Here's my selection of Melanie favourites: AFFECTIONATELY deep down low CANDLES IN THE RAIN Leftover wine The Good Guys THE GOOD BOOK Babe Rainbow The Saddest thing My father Chords of Fame Birthday of the Sun GATHER ME Little bit of me STONEGROUND WORDS Do you believe Stoneground words PLEASE LOVE ME Please love me In the hour Momma momma Pebbles in the sand God's only daughter AS I SEE IT NOW Yankee man Monongahela river Autumn lady SUNSET AND OTHER BEGINNINGS Percieve it People are just getting ready BALLROOM STREETS Friends and company ARABESQUE Detroit or buffalo SILENCE IS KING Gone with the wind Fallen angel OLD BITCH WARRIOR Beautiful people That was all and I had good fun playing and playing them over again trying to find some best's, but they all stand out, don't you think? So, best wishes with the compilation, I will look foreward to see it. Greta
I have been a Melanie fan for 25 years (I started young) and these songs are the ones that are enduring. Most of them are not ones for which she is most famous. Here goes: Garden in the City The Saddest Thing I Really Loved Harold Summer Weaving Stoneground Words Here I Am Maybe Not for a Lifetime Cyclone (Photograph version) Photograph I'm So Blue Knock on Wood California Dreamin' Detroit or Buffalo (Arabesque version) Any Way That YOu Want Me Imaginary Heroes Private Parts Am I Real to You Rock & Roll Heart Window Pane Undertow Tonight's the Kind of Night Silence Is King Rock in the Road Old Birch Warrior One More Try
Mr. Ferguson: Holy cow! I think i may just forget about my English essay and talk on the net all night! I am in love with Melanie! I can't believe that I and my friends are not the only ones, I'm fixin' to freak out!!! Hiya! My name is Valerie Monda, i'm 17 and although i can't offer a lot of advice i hope i can help. i have few albums and all of them are '72 or early, but here i go: 1. Baby Day - the happiest song ever written! 2. Left over Wine- the saddest 3. Lay Down 4. Beautiful People 5. Good Book 6. Peace Will Come 7. Steppin' 8. Brand New Key 9. Together Alone 10. Carolina on my Mind 11. Tambourine Man
AM I REAL OR WHAT Am I Real to You Abuse PHOTOGRAPH Groundhog Day Cyclone If I Needed You Nickel Song - Music! Music! Music! *****my uncle wrote Music! Music! Music! Photograph Secret of the Darkness (I Believe) Save Me Friends & Co PHONOGENIC I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love Knock on Wood Runnin' After Love California Dreamin' SUNSET AND OTHER BEGINNINGS Almost Like Being in Love AS I SEE IT NOW As I See It Now Sweet Misery CARNEGIE HALL Bitter Bad Hearing the News/Seasons to Change/Peace Will Come MADRUGADA Love to Lose Again Pretty Boy Floyd I Think It's Going to Rain Today Maybe Not for A Lifetime Holding Out I Am Being Guided The Actress Pine and Feather STONEGROUND WORDS Together Alone Do You Believe? Stoneground Words Maybe I Was (A Golf Ball) GATHER ME Little Bit of Me Some Day I'll Be A Farmer Steppin' Ring Around the Moon Railroad Kansas Center of the Circle CANDLES IN THE RAIN Leftover Wine Citiest People AFFECTIONATELY Uptown and Down THANKS! Steven Weisbaum
I've been a fan of Melanie's ever since my older sister got "Gather Me" as a
gift back in 1971 or 1972, and let me listen to it. I've never heard
"Arabesque", "The 7th Wave", "Cowabonga", or "Melanie (1987)". It's really
hard to pick out "favorites", since I like just about everything Melanie's
ever recorded, but here goes...
