Best song ever.
Thank goodness I had parents who had an exspansive genre of music, From the 40's through the 70''s. You name it they had an album of them, r and b, jazz, rock, country, ......The radio was always on or a vinyl spinning on the record player we would dance and singing the day/night away. When this song played on the radio I truely believed it was about me. Yes my name is Renee and I was 6 when this song first aired on the radio. I told my dad and he thought I was pretending or didn't hear the words correctly. He heard it on the radio a few days later and came home with my very first 45 vinyl "Don't walk away Renee" I played it so much he had to get 2 more copies and had one preserved in a glass frame like a gold record. It has hung on a wall in every home I've lived in and the other 2 are in my 45 record holder. What a wonderful reminder of days gone past of a simplier time and the greatest era's of wonderful music. I picked where they left off with music from the 70's to now, continuing my love for music. I believe it's still out there it's just harder to find what touches the soul. ❤😊✌
I've heard this song my entire life since I was just a baby because of my 60s hippie parents and it STILL gives me chills. Such a haunting song.
Same here.
1 was 3 and loved it.❤
I can't believe its been 54 years since this song came out in 1966. I was only 12 years old then. Now that I'm 66. This songs still sounds as fresh to me now, as it did when I was a 12 year old boy. Priceless!
Mr54nomore awesome
me too it zoomed me back to the first time I heard it. I wanted to be Rene' I would not have walked away
Wish I grew up when all this terrific music was made. I was born in 68' but the 1960's is my favorite decade for music. Rock, Pop, R&B, Blues.
I too was born in 68 and this is the only type of music I listen too. the oldies. lol
You and me both brother. I was 13 then. Put a lot of miles on my Magnavox transistor radio.
The greatest tribute to unrequited love (the writer, openly, for the singer's girlfriend)
Renee wasn't Steve's girlfriend. Michael Brown, their genius keyboard player, wrote this gorgeous music for the girlfriend of Tom Finn, their bass guitar player.
Still remember that moment when Johnny Carson asked his guest Linda Ronstadt if there was any popular song by anyone else that was special to her - and without much hesitation she mentioned specifically this song (Walk Away Renee) and this group. That meant something.
Listening to this today with eyes closed I go back 50 years in time. Great memories. Thanks for posting this song.
Me too
The four tops sung it better
@@Angel-tw3ko I love both versions, but I agree the Tops put their own great spin on it.
Super great classic song. 🥰 Takes me back many years to simpler times, fun times with friends. It was so great to be young and relatively carefree. We got along very well without cell phones and computers.
It’s 2022 who is still listening to this song? Give a thumbs up 👍🏻
I am....5-11-2020 and drinking a Ice Cold Beer listening...
Great music, takes me back to a wonderful time in my life.
A true classic
@ I like this and soad, am i l;ifeless too?
Me always ❤🙏🥀
It still sounds so fresh and clean. It is sweet and beautiful. Never to be forgotten.
Just walk away Renee. But I suppose I'm bisaed! Lol! One of my favorite songs of all time. Great song, Great band and Great vocals. Classic!
There has always been something beautifully haunting about this song. I still love it.
"beautifully haunting" Absolutely agree. It completely transports me back in time.
"Pretty Ballerina" is more haunting to me.
and Pretty Ballerina
@@denysellyn :
"Walk Away Renee" always, from the first time I heard it, had a "something" to it; and thanks to you I now realize that it is the "haunting" feeling that it inspired in me.
And then I see the lyrics for the first time in a reply, and I realize that the "Haunting" is encrypted into the words.
No wonder.
I'm 68 here in 2018 still enjoying this song. Thanks for posting.
malleyc - well we all did ! - her name wasn’t Renee but that didn’t matter someone shared our pain! - he shared mine ( more than once)!
RIP Steve and Tom! Your music will live on! Had no idea they passed away! Now they can make even more beautiful music! Bless em!
Gone but never forgotten!....
One of the best 60s hits. The melody the vocal the flute solo. The singer has great hair.
