Mick Hartley

Walk Away Renée

Written by

Mick Hartley

in

o the job. The song is written from the standpoint of a teenager who hasn't lived long enough to realize that a breakup isn't the end of the world, and that's the way Steve Martin [the Left Banke vocalist] sang the song. Levi Stubbs was mature enough to know that far worse things happen in life, and so his version lacks that angst that borders on being suicidal. The song needed what it needed, and Levi was just too wise to deliver the goods.

My view: that's over-thinking it. Stubbs just takes it to another level because he's a great singer.

More interesting: why The Left Banke? Where does that extra "e" come from? To make it seem more French? – or just a bit of Sixties pretension?

Comments

  1. Dom Avatar
    Dom

    Levi Stubbs was the voice of Audrey in little Shop of Horrors. When other Motown groups were breaking up into solo acts, he remained loyal to his group.

    Reply
  2. TDK Avatar
    TDK

    Thanks for the link to the Left Banke video. I didn’t know there was any video for that group.
    Steve Martin Caro died in January of this year.
    As for the group name, the extra e is surely more faux “Ye Olde English” than French.

    Reply
  3. Mick H Avatar
    Mick H

    Maybe you’re right about the e. But wouldn’t they be the Lefte Bank then, rather than the Left Banke? Even Ye Lefte Bank?
    Who knows.

    Reply
  4. TDK Avatar
    TDK

    Perhaps. Before they arrived at “The Byrds”, the tried “Birds” and “Burds”. Perhaps the Left Banke went thru a similar process of finding the one that looked right. Just odd enough to stand out. Beatles looks better than Beetles (I know it also fortuitously highlights “Beat” and sounds like “Beat alls”).
    Michael Brown died in 2015 (I learnt after posting). 16 years old at the time Renée was released. That’s quite impressive. I think his dad owned the recording studio. I prefer Pretty Ballerina or She May Call You Up Tonight.

    Reply

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