Well, I was in The Left Banke, and when we did this song in 1966, nobody in the group thought "Walk Away Renée" would be a big hit. As a matter of fact, we had already broken up when it was flying up the Billboard charts. Anyway, now it's 2016 exactly fifty (50) years since it became a hit. It's been covered by at least, several hundred artists and all versions have their own merit, because I believe they're done, for the love of the song.
Thank you for what has to be one of the most beautiful songs ever made. The song may be quite a bit older than I am, but its beauty isn't lost on me, its many fans or the many artists that have covered it. None are quite as good as the original.
Thanks a lot, we weren't thinking about "Walk Away Renée" becoming such a big record I think we were on the right track but, we were too young and were taken advantage of. But, these same people were responsible for producing us
I remember this song out in my jr. hi - we all loved it's sad beauty and when I got older and got my first cd player - I bought your music. The band should have been huge, but left a wonderful legacy and sound I still hear in many young musicians today; may I ask what have you been doing in recent years, still an active musician?
Tom, I have loved this song from when it was released to now and beyond. Walk Away "Renee" is the middle name of my daughter and the 1st name of my oldest granddaughter. And, when I listen to Pretty Ballerina I think of my 2nd granddaughter. She is such a delicate little sprite. Thank you for such beautiful music.
Cindi Lauper is one of the great raw talents of the past 30 years.A true Bohemian.Her honesty and passion for music cannot be disputed.Music like this makes life worth living.
Tom: It's good to see an original member be able to look back 50 years and see the planted seed sprout into many appreciated branches of the mighty oak. Thanks for the memory!
One of the most heartbreakingly beautiful melodies in the history of pop music. I have the 45 of the Left Banke's original, purchased when I was a junior high school student of 13.
Funny... I always thought of her as not much of a musician as much as she just had a marketing brand back in the 80's. Then a year or so ago, I was up early on a Sunday morning and the radio station here in Dallas played a Blues album featuring her. It was spectacular! I was so impressed, I couldn't believe it was Cyndie. I enjoyed her on Roger Waters production of the wall in Berlin, @ the wall after it came down. Needless to say, I see her entirely different now than I did in the 80's. Another rendition of this song that I absolutely love is by Rickie Lee Jones. It's a heart breaker.
It's an emotional, melancholic song. It's supposed to be dark and haunting. If the singer's voice breaks, I think that adds to the tenderness of the song and it's meaning. They're not quite together here, but it's not supposed to be perfect.
This rendition of the song is heartwrenching.. The pure emotion in the voices and instrumentation is rarely found anywhere in music today.. It's a moving piece of work that leaves you spellbound and completely fixated on the performers.. A Remarkable version of this classically crafted song... Lary
Of Thee Am I The Angst Of A Man With A Love Now Lost The Frailty Of A Man Able To Stand In The Face Of Adversity Only To Fall With The Beat Of A Heart The Power Of Love Is Immense Lary
Peter Kingdbery and Cyndi Lauper chose one of the Most Haunting songs from the late Sixties to turn into an Incredibly Beautiful and Powerful performance.. One that, hopefully, should forever remain a Classic in Modern Music.. Bravo... Lary
To Tom Finn. This song and how it was recorded has always been a major influence on what I do in my sudio. The song had an innocence and a rawness to it. Your music helped set the foundation for decades to follow. Now days people want to tech the soul out of a song. Proof you got it right is that the song after all these years is still around and being covered. Thank you for the music,.
Me, too! I’ve been making music, live and in studios for 60 years, and this song still touches me and teaches me things about great chord progressions, and direct, wise lyrics!!
Now that Steve Caro has left us, I've been playing and re-playing and re-playing this song, just as I did in '66 when I couldn't get it out of my head, my heart. And this is a very worthy, true and sensitive reprise.
A great version, been checking a dozen or more, so I can learn it on guitar, and this is my fave so far. And i just discovered Peter Kingsbery - what a voice!