Born To Be/My First Album
Mr. Tambourine Man
Momma Momma
Affectionately/Melanie (1969)
Beautiful People
Candles In The Rain
Candles In The Rain (Intro)
Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)
Carolina In My Mind
What Have They Done To My Song Ma
Leftover Wine
Close To It All
Leftover Wine
Peace Will Come
The Good Book
Good Book
Babe Rainbow
Gather Me
Little Bit Of Me
Some Day I'll Be A Farmer
Ring The Living Bell
Baby Day
Garden In The City
Lay Lady Lay
Stoneground Words
Together Alone
My Rainbow Race
Do You Believe
Stoneground Words
Madrugada
Love To Lose Again
Lover's Cross
I Think It's Going To Rain Today
Maybe Not For A Lifetime
As I See It Now
Don't Think Twice, It's Alright
As I See It Now
Sunsets And Other Beginnings
Perceive It
Loving My Children
Photograph
Cyclone
If I Needed You
Save Me
Phonogenic Not Just Another Pretty Face
Let It Be Me
Ballroom Streets
Ruby Tuesday
Am I Real Or What
Am I Real To You
Precious Cargo
Undertow
Freedom Knows My Name
I Will Get Over
In My Rock And Roll Heart
Detroit Or Buffalo
Arrow
Freedom Knows My Name
Life Will Not Go Away
Silver Anniversary
Long, Long Time
How Can I Help You To Say Goodbye
Old Bitch Warrior
No Time To Smell The Flowers
Something Warm
I Will Survive
Born To Be: Animal Crackers Close To It All Affectionately: Tuning My Guitar Beautiful People Candles In The Rain: Lay Down Ruby Tuesday Leftover Wine: I Don't Eat Animals Peace Will Come The Good Book: Babe Rainbow Nickel Song Please Love Me: Save The Night In The Hour Garden In The City: Stop! I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore Gather Me: Brand New Key Ring The Living Bell/Shine The Living Light Stoneground Words: Do You Believe I Am Not A Poet At Carnegie Hall: Lay Your Hands Across The Six String It's Me Again Madrugada: Love To Lose Again The Actress Sunset And Other Beginnings: Perceive It Loving My Children Photograph: Save Me Friends And COmpany Phonogenic: Runnin' After Love Record People Ballroom Streets: Beautiful Sadness Buckle Down Arabesque: Detroit Or Buffalo Imaginary Heroes The Seventh Wave: Didn't You Ever Love Somebody Lovin' The Boy Next Door Am I Real Or What: Every Breath Of The Way Melanie: Rock And Roll Heart To Be A Star Cowabonga: Racing Heart Window Pain Precious Cargo: Tonight's The Kind Of Night Chosen Few Silence Is King: Someday I'll Be An Old Record Silver Anniversary: Life Will Not Go Away Cyclone Ballerina Old Bitch Warrior: No Time To Smell The Flowers Something Warm
Melanie was to prove the deeper influence but when I heard her at Woodstock I was too drunk on Joplin's gut-thumping sexual immediacy (and the fumes of Southern Comfort) to really notice her. Subjectively, I date my first meeting with her much later: not at a live gig but on a record, playing at a desolate party in the wrong town. By that time, my affair with Joplin was deep and affectionate though she herself was recently dead; Melanie, there all along like the girl next door, appeared with the sudden clarity of fresh air in a stale room.
From that party onwards, many of my key life events are tagged in memory with snatches of Melanie's brave, gawky lyrics. The Melanie Pieces are an effort to pin those tagged memories down ...
Here are my votes for a Melanie compilation, as requested in the file comp.htm at your web site.
In one or two cases, the album locations you quote do not match my own albums; the only one affected here is "Ruby Tuesday" which I've added into "Candles in the Rain".