Walk Away Renee is one of my favorite 60s songs
I had 100% forgotten about this song. Then a couple weeks ago (May 2024) I clicked a video about forgotten hits of the 60's. What the hcck why not listen to it. Glad I did and the memory was found hidden under piles of decades of music. Now I appreciate the song so much more, vocals, arrangement, excellent writing skills and the lyrics. The lyrics can be heard to mean different moods, not too sad but pine for time now lost. Listen to it every day now. Top of my 60's playlist.
THANKS to everyone who has commented. I enjoy reading the thoughts folks have on this song I co-wrote.with Mike and Bob
Tony nice to read your comment. Can you please tell more about the collaboration? I know you were involved, but Michael tends to get most of the credit. He had a crush on Renee and she was the GF of which band member?
Good job, Anthony! It has stood the test of time!
Amazing !!!
Wish we could have gotten the whole song in the clip...
Great song, it brings me back to a time when it was worth listening to the radio
I'm 74 now & STILL LOVE this song!!!!
Taught this song to my HS choir; we performed it with the flute solo. HS kids love this song.
Awesome!👍
I was 15 years old when I first heard this song. I am 71 now and when I heard it today, I loved it more than I ever did. Along with NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN my 2 most loved songs That and a 100 more songs from the 60's----the best decade ever. The 70s were close behind. What a time to be a young man.
I was a kid in the 60's. I didn't realize best music of my life would come out during that incredible decade!
Yeah fer sure, our social media was the Good old Transistor Radio back then 👍😊🇺🇸
Well, the 70s for me!😀
@@berzerker1100 for sure! 1 little speaker!!
I always loved this song! Gee, the lead singer looked so young! Such a cutie! Boy, that one guy really bobs his head! LOL!
An interesting piece of trivia regarding the lead singer. His name is Steve Martin but he eventually added his family surname, "Caro" to avoid any confusion with the comedian/actor of the same name. If you use your imagination he looks a little like Paul McCartney.
Cedarcity1 I knew the song but had never seen the band members until watching the videos on RUclips. Never realized the lead singer was such a hottie! Love his voice, too. After the band broke up did Steve ever do anymore singing do you know? I don't recall hearing anything. And yes, he does look like a very young Paul McCartney! Thanks for the info.
L Broderick I haven't heard one mention of Steve Martin since the band broke up amid turmoil in 1969. Some of the original members reunited a few years ago but Steve wasn't among them. Walk Away Renee is a great song but what puts it over the top, in my opinion, is the fact that it was written by a 16-year-old member of the group and it proclaims his deep infatuation with the girlfriend of one of his band mates. He simply could not function in her presence! Shortly after the song was released, Renee moved with her family to Boston, and no one associated with the band ever saw her again.
Cedarcity1 That's too bad about Steve because he really had a unique voice. Actually, the sound of the whole band was very unique. What a shame they could not work out their problems and stay together!. Very interesting story about the girl, Renee. Thanks for all the info.!
Yeah, he looks so cute bobbing his head in time to the beat. I can't say I've seen anyone else do that.
I love this song. I used it to catch a stallion when we moved the family of horses - the stallion, lead mare and two offspring, a filly and a colt. These were semi- feral horses and frankly, I like them as they were/are. No need to " tame" or " train" them, as I see it. Anyway, they were going to a new stable I built for them. But the stallion wouldn't allow me to catch him to load him onto the trailer. He loved that pasture with its hill where he could look out over the landscape. So the trailer left without us. The next morning, I went into the field - about 10 acres - and began singing Walk Away Renee. I changed one word: instead of Just Walk Away, I sang Don't Walk Away Renee. I sang this beautiful song to that magnificent horse for about an hour. Walking with him. Trying to gain his trust. Just quietly singing Renee, over and over. And it worked. He stopped at one point, looked at me, and then just walked over to me.
This was 6 years aho. These horses are still here with me. This sire, still proud, albeit a bit stiff and grey in these, his later years. I still sing Walk Away Renee to him sometimes. I think he loves it too.
I forgot about this one. Found it again on RUclips. Thanks for RUclips and rediscovering so many memories.
God we were so blessed with music in the sixties.
RIP Steve Caro 1948 - 2020 Thank you for the beauty of your art...
Damn I was born in 1949! Still hanging around in 2022 at age 73. That’s crazy!
