"Pretty Ballerina" is a song written by pianist Michael Brown that was released as a single by his band The Left Banke in December 1966. It peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 4 on the Canadian RPM chart.
Composition "Pretty Ballerina" was one of the first pop songs to use the Lydian mode in its melody (more specifically the acoustic scale), predating the Beatles' Indian-inspired "Blue Jay Way" and Donovan's "Peregrine". The recording features an oboe over the instrumental portion of the track, joining the string quartet, before the music pauses, and goes back to the refrain of the song.
The original Left Banke version of the song was sung by Steve Martin Caro and it is one of several songs that Brown wrote about singer Renee Fladen, the girlfriend of Left Banke guitarist Tom Finn and the object of Brown's affections. Other songs written about her include the band's biggest hit, "Walk Away Renée", and "She May Call You Up Tonight".
Personnel Personnel courtesy of band biographer Scott Schinder.
Musicians Steve Martin-Carolead vocals Michael Brownpiano John Abbottbass guitar Seymour Barabbass guitar, cello Buddy Saltzmandrums Harry Lookofskyviolin George Margeoboe
Technical Harry Lookofskyproducer Steve Jeromeproducer, engineer Bill Jeromeproducer John Abbottarranger
Chart performance
Weekly charts Chart (1967) Peakposition Canada RPM Top Singles4 New Zealand (Listener)https://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qsongid=1449#n_view_location search pretty ballerina13 U.S. Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-200215 U.S. Cash Box Top 100 12
Year-end charts Chart (1967)RankU.S. (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual) 149
Cover versions Alice Cooper John Mellencamp Jason Falkner Peter Kingsbery Eels Charly García Alan Merrill the Bluetones the Dickies Elio e le Storie Tese
Popular culture The song has appeared in the films: Apocalypse Now, Off Limits and Things Behind the Sun.
References CitationsSources
External links LeftBanke.nu DJ Tom Finn Alice Cooper