AS I SEE IT NOW: As I See It Now Autumn Lady Chart Song Eyes Of Man Monongahela River Record Machine Sweet Misery Yankee Man You're Not A Bad Ghost, Just An Old Song BORN TO BE: I Really Loved Harold I'm Back In Town CANDLES IN THE RAIN: Candles In The Rain Carolina In My Mind Citiest People Lovin' Baby Girl Ruby Tuesday The Good Guys COWABONGA: What have they done to the rain GARDEN IN THE CITY: Don't You Wait By The Water Jigsaw Puzzle Love In My Mind People In The Front Row Stop! I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore We Don't Know Where We're Going GATHER ME: Baby Day Center Of The Circle Kansas Little Bit Of Me Railroad Ring The Living Bell/Shine The Living Light Some Day I'll Be A Farmer Some Say (I got devil) Steppin' MADRUGADA: Holding Out I Think It's Going To Rain Today Love To Lose Again Lover's Cross Pretty Boy Floyd The Actress Will You Love Me Tomorrow PLEASE LOVE ME: Ears To The Ground Getting Out God's Only Daughter In The Hour Momma Momma Pebbles In The Sand Please Love Me Please Love Me (instrumental) Save The Night Stop! I Don't Wanna' Hear It Anymore We Don't Know Where We're Goin' THE GOOD BOOK: Babe Rainbow Chords Of Fame Good Book My Father Nickel Song Sign On The Window The Prize The Saddest Thing You Can Go Fishin' Felix
RACING HEART THE ACTRESS PRETTY BOY FLOYD LOVERS CROSS Ian Mitchell
songs i never grow tired of hearing (quite briefly): lay down (candles in the rain) brand new key
hello Johan,here's my selection for a compilation... Neighbourhood- Where's the band?, The Actress, I'm so blue, Perceive it, Love to lose again, Cyclone....... My address is Bruce Carter, 12 Clutha Place, Wombarra.N.S.W. AUSTRALIA,2515....
I'll vote for "Any Guy" and "Lover's Cross". The versions of which I consider best were found on the ABC Records complilation "16 Greatest Hits". Edward vanEckert
Carolina In My Mind Chords Of Fame Railroad
Brand new Key ..this is the one that got me hook on her concert verion
Loveing the boy next door.....Like this one first thing I heard when I found
she was still around
Life will not go away just flat out like this one
I became a fan of this ladies yrs ago when I first listing to brand new Key
just found out about yr ago that she still going at it and bend picking up
cd's at a local store that carries some of her stuff.
She needs to a concert here in portland or as I would love to see her in
person. I could die a happy man then. :)
Don
CANDLES IN THE RAIN Candles In The Rain Lay Down (candles in the rain) Alexander Beetle Ruby Tuesday What Have They Done To My Song Ma LEFTOVER WINE Happy Birthday Tuning My Guitar Psychotherapy Peace Will Come (according to plan) THE GOOD BOOK Nickel Song GATHER ME Brand New Key Tell Me Why AS I SEE IT NOW Eyes Of A Man Many of the albums are not as readily available in Australia so my list is small...Melanie has not been heard of here for many years (since the 70's) but her hits are still played on the classic rock stations and some of the female skewed programmed FM stations. There are some apocraphyl tales from a friend of mine in the radio industry here about a passionate love affair Melanie had whilst in Australia but maybe he's just wishin' and a hopin'! I would love to hear about any tours Melanie may be contemplating for Australia...I live in hope that I will get to hear her voice live! Steve :-)
Here are my favorites * real favorite ** real real favorite Beautiful People Peace Will Come (according to plan)** Little Bit of Me Together Alone** Bitter Bad* Maybe Not for a Lifetime* Perceive It Loving My Children** What Do I Keep Rock and Roll Heart wm
I hope no one forgets the consummate masterpiece, "Lovin'Baby Girl".
