(still working on this- just including this as another example)

Johan Dijkhuis
J.Dijkhuis@inter.nl.net

February 1996.

My name is Johan Dijkhuis, aged 21, student at the University of Groningen and
I have actually quite recently become a Melanie fan. Intrigued by the song
"Beautiful People" I went through my mother's record collection and found a
Melanie collection she had had for 20 years or so but had rarely played. I
listened to it twice and being somewhat annoyed by her weird voice, I put it
away again. Until, after 6 months or so I got the record out again and was so
much affected by the beautiful songs that I kept playing it constantly. Even
the voice grew on me and I started loving it. Especial favourites were
Beautiful People, Peace Will Come, Ruby Tuesday and Stop! I Don't Wanna Hear
It Anymore (including an intro done by some man's choir which I haven't found
anywhere else yet). Other songs on the album were: Mr. Tambourine Man, Any Guy,
Baby Guitar, Lay Down, I'm Back In Town.

Not long after this, I started collecting Melanie LP's myself and have found
quite a lot in, let's say, two years time. Some very disturbing gaps in my
collection include Garden In The City and Photograph, so if anyone happens to
have a spare copy of either of the albums: I'm willing to take them out of your
hands!

Anyway, I've been to my first Melanie concert just last year and enjoyed this
very much. I am quite sorry for not having been able to go to Melanie concerts
during the 70s though...


My choices:


BORN TO BE

1. Animal Crackers. I've always loved the rhythm section for this song. Funny
 lyrics and a driving beat go together very well. Therefore, it crushes the
 live version.

2. I'm Back In Town. 

3. In The Hour. I can't agree with Andrew on this one. I think the original
 version of this song is sooo much better than the one recorded for All The 
 Right Noises. I love the accordion used in this song and I think it can't be
 left out (as in the re-recorded version).

4. I Really Loved Harold. Very emotional. I'm writing this on Valentine's day
 and I really understand how she felt! ;-)

5. Momma Momma.

AFFECTIONATELY

6. Any Guy

7. Baby Guitar. Nice guitar work on this one (I like wah-wahs).

8. Beautiful People.  The song that got me into Melanie - of course I couldn't
 leave this one out. Simply amazing, both lyrically and musically.

9. Johnny Boy.  Love the psychedelic echo on the vocals. Very moving.

10. Tuning My Guitar.  Probably one of my all time favourites. Just too bad it
 ends in a fade out. For the rest, it's perfect. I can just see how people are
 trying to become Melanie's friend and try to influence her, just because she's
 famous.

11. Uptown And Down

CANDLES IN THE RAIN

12. Alexander Beetle.  Just for a good laugh.

13. The Good Guys

14. Lay Down (Candles In The Rain). A classic.

15. Leftover Wine. Took me a while to appreciate because it's so long. Now it
 always seems too short.

16. Lovin' Baby Girl. Very interesting piece. Being a drummer I would like to
 play this song someday.

17. Ruby Tuesday. Crushes the Stones' version like a grape. One of the few
 songs ever that made me cry.

LEFTOVER WINE

18. I Don't Like Animals.  More fun.

19. Peace Will Come (According To Plan).  I wish it would... "There's nothing 
 greater than to sing an unnecessary peace-song..."

THE GOOD BOOK

20. Chords Of Fame. Beautiful chorus.

21. Good Book. Good sequel to Lay Down. Only even catchier. Do include the
 entire song tho. The single version just doesn't cut it.

22. Nickel Song

23. The Saddest Thing. Only started appreciating this song after I heard the
 live version on Leftover Wine. Melanie's powerful voice really comes across
 in this one.

24. Sign On The Window. Lovely little tune.

GATHER ME

25. Baby Day. Can't help singing along as soon as this one sets in. The vocal
 harmonies are simple magnificent.

26. Little Bit Of Me

27. Ring The Living Bell. Especially the first 30 seconds of this song are
 good. For the rest it goes a bit too long maybe.

28. Someday I'll Be A Farmer. Again, I always sing along with this one.
 Rhythmically it compares to Brand New Key, it's just not as annoying after a
 while as BNK is.

GARDEN IN THE CITY

29. Garden In The City.

30. Jigsaw Puzzle.

31. People In The Front Row. Only recently discovered this tune when I heard
 Melanie play it live.

32. Stop! I Don't Wanna Hear It Anymore.  Should include the men's choir at the
 start of the song. This little gem is probably my favourite Melanie song
 (together with Tuning My Guitar, Beautiful People and Ruby Tuesday)

PLEASE LOVE ME

33. God's Only Daughter. 

34. Please Love Me

STONEGROUND WORDS

35. Between The Road Signs.

36. Do You Believe.

37. Song Of The South...

38. Summer Weaving

AT CARNEGIE HALL

39. It's Me Again. Wow. Was this ever recorded in the studio?

40. Bitter Bad. Much better than the studio version.

MADRUGADA

41. I Think It's Going To Rain Today. I selected this one and 43. out of
 the rest of the songs from Madrugada not included here, but I actually like
 all of 'em.

42. Love To Lose Again. Very inventive percussion on this one.

43. Maybe Not For A Lifetime.

44. Pretty Boy Floyd.  I don't really know the original version, but this one
 can only be better. Very moving, very brilliant.

AS I SEE IT NOW

45. Chart Song. I love the last part of this song, where the male voice comes
 in. Very nicely done. Probably one of my favourites.

46. Eyes Of Man. Very happy song. Nice harmonies, very nice melody.

47. Record Machine

48. Sweet Misery

49. Yankee Man

50. You're Not A Bad Ghost, Just An Old Song.

SUNSET AND OTHER BEGINNINGS

51. Dream Seller. I love playing along with this one (sort of making up a 
 bass line, that is)...

52. Ol' Man River. Cute.

53. Perceive It. Just a very solid song.

PHOTOGRAPH

54. If I Needed You.

55. Photograph.

56. Save Me.  Took me a while to appreciate it. Very good though.
 
57. Raindance.

58. Friends & Co.  Also took me a while to start liking it.

PHONOGENIC/NOT JUST ANOTHER PRETTY FACE

59. Knock On Wood.  Nice remake of a disco classic. Still grooves!

60. Record People.  There's something to this song. All the changes, the content
 of the lyrics...

BALLROOM STREETS

61. Miranda

ARABESQUE

62. Chances

63. Detroit Or Buffalo

64. Imaginary Heroes

65. When You're Dead And Gone.  Wow! She can also do reggae! And beautifully as
 well!

SEVENTH WAVE

66. Every Breath Of The Way

67. Apathy

68. Lovin' The Boy Next Door.  Melanie's kids being cute. ;)

MELANIE 1987

69. Cyclone.  Rocked up version of an older Melanie song. I love this one!

70. On The Lamb From The Law

71. Roadburn

72. Rock'n'Roll Heart

73. Another Lie

FREEDOM KNOWS MY NAME

74. Fallen Angel.

75. Hard Rain.  Eat your heart out Bob!

76. Silence Is King

25TH ANNIVERSARY

77. Arrow

78. Ballerina

79. Candles In The Rain

80. Life Will Not Go Away

OLD BITCH WARRIOR

81. Something Warm

82. Old Bitch Warrior

82. I Will Survive

83. These Nights

UNCHAINED MELANIE

84. Unchained Melody

85. Bitterblue