Great tune ! Pretty Ballerina's another gem too !!
It's difficult knowing the people who brought such great music are passing on. Seeing all my friends and family grow old and pass is the the toughest part of growing old One thing I am glad of is all the fantastic music Ive experienced since the 1950s
I agree--the toughest part of growing old.
RIP Steve...Thanks for the heart felt vocals...passing on memories of the 60s.
Great vocalist! Tyx for the memories Steve!.... RIP 🙏
I heard the song while stationed in the Coast Guard in Monterey Ca, I was 17. 1966, I ran down to the record store and listened to it 10 times in a listening room. Best 79 cents I ever spent.
That was probably Abinantes Music on Alvarado. Lovely place Monterey was and is though its changed a lot.
I was 7 yrs old in grammer school living in Marina! You probably heard it on the AM radio station KNBY on Cannerey Row!!!! When Ft. Ord was BOOMING...now its just low cost housing and shopping!
Thank you for your service. I was 12. Still a favorite song.
Ted cox Too wonderful... thank you for the memory
This song came out the summer before 7th grade. Totally blew my mind. Melodic perfection expressing the romantic longings of an 11 year old. I have played this song well over a thousand times, and I never tire of it.
Sixties music was so real. No technology. Just heart felt, authentic songs. I feel lucky I was there to experience it. There are just a wealth our great songs.
They used the technology that was available to them at the time to maximize their sound, just like everyone else.
Man, this group hit it out of the park with that song! As a child of 6-7 I was heartbroken long before I even knew the meaning from listening to this one.
Franklin NJ I didn't know that Scott Baio (Chachi from Happy Days) was a singer. LOL !!
Franklin NJ
SERIOUSLY!!! This is the ultimate "Wonder Years" song and it encapsulates my entire Junior High School life.
+ExclusiveLM looks a lot like Paul McCartney
+ExclusiveLM looks a lot like Paul McCartney
I know what you mean... I first heard this song when I was 16 and was hooked on 'romance' not just sex with a girl ... It is so heartwarming and genuine and full of 'heat brake'.. I listened to this song at many 'make-out' Parties in the sixties when back then kissing and hugging was heaven on earth..Today it seems nothing is far enough or satisfying.
1966 11 years old this song stopped me in my tracks.
Still does.
pigurine I was 11 then too and it stopped me dead in my tracks this morning...a must listen
Right there with ya!
This song captured me when I was a kid back in ‘66 and to this day I am still under its spell. What an awesome song.
I was twelve. Still has the same effect on me today as it did 53 yrs ago
11 as well. What great music we had then.
That string arrangement is amazing.
Classic "Baroque Rock."
They don’t make em now days like they did back then!.... greatest time for these precious gems! ❤️🇺🇸👍🔥🎶☮️
@@donegalgael8416 absolutely!👍
I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said---"Your not getting too old, the music just sucks!"
The 60's and 70's were great creatively in so many ways. The cars, the music, the art, architecture, the clothes. I could go on, but, I've said my piece.
Back when music had meaning and soul.
They are the words my parents told me about the 30's and 40's.
music still has meaning and soul
Yeah the meaning was the keyboardist wanted to bang the bassist's girlfriend.
Better times no? If you want to really have fun watch The Wrecking Crew. It’s a documentary about the session musicians who backed up these groups.
@@ardaduck735 uh huh....LOL
Just another beautiful song from a beautiful time to be young. I was 16 when I first heard this song and I still love it today. Thanks!
"Walk Away Renee" by The Left Banke is a timeless classic that emerged during the mid-1960s, marking a pinnacle in the era of baroque pop and rock. Released in 1966, the song has endured as a symbol of the period's musical innovation and emotional resonance.
The Left Banke, a band hailing from New York City, crafted a unique sound that blended elements of pop, rock, and classical music. "Walk Away Renee" exemplifies this fusion, characterized by lush orchestration, intricate arrangements, and the emotive vocals of lead singer Steve Martin Caro.
At the heart of the song's appeal is its poignant narrative. The lyrics tell a story of unrequited love and heartbreak, capturing the bittersweet essence of romantic longing. The protagonist, unable to bear the pain of unreciprocated feelings, pleads with his love, Renee, to walk away and spare him the anguish of watching her with someone else. This theme of unfulfilled love is universal, contributing to the song's enduring emotional impact.
