Pretty Ballerina

"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, 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

Year-end charts

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.