Walk Away Renee – The Left Banke

ABOUT THE REAL RENEE The song is one of a number Brown wrote about Renee Fladen-Kamm, 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 described as a free-spirited and quite tall blonde. The song was written one month after Brown met her. « Walk Away Renée » was one of series of love songs the infatuated Brown wrote after meeting his newfound muse. Other songs written 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. Brown says of his unrequited love for Renée: « I was just sort of mythologically in love, if you know what I mean, without having evidence in fact or in deed…But I was as close as anybody could be to the real thing » Fladen-Kamm was looking on during the recording of the song, and her presence nearly prevented its completion. In an interview, Brown stated: « My hands were shaking when I tried to play, because she was right there in the control room, » he says. « There was no way I could do it with her around, so I came back and did it later. » ABOUT THE GROUP The Left Banke was a 1960s American pop-music group best remembered for its two hit singles, « Walk Away Renée » and « Pretty Ballerina ». The band often utilized what was referred to as « baroque » string arrangements, which led its music to be termed « Bach-rock <b>…</b>