By Ronny (67.38.23.208) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 11:48 am:

I was listening to Walk Away Renee by the Four Tops the others day. I thought I heard another version of it by another group from that era. Who else sang Walk Away Renee?

By Ritchie (62.254.0.10) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 11:52 am:

The original was by a group called the Left Banke, a New York quintet on Smash, but the Tops made the song ALL their own :o)

By Jim G (12.47.224.13) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 11:54 am:

The Left Banke. I really like their "Pretty Ballerina" too.

By stephanie (205.187.255.100) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 01:58 pm:

I didnt think anyone remembered Pretty Ballerina that was a great song!!! It went top 20.
Stephanie

By shawn1 (64.154.124.63) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 09:30 pm:

When I bought the Four Tops Boxed Set .I floored by Walk Away Renee!Shawn

By john dixon (205.188.209.38) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 11:43 pm:

I loved "Pretty Ballerina" too. The Left Banke recorded some heartbreakingly beautiful baroque pop. I had another single of theirs that was very good, but not a hit, called "Desiree". Marshall Crenshaw does a great cover of "Walk Away Renee" with just an acoustic guitar on his live release from a couple years ago.
The leader/songwriter, Michael Brown,went on to form the group, Stories, and wrote "Brother Louie", a number one hit in '73.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.10) on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 05:20 am:

Just one small point re "Brother Louie". It was written by Errol Brown of Hot Chocolate, the British group who had the original UK hit (with a guest appearance by Bluesman Alexis Korner). The Stories' US hit was a cover version.

By Stephanie (205.187.255.199) on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 07:48 am:

Where you from you sexy thing?
Everyones a Winner Baby
Emma Emma Emmaline
Hot Chocolate had some great hits.
Stephanie

By John Lester (213.123.113.218) on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 07:53 am:

and as Ritchie will tell you..Errol Brown went on to even greater fame with SAW (NOT!)

By Ritchie (62.254.0.10) on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 07:59 am:

Hey - Errol was one of the few people that I was actually pleased to meet via the Waterman connection. Nice guy.

By john dixon (205.188.209.38) on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 09:57 am:

I stand corrected Ritchie. "Brother Louie" does sound more like something by Hot Chocolate than the kind of song Michael Brown had been writing for the The Left Banke.