BORN TO BE In The Hour AFFECTIONATELY Any Guy Uptown Down CANDLES IN THE RAIN Lay Down (candles in the rain) LEFTOVER WINE Close To It All Leftover Wine Peace Will Come (according to plan) THE GOOD BOOK The Saddest Thing GATHER ME Little Bit Of Me Some Day I'll Be A Farmer Railroad GARDEN IN THE CITY Garden In The City Stop! I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore Somebody Loves Me People In The Front Row STONEGROUND WORDS Together Alone Between The Road Signs AT CARNEGIE HALL It's Me Again AS I SEE IT NOW Monongahela River SUNSET AND OTHER BEGINNINGS Perceive It Loving My Children What Do I Keep PHOTOGRAPH Cyclone Groundhog Day I'm So Blue Secret Of The Darkness (I believe) Save Me Raindance Friends And Company PHONOGENIC/NOT JUST ANOTHER PRETTY FACE Bon Apetite We Can Work It Out I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love Record People California Dreamin' BALLROOM STREETS Look What They Done To My Song Brand New Key ARABESQUE Detroit Or Buffalo When You're Dead And Gone Chances AM I REAL OR WHAT Abuse Somebody Love PRECIOUS CARGO Undertow FREEDOM KNOWS MY NAME/SILENCE IS KING Estate Sale TWENTYFIFTH ANNIVERSARY UNPLUGGED Arrow Tonight's The Kind Of Night OLD BITCH WARRIOR These Nights Any Time At All Summer Of Love Ballerina NON-ALBUM TRACKS: Bitter Bad
Afraid I don't have time to do quite such a nice job as some of your other respondents but just had to mention a few of her songs that I'd love to see on a compilation. As for me, I became a Melanie fan when she first released Moma Moma on 45 (somewhere between '67 and '68, I think) and drove my mother absolutely crazy singing along with her, Buffy St. Marie and Leslie Gore (had an ancient mono. reel to reel and would practice 'til I could imitate each of them). Since then I've collected every album of hers I could find since each usually seemed to have at least one song that seemed to speak for me (but then she's only 3 years older than me so...), though I'm afraid my tastes were not in synch with the general public (i.e. I hated her hit Brand New Key. but then I'm also a Jane Child and Nina Hagen fan... no accounting for taste!). Off the top of my head, the songs I never grow tired of hearing are: Wild Horses (love the way she does that "Gonna ride... gonna ride..." bit near the end) Maybe not for a Lifetime Holding Out Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) Leftover Wine (Version on Candles in the Rain album) Deep Down Low Ruby Tuesday Running after Love (Photogenic album) We Don't Know Where We're Goin' (from the soundtrack to the movie RPM or Garden in the City) Stop, I don't want to hear it anymore ( "") Garden in the City Some Say(I got Devil) I Really Loved Harold I'm Back in Town Lovin' Baby Girl Good Book Babe Rainbow Saddest Thing Tonight's the kind of Night (from her Freedom knows my Name CD) There are probably others I'm forgetting but these are the ones I usually record onto tapes for my walkman -Pamela Hughes
ABUSE BABY DAY BRAND NEW KEY CRACK SEEKS THE EDGE EVERY BREATH OF THE WAY GOD'S ONLY DAUGHTER GOOD BOOK I AM NOT A POET KANSAS KNOCK ON WOOD LAY DOWN LITTLE BIT OF ME MAYBE NOT FOR A LIFETIME RAILROAD RING AROUND THE MOON RING THE LIVING BELL RUNNIN' AFTER LOVE SOME BODY LOVE SOME DAY I'LL BE A FARMER SOME SAY I GOT DEVIL STEPPIN' STOP I DON'T WANNA HEAR IT ANYMORE TELL ME WHY THE NICKEL SONG WE CAN WORK IT OUT WHAT HAVE THE DONE TO MY SONG MA YOU'RE NOT A BAD GHOST JUST AN OLD SONG
My name is Rocky Bellino and I am from Brooklyn New York....Thanks
Beautiful People Someday I'll Be A Farmer Leftover Wine Mamma Mamma Candles In The Rain/Lay It Down Ring The Living Bell Alexander Bettle !!!!!!!!! Animal Crackers Carolina In My Mind Look What They've Done To My Song The Saddest Thing...and any of the later stuff that I'm sure I never heard but would love just the same. I'll trust the other respondents for that.