The distinctive harpsichord riff that opens "Walk Away Renee" immediately sets the tone, creating a sense of melancholy and nostalgia. The song's orchestral arrangement, featuring strings and woodwinds, adds a layer of sophistication that distinguishes it from other pop songs of its time. The combination of Caro's heartfelt vocals and the lush musical backdrop creates a rich and evocative sonic experience.
The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "Walk away, Renee," becomes an unforgettable and emotionally charged hook. Caro's delivery adds a sense of urgency, as if the singer is imploring Renee to make the painful decision to walk away for both their sakes. The arrangement supports and enhances the emotional weight of the lyrics, creating a beautifully orchestrated composition that resonates with listeners on a deep and personal level.
"Walk Away Renee" has endured through the decades, covered by various artists and featured in films, television shows, and commercials. Its timeless quality lies not only in its musical craftsmanship but also in its ability to tap into the universal theme of heartbreak and unfulfilled love. The Left Banke's contribution to the baroque pop genre, epitomized by "Walk Away Renee," continues to be celebrated for its enduring emotional impact and musical artistry.
Very good song, sung by a good group. I always liked the sound of the singer's voice.
Same here! Passed on the whole band! But memories of them &!this song will never die!
Steve Martin Caro. Passed away a few years ago. All of the original band members are RIP now.
I am so fortunate to be part of the 60's& 70's music era. The greatest music ever written and sang. It will never, I mean never never happen again. No offense to anyone, and a lot of listener will agree, that today's noise is just noise.
David H I agree!
You said it. Also loved The Four Tops rendition.
Greetings from Oregon! Totally agree. I almost feel bad for the kids today. They have no idea! Soundtrack of our youth & Vietnam war.
that is so true ....my grand-daughter loves the '60s music and would liked to have lived in the era...if i could i'd take her back in time to a history that will never be repeated!
You are all so lucky.
certainly one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs ever written and recorded. How many of us had "walk away Renee" experiences in our lives? How deeply this song touched that chord in my soul. Thanks for posting this.
Sane here!
following susan lang back home, before that vivian kinney,...put me down for the walk away renee experience....I knew renee in prep school, but she followed me back home.
Another awesomely beautiful song is (Lamour est Blu) love is blue by Paul Meraiut(cant spell last name sorry) & sung by Claudette Longett. Yes its in french but that makes it even more beautiful. Have a listen i think all will agree. Peace!
How many times
Aloha, gorgeous music, fab looking guys. Remember some members of the band strolling along the mighty streets of Greenwich Village ,1966/7. Best times of my life. Jimi Hendrix practicing at Cafe Wha. Totally the most glorious teenage years. I feel so blessed🎸🥁🌿🌎✌️💕🌻🌈.
This song came out when I was 9 years old and I still love it today! I am now 63 and when I listen to this song it is still hauntingly beautiful but there's a feeling of loneliness that accompanies it...❤
Yes feel ya on this reply
2021 almost 65 and still love this song. The angst, longing for love, it still rings true in this day and age of Covid-19, as it always has!
Hello Pat, How are you doing?
Growing up in the 60s with the name Renee, this was and will always be one of my favorites.
I don't think I've ever met someone named Renee who is younger than 25. That's a shame because it's a lovely name!
It was one of those songs that when it came on the old AM car radio, everyone just shut up. When it finished, we'd pick up the conversation where we left off. It was that good.
Took me forever to rediscover this song! It haunted me for decades. I love the flute bridge. The vocals are great. Oh, the '60s yielded some true classics.
One of the greatest laments of young love lost...I still get chills,when ai hear this song 🎵 ❤😊
😊
Maybe turn the heat up.
I adore this song. It has held up completely for the 41 years I have listened to it!
Love this song. Such good songs and such perfect harmonies back then.😊
Can you imagine being in high school and writing a song of this caliber?
It's a kid capturing eternity in the melody of a two-minute pop song.