LOVE this song. Remember, as a young teenager, asking the "record store" manager - yes record store manager (small town USA) - to order it for me as it wasn't readily available. I have a lump in my throat every time I hear this song - ah, the memories of a simpler life - believe it or not!
I absolutely adore this arrangement! As Tom Finn said, we still play it because we still love it. The weekend after my brother was diagnosed with terminal cancer, after the shock and tears, he hollered out, "Enough of this sad stuff! Let's play some music! Out came his guitar, and this was the first song he played.
One of the most beautiful songs I've heard. Whether done by the Left Banke, The Four tops, Southside Johnny, Cyndi Lauper or several others. Either version of " You won't see me follow you back home" works well.
This song Iwas11 in 66, once you hear this Song you can’t forget it! The first girlfriend I had she had a wall in front of her house, and somebody scratched mine and her initials inside of a heart upon a wall so this song was reality for me probably my favorite song my first Love!
das ist noch Musik, die zu Cyndi´s Stimme passt. Das ist authentisch und weckt Emotionen in mir. Schade dass Cyndi jetzt ein komplett anderes Genre bedient
Hi Mr Finn I wanted you to know this is one of those songs you are always happy when it came on the radio and no matter how many times you hear it you never get tired of it ! I was 10 when it came out and love it today as much as then thanks for the great music from TheLeftBank!
This is our last daughter's middle name. The original, when I was 8 , just jumps out at you. The arrangement was incredible, especially for the era. The fact that it was written by a 16 y/o (I think) is amazing. The backstory makes it real and thus even better. The best cover, from what I consider a once in a generation voice, is Linda Ronstadt, with Ann Savoy.
Very cool note from Finn. It's my favorite song. I was in 7th grade when it was a hit. Its just one of these songs that are perfect. I'm very grateful that it came into being.
I always loved this song & you seldom hear it! The other song you seldom hear but that I so love is “Pretty Ballerina “( Left Banke too!). What an amazing job they both do on this song. How beautifully they both sing this gorgeous song!!♥️
How about adding the Four Tops, the first group to cover it, in the top 3 covers? The lead writer of it, Tony Sansone, said his agent told him they wanted to cover it in '68, but they couldn't pay that much for the rights. Sansone said Yes, I'm a fan of them !
Thank you for posting this. I stumbled across it some time ago, and it joined my file of top best favorites - by far the best rendition of this song. The musicians are so united, so "tight", their playing so elegant, just right. And the breathtaking harmony of Ms. Lauper! I went and listened to dozens of "covers" yesterday, and confirmed that only Linda Rondstadt & Ann Savoy are even in the same league as this (and of course the original Left Banke). But only Cyndi Lauper makes that incredible progression to - how to call it?- note?, at {most strikingly) 1:17; and again at 2:07, 2:53 &, 3:43, as she sings 'home" !! The delicacy throughout of the notes of the accompanying instruments, the excellence of the filming & editing, which brings us into the intimacy of Cyndi Lauper and Peter Kingsbery as they create a unity of beauty and love for all of us, the poignant beauty of Cyndi Laupers singing, and harmonies -- just those few seconds of "....follow me back home" - fill my heart to bursting. What incredible courage and humility to be so naked in public. I was glad to discover her performance of Carey at the tribute to Joni Mitchell, and to see Joni Mitchell herself listening, concentrating and appreciative; another rare person with these qualities of courage & humility - "let's have another round for these freaks and these soldiers,…these friends of mine". Thanks to all of you who made this - from Tom Finn & colleagues to Cyndi Vines. In my pain of loneliness & hurt you give companionship, appreciating beauty & meaning in life.
good to see 2 of my favs from the 80's cover this sad cockrobin never got the respect they were due in the 80's one of the best to come from here in the states in my mind and always loved cyndi not a bad cover either
Nice rendition! I think I like it better though the earlier version sends me back in time. I like that, too. And the words ... oh the words... so lovely tho so sad.
There are not alot of songs i like trying to sing along with but Walk a Away Renee and Pretty Ballerina its hard to resist these two songs that were as good as any band recorded during the sixties. I try to do them justice.