PS Went to Carolina In My Mind so many times that I moved there. Peace and Merry Christmas
Here are the songs I picked out of the list
i havent heard many of the songs, because it has been really hard
to find Melanie albums
Tuning My Guitar
Carolina In My Mind
Close To It All
Peace Will Come(according to plan)
Leftover Wine
Good Book
Some Say(I got devil)
Ruby Tuesday
Silence Is King
I Will Get Over
Fallen Angel
Arrow
Long Long Time
Babe Rainbow
I would be interested in supporting the following songs for your compilation (not necessarily in this order): In The Hour Beautiful People Candles in the Rain Leftover Wine Carolina on My Mind Ruby Tuesday What Have They Done To My Song Ma Ring the Living Bell/Shine the Living Light What Wondrous Love My Rainbow Race (written by Pete Seeger) Do You Believe Stoneground Words Maybe I Was (A Golf Ball) Peace Will Come Thanks for asking. Howard W. Schwartz Minneapolis, Minnesota
Also, how 'bout live version of "Together Alone" from Carnegie Hall. Let's make it INTERESTING! Also-some of the early Columbia sides!!!!!!!Yeh!!!!!!!!
FACE ONE: 1. Some Say (I got devil) GATHER ME 2. Cyclone SILVER ANNIVERSARY UNPLUGGED 3. Leftover Wine LEFTOVER WINE 4. Cyclone PHOTOGRAPH 5. Ring the Living Bell/Shine the Living Light AT CARNEGIE HALL 6. Cyclone/Candles in the Rain BALLROOM STREETS 7. Psychotherapy LEFTOVER WINE 8. Cyclone MELANIE 9. Tunin My Guitar AFFECTIONATELY FACE TWO 1. Ruby Tuesday OLD BITCH WARRIOR 2. Pretty Boy Floyd AT CARNEGIE HALL 3. Ruby Tuesday SILVER ANNIVERSARY UNPLUGGED 4. Carolina in My Mind CANDLES IN THE RAIN 5. Ruby Tuesday PRECIOUS CARGO 6. Lover's Cross MADRUGADA 7. Ruby Tuesday COWABANGA 8. Purple Haze SILVER ANNIVERSARY UNPLUGGED 9. Ruby Tuesday BALLROOM STREETS 10. Tunin My Guitar AFFECTIONATELY FACE THREE 1. Ruby Tuesday CANDLES IN THE RAIN 2. Mr. Tambourine Man BORN TO BE 3. Lay Lady Lay GARDEN IN THE CITY 4. Don't Think Twice Its Alright AS I SEE IT NOW 5. Hard Rain PRECIOUS CARGO 6. Wild Horses MADRUGADA 7. Babe Rainbow 8. Old Bitch Warrior OLD BITCH WARRIOR 9. Please Love Me PLEASE LOVE ME 10. Candles in the Rain CANDLES IN THE RAIN That's it ......teee heee ... david rhaesa, salina, kansas, usa
[...] Anyway, I was thinking one of my favourite Malanie songs is "I really loved Harold" from one of her first albums "Melanie, Born to be". Her voice is so strong and powerful on that song and yet so sweet and full of innocence, which in my opinion pretty much describes Melanie.. Thanks, and I will hopefuly be in touch with you again soon... Barbara
thanks, my copies of Candles in the Rain have a different track listing than yours. these are the ones i always listen to..... BORN TO BE Momma Momma AFFECTIONATELY Tuning My Guitar CANDLES IN THE RAIN Candles In The Rain Lay Down (candles in the rain) Lovin' Baby Girl Citiest People Leftover Wine Close to it all!! The Good Guys Carolina In My Mind Ruby Tuesday LEFTOVER WINE Close To It All Uptown And Down Mama Mama The Saddest Thing Beautiful People Tuning My Guitar Leftover Wine THE GOOD BOOK The Saddest Thing Nickel Song Isn't It A Pity My Father GATHER ME Some Day I'll Be A Farmer Railroad Kansas Some Say (I got devil) GARDEN IN THE CITY Garden In The City Love In My Mind We Don't Know Where We're Going Jigsaw Puzzle Don't You Wait By The Water Stop! I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore Somebody Loves Me People In The Front Row
tuning my guitar, lay down(candle in the rain), birthday of the rain, tonight's the kind of night, detroit or buffalo
mjd43@hermes.cam.ac.uk, 23 Oct 1997