Kids were better educated back then. Not stifled by capitalism commercialism or yet by far right conservatives
@@johngrauman4208 Or more realistically, not yet brainwashed by leftist "progressive" socialism. They could express themselves more honestly, and not be forced to conform to phony woke narratives.
takfam07 republicans have been stifling arts programs and civics. The mortar and bricks of creative thinking being banned by radicalized conservative zealots
@@johngrauman4208 In fact, the exact opposite is true. In the last thirty years we've seen the progressive socialist takeover of society. Moreover, there is a direct correlation between this fascist neo-Marxist takeover and the erosion of the quality of music. Again, that's due to Leftist cancel culture censorship stifling individual expression and creativity--via fear. Same thing has happened to comedy, movies, and other previously flourishing creative arenas.
takfam07 that is about the dumbest load of crap 😆. Conservatives have been eliminating arts programs in schools for decades. Few musicians support republicans because of it. Fascists and marxists are different theologies 🖕🖕🖕the attack on public education is a republican sponsored agenda
Such a great song. This is one that gets stuck in my head every time I hear it.
Same here
Such an iconic song of the 60s. So sad that all of the original members have passed. They left us with a jewel.
Yes they sure did!....☮️❤️
Perfect arrangement,the instruments, that beautiful haunting voice . A masterpiece . Rip, to those gifted to share the most powerful, and beautiful music the world has known.
This incredibly moving classic pop song will live on as long as there are people searching for beautiful music. Thank you, RUclips!
Definitely one of my 60's favorites. I was born in 60 but old enough to appreciate them. I miss music with meaning.
WOW IMAGINE IF KIDS COULD MAKE MUSIC LIKE THIS AGAIN INSTEAD OF THE STUFF THE PUT OUT NOW!!! SO SAD!! THANK GOD FOR ALBUMS, CD'S, AND THE YOU-TUBE ! 60S AND 70S JUST THE BEST!!
Is is possible to "like" your comment more than once?
@@Laura4Cats Nope, I know, sometimes it's like why the fk not? But I appreciate how the thumbs up turns blue, so you know you already voted. Peace, cat loving sister!
Conrad Dev If only! This is what you actually CAN call music -actual singing, playing with actual instruments, and real lyrics. Nothing from these days could ever compare. Sadly, the "music" now is this computerized noise, or some off-shoot of hip-hop. You said it -thank goodness for albums and RUclips.
@@phatcat3705 How many songs of today can still bring a tear to your eye? Indeed, If only!
One of the greatest songs written by such a young man. Timeless classic.
I was 20 years old and sang along in my test car 1 of 5 in CANADA yes later in the year became 442 on the side rear fender so thanks for the song & MEMORY
1964 model
I was 6 when I heard this song. I remember thinking how could Renee walk away he sounded so sweet!
I was about 9. But I liked it from that moment to today.
Renee was the girlfriend of another guy in the band. She was quite annoyed with the song at the time.
Omgoodness I was 11 yrs old when I heard this song..and I would actually Sing Along and did through out the years..I know all the songs from the 60s and 70s...decades have come and gone and I still love this song..absolutely great memories...those WERE the days weren't they???
I was fortunate to grow up during the 60's AND be a musician. Man, what a time for us all and songs like this were on radio rotation like ever 45 minutes. Talk about competition! The Beatles. The Byrds. The Stones. I just can't name them all but they were all so fine.
I was ten. I've always loved this tender sweet tune. I'm going to miss music when I die. Wasn't be just a doll?!
I was born in 1973 but I'm infatuated with music from the 60s🌻 you guys had it all when it came to the music, style,cars,homes...... what an awesome to have been alive✌
So true!
Stefanie, I was only 7 or 8 in 1966 when this came out, so I came of age in the 70s, but I will always consider the 60s music as being my music, also.
One of the most beautiful chord progressions in popular music.
I was 8 years old when this came out, and it still sounds great after all these years. Great Classic !! 👍
When this song came out, it was an instant anthem for my romantic adolescent heart, and it still works its magic today. Back then, old farts invariably complained (Leonard Bernstein was a notable exception) that long-haired rock musicians like these didn't know a thing about music and couldn't hold a candle to the classic crooners and songwriters of their youth. Clearly, nothing has changed!
