SRS-67088: Walk Away Renee / Pretty Ballerina / The Left Banke

	Label Type :	red Smash
	Matrix Number :	SIDE-A	2/67088 A 1    II    MR
		SIDE-B	2/67088 B 1    I    MR

Comments

with original Smash inner sleeve.

Inside The Groove

Great Pop/Rock band The Left Banke's first LP and it's a classic.

Personal Impression (and brief notes)

The Left Banke is fairly known as an originator of mixing Pop/Rock and grand, quasi-classical arrangements and melodies. Although they made several hits like “Walk Away Renee” and “Pretty Ballerina”, the band itself was in an unstable situation - many musicians came across and left. Then in the late 1967, primary member and songwriter Michael Brown left the band.

This 1st album, including two of their top hits, is a very strong work with consistent quality. It's definitely classic among all Pop/Rock albums in the late 1960s.

Strictly Personal Rating (to what extent I could enjoy this album)

9 out of 10

Track Listing

Personnel

Personnel/recorded date/master numbers confirmed with the Ruppli's discography.
(“The Mercury Labels - A Discography” by Ruppli and Novitsky, Greenwood Press, 1993)

B-1, B-4:
Rick Brand (l-g), Mike Brown (p, harpsichord), Tom Finn (el-b), George Cameron (ds), Steve Martin (vo).
Recorded in May 1966.

A-1, B-5:
same personnel as B-1, plus Johnny Abbott (arr).
Recorded in November 17, 1966.

A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5, A-6, B-2, B-3:
same personnel as B-1.
Recorded probably in December 1966.