This is a list of my favourite songs. I'm not sure if a compilation will be issued but I hope so. It's fun to see what tracks people particularly like anyway.AFFECTIONATELY Tuning my guitar Uptown down Again Beautiful people Take me home CANDLES IN THE RAIN Candles in the rain Lay down (candles in the rain) Citiest people Carolina in my mind Ruby Tuesday LEFTOVER WINE Peace will come (according to plan) THE GOOD BOOK Good book GATHER ME Little bit of me Some day I'll be a farmer Steppin' Ring the living bell/shine the living light Some say (I got devil) What wonderous love Baby day GARDEN IN THE CITY Garden in the city People in the front row STONEGROUND WORDS Summer weaving Do you believe? PLEASE LOVE ME Please love me Save the night MADRUGADA Love to lose again Lover's cross Holding out AS I SEE IT NOW Chart song As I see it now SUNSET AND OTHER BEGINNINGS Dream seller (meet me on the corner) The sun and moon PHONOGENIC/NOT JUST ANOTHER PRETTY FACE We can work it out COWABONGA Racing heart What have they done to the rain? To be a star Prematurly grey Window pane SILVER ANNIVERSARY UNPLUGGED Arrow Life will not go away Cyclone OLD BITCH WARRIOR Rock in the road (I will get over)
Jim Hicks, 17 Dec 1997
Here are my picks for a Melanie comp cd. Buddah: Lay Down (Candles in the Rain), Peace Will Come, Ruby Tuesday, Beautiful People, Candles in the Rain, Carolina In My Mind. Neighborhood: Ring the Living Bell, Some Day I'll Be A Farmer, Brand New Key, Lover's Cross. Other: Photograph, Runnin' After Love, Raindance, Something Warm. You can tell I have a preference for those two early albums.
Randal Piette, 28 Jan 1998
any serious collection must include stoneground words. I can't believe that it was not previously mentioned.
Rich Ulloa, 3 Mar 1998
1. Tuning My Guitar- Melanie's most emotional song in my opinion. Also being in the music business, this song conveys a most powerful message 2. Close to it All - most beautiful 3. Any Guy- Classic Melanie! Charming, insightful and easily related to by all 4. The Good Book- This song is so classic. Great arrangements/lyrics 5. Beautiful People- THE song of the 60's for me. Great passionate vocal! 6. Lay Down- I LOVE the acoustic Candles in The Rain but Lay Down is such a CLASSIC! 7. Peace Will Come - As moving today as ever. Great vocal performance!! 8. I'm Back in Town- Another classic song with that classic Melanie wit 9. Leftover Wine- Very moving song 10.Momma Momma 11 Alexander Beetle 12.Look What They've Done to My Song- I know everybody likes this but what can I say- It still is such a classic! Cover songs 1. Somebody Loves Me- OH SO SAD AND EMOTIONAL. INCREDIBLE!!!!!!! 2. Carolina In My Mind- One of the most beautiful covers I have ever heard!!! 3. Ruby Tuesday- Mick would be proud. She brings a whole new meaning to the song to me 4. We Wish You A Merry Christmas- On my answering machine for XMAS!!!! That's my list- I never heard Melanie's work beyond The Good Book although I hope to soon. Take Care Rich Ulloa Y&T Music
Eugene Shannon, 10 May 1998
My nominations for a compilation would be "Pebbles in the Sand" and "Animal Crackers". Regards, Eugene Shannon
Kevin D Glenn, 11 May 1998, USA
My "Best of Melanie" collection includes 18 songs. I did NOT include "Lay Down" and "Brand New Key" because they are on EVERY other "best of" collection that has been released. My criteria is as follows, but not in order of importance: - songwriting/lyrical & musical content - singing/emotional delivery - arrangement - musicianship - recording quality As a person sitting in an office amidst a corporate environment, I ask these questions: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Ring the Living Bell (Carnegie Hall): One of Melanie's most positive, life affirming songs. I love the live version for its vocal honesty and intense delivery, along with the audience clapping along thunderously. 