My brother would sing along each time this played on the radio. He was 14 and I was 8. Such a wonderful time.
This still is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. Wonderful!
Always loved this song since it came out in the 60's,..now it hurts to listen to it,..loved his beautiful voice!. Sleep with the Angels Steve Martin-Caro,...you will be forever loved & missed!
This is one of the most powerful songs capturing the emotions experienced by many while growing up.
Wow ! I've not heard this song in so long... Brings back so many memories of my youth,,, now in my late 60's .. still love it !
I feel bad for generations who grew up after us because they never got to experience the joy of the music in the 60's and 70's. We can always relive the music, the times and the memories anytime we want but what do they have? Clown rappers, Justin Bieber, and Lady GagGag? WOO HOO!
Agree, although I'm 57 and I do have a fav Lady GaGa song!! Hahah, but yes, these 70's songs were what I grew up with.
MrBusholiday me too. I'm 59 and LOVE sixties music. Growing up with a 15 years-younger sister who frequently mocked my good taste, grr!😥
The illegal downloading has killed all development and investment in the music like they had- now they are all shooting for one hit wonders. The public created this mess...by not supporting songs with their 99 cents on itunes.
Yes!
Don't feel sorry for them, they think their music is the best, the same as we did & our parents before us with the big band sound. We loved our music because it was what we grew up with, and I do like a lot of the music of today
many many breakups this was played, including my own.. 58 yrs old going on 17 here, MS colon Cancer issues.. gotta love stuff like this, takes you "away to better times"
Yes listening to good music is healing. All God's Blessings and Strength to you.
Definitely for sure!....
I'm 42 i was born in 79 and I love and listen too this music too me there was so much feeling and emotion behind this music .
I have always loved this song... There has never been, and never will again be music like the sixty's.....
Steve Martin was the lead singer, I sat behind him in Mr. Mosier’s math class.
That's incredible!
Wow!! So cool!
It's hard to imagine that almost 50 years ago, when this was made, people experienced this amazing performance in clear, spotless audio and visual quality.
11 years old in 1966 - this song rocked my world. Lucky me. 65 years old in 2020 - this song stills rocks my world. Lucky me.
Rest in peace, Steven Martin! I'll be playing this song until it's my time, too. Godspeed.
Steve Martin a poet &!epic genius at 17. Speaks volumes to say the least
I was 14 yrs. old when this song played on the radio, haunting then and haunting now...love it!!!
yep I was also 14 when this song came out... was listening to it on my transistor
radio!
I’m listening 60’s and 70’s music is the best ever. 76 and still rocking.
Me too..I appreciate it now more than way back then.
It's 2022 now and my eyes still tear up hearing this classic. The thoughts of my "Renee", Vicky Neal, almost always haunt me like this song.😊😢😎
😢how I miss this time
Such a perfect voice for this deep and beautiful song. This tune has got to be one of the most emotionally stirring I have ever heard. What a genius the young man who wrote this must have been!
Primarily written by an older friend of the group, Tony Sansone, with a minor assist by the keyboard player/composer of the group Michael Brown.
@@boborrahood really ?..nawww..i thought Michael wrote it.
@@TheBlueCream That is what Wikipedia says, but proof that they can also have misinformation on rare occasions, like this one. Michael Brown never once claimed to have written the song. He never even said a word about it after it came out for the 50 years he was still alive. He was “assumed” to be the principle writer because a female journalist heard that the bassist’s girlfriend Renee was in the studio when Michael Brown was recording the harpsichord part of the song and said his hands were shaking when Renee was nearby. The journalist thought Oh, this girl named Renee must be the muse for “his” song, and he’s in love!. Misunderstandings can become the accepted truth in a band, that became splintered from drug usage and a fast breakup. Michael Brown’s older friend Tony Sansone, is the only one with the background on how he was the principle writer and the song references he used were from his Bronx neighborhood ("And when I see the sign that points One Way. The block we used to pass by every day"). And how he wanted a French sounding name like Renee since he was inspired by the French lyrics in the Beatles song Michelle. Sansone's interview is in the Catholic Register. He's the oldest and only surviving connection to the Left Banke.