2) Love to Lose Again (Madrugada): Another positive, life affirming song, and the rhythm section is incredible. Great background vocals and Melanie sings with great style and a sense of humor. This song makes me feel so GOOD! 3) I Think It's Going To Rain Today (Madrugada)4: The ethereal quality of Melanie's vocals and the arrangement haunt me. A lovely, bitter-sweet rendering of a gorgeous song. "Human kindness is over-flowing, and I think it's going to rain today." Let it rain!!! 4) Wild Horses (Madrugada): Melanie took a classic song by the best rock and roll band in the world and made it truly her own. A difficult task for any singer to do. Her singing is focused in Melanie's special way, going from a soft whisper to a bellow in an instant. The symphonic orchestration is incredible and a joy to listen to. "Wild horses couldn't drag me away." Indeed. 5) Sun & Moon (Sunset & Other Beginnings): The poetry alone is gorgeous, but put it with the simple melody and chord structure, and there is a beautiful, sad, haunting song of a life not quite lost. 6) Cyclone (Photograph): Record executives called it The National Anthem. What a whirlwind of energy like Melanie's never delivered before. Great vocals, great arrangement, great band, great everything. A life in turmoil, not knowing which way to turn, but willing to give it a fight because it's happened before and it'll happen again and the world goes round & round. "Gotta feel for the ground, reach for the sky, leap off the edge to see if you fall or fly." The overtones of life can fool you, and you must be aware of what's going on or you can get lost, and maybe for good. Melanie rocks! 7) Groundhog Day (Photograph): Another year goes by. What have I done? Where have I been? Where am I now? What are the consequences of my actions? I love the restrained vocals on this, and the ever-changing tempo of the arrangement is brilliant. Again, another incredible, bittersweet song. The story of my life. 8) Photograph (Photograph): Brilliant! Didn't we all love forever in high school? Do we not still? "And wouldn't you just give it all to never say good-bye?" Yes! 9) I Believe (Photograph): Don't quite understand what she means by, "as a person sitting on a rock, I ask these questions," but I absolutely love this song and high energy arrangement! GREAT vocals, great background vocals, great life affirming song. Life after life (death) affirmation. "I believe, I do." The way she's singing on this, you gotta believe!!!!! 10) Save Me (Photograph): One of the most beautiful, haunting songs that Melanie's ever written. Where have I been, where am I, and where am I going? When she is belting out, "Save me, save me," the effect is absolutely bloodcurdling. The song puts me into another world and makes my heart ache. 11) Record People (Phongenic): A great skewer of a song to the record industry. I love her bluesy vocals, which are void of Melanie "isms" that could have easily turned this song into another "cute" Melanie song. However, she is so focused and honest in her singing here. "Record people ain't like others, they give bullets to their lovers." All I can say is, "You go girl!!!" 12) California Dreamin (Phonogenic): The most breathtaking arrangement of a classic I have ever heard. Her delivery is so honest to the words of the song, which is usually done in a bouncy, perky way. This version could stop traffic. Wishing for something that will never be. Lonely, alone, lost (in the overtones?). "I'd be safe and warm if I was in L.A." Mmm. Really? 13) Buckle Down (Ballroom Streets): Just a fun, fun song! Again, could have been just another cute Melanie song, but she sings with assurance & gusto and a great sense of humor. The background vocals are dynamite. Everyone's having a great time and it vibrates!!!! 14) Ruby Tuesday (Ballroom Streets): Melanie LOVES this song and has recorded it SO many times, but this is her tour de force! Great focused singing, great arrangement, and that band!!!! Just great all around. I love how the band revs up close to the end with great background vocal "ahhs." Another classic by The Stones that Melanie made into her own. 15) Apathy (Version from On Air): Who else but Melanie could have written a great song called, "Apathy." Her delivery is so different from anything else she's ever done. It's cool & funky. Should have been included in one of her albums. Was it? Where, oh where? 16) Rock & Roll Heart (Version from On Air): This is Melanie's message in her middle age. There are four recordings of this that I know of, but my favorite is on the "On Air" album. It has all of the elements that this song requires to make it succeed: Energy, focused vocals, great arrangement & instrumentals. Should have been a hit for her in the 1980s. Could be still. Why, oh why, did her acoustic version on "Lowcountry" turn out so muddled and low energy? 17) Show You (Precious Cargo): I love the "feel" of this song. Melanie's vocals are so honest and she sings with full force. Life goes on with or without you, so make it count. Live for today, then let it go. "Let it go and when life quits buying, let it go too." 18) Peace Will Come (Unplugged/Silver): I loved this song when I first heard the original version years ago, and I love this version even more. The acoustic guitars are played & recorded well, and the song is made contemporary with the excellent background vocals of "ooh wahs." Melanie's singing is some of the finest she has ever put forth on record, and she can still hit those high notes as powerfully as she did in her 20s. This is no small feat for any singer of any age. I give this version two thumbs up and it rates a perfect 10! Thrilling! ------
Patricia, 1 June 1998
Hi, I'm Patricia, and I would like to vote for my favourite Melanie tracks for your compilation. I can't promise a fully informed choice, as I don't have some of these albums! Anyway, for what it's worth, here goes.Any Guy, from Affectionatly. This track is so right. It's what we all would like to say. The emotion at the end is just what we all feel when we're let down.
Lay Lady Lay, from Garden. Yes, I know it's a Dylan track, but Melanie gives it so much more emotion and does it 100 times better.
Brand New Key. (on Single) This introduced me to Melanie. it's light, pleasant and tuneful. Maybe it's just easy listening, but I love it.
Lay down, from Candles. It's just right on. It is so sixties.
Psychotherapy. This is very funny! I prefer the version without the audience interaction.
Leftover wine, From Leftover. I think we can all read into the lyrics, what we want. I just love it.
These particular tracks have meant a lot to me. I just love Melanie and any others would be great.
Mary Allen, 3 June 1998
I can't believe you didn't put "Babe Rainbow" in the album!
Phil Drenth, 11 July 1998
Hi, found your helpful website when I was looking for a comprehensive Melanie discography listing all the tracks on each of Melanie's albums. I can't qualify as the extensive Melanie archivist that I'm sure most of the folks who have contributed suggestions to your list, but I'd like to pop in a quick vote for a few songs that I didn't see on the list: * Ring Around The Moon - the beauty and simplicity of this little tune still rings in my head 25 years later. Top o' my charts! * Candles In The Rain - this spoken intro would HAVE to be included as the intro to the more well-known hit single * Ring The Living Bell / Shine The Living Light - the same is true for the full length version of this well-known song. Merely including the hit single version wouldn't be as satisfying. And here's a few favorites from the four Melanie albums I had (Candles In The Rain, Gather Me, Stoneground Words, Madrugada): * Brand New Key - No one should ever have to apologize for a great pop song. I prefer simplicity and charm over big statements. * Carolina In My Mind - JT, eat your heart out! * What Have They Done To My Song, Ma? * Little Bit Of Me * Someday I'll Be A Farmer Just found the "Best of the Rest of Melanie" CD which should tide me over until Melanie's catalog is once again available on CD in the US. I'll probably pick up Rhino's best of in the meantime. Happy listening and thanks for a great Melanie website!