Customer Reviews
Excellent compilation of original performances, with great cover art - By: Charles - Music Lover, 03 Jun 2007 
These performances are Melanie's classic recordings, recorded 1968 - 1971. Priceless performances, at a great price.
Tracks 1, 4, 17, 20 from the Buddah album "Candles In the Rain" (1970). (Track 4, "Lay Down (Candles In the Rain)," is in its extended version on this CD, not the shortened single version on the original album. The extended version was originallly released on the 1972 Buddah compilation "The Four Sides of Melanie.")
Track 2 from the Neighborhood album "Gather Me" (released on Buddah Records outside of the United States; 1971).
Tracks 3 & 16 from the Buddah album "The Good Book" (1970 or '71, can't remember!!).
Tracks 5 & 6 from the Buddah album "Melanie" (this album was just titled "Melanie" in the United States, but it was titled "Affectionately Melanie" in England & other countries; 1969).
Tracks 7, 8, 9, & 15 from the Buddah album "Born To Be" (1968).
Tracks 10, 19, & 20 from the Buddah album "Leftover Wine" (1970).
Tracks 11, 14, & 18 from the Buddah album "Garden In the City" (1971).
Tracks 12 & 13 from the original soundtrack recording "All the Right Noises," released on Buddah Records outside of the United States in 1970. These tracks were eventuallly released in the United States on the Buddah compilation album "Please Love Me" (1973).
Folk-pop singer-songwriter of the early seventies - By: Peter Durward Harris, 03 Mar 2005 Born Melanie Sagfa but only using her first name for her music, Melanie burst on the music scene in 1969. In 1970, she had top ten hits in Britain & America with different songs - Ruby Tuesday, a Rolling Stones cover, in Britain, Lay down (Candles in the rain) in America.
Melanie's biggest hit, Brand new key, was a top five UK hit & a number one American hit. Sometimes dismissed as a novelty song, it became even more of a novelty song when the Wurzels wrote their own lyrics to it & released it (with Melanie's permission) as Combine harvester (Brand new key) - it topped the UK charts in 1976. Of course, you have to look elsewhere if you want Combine harvester - it's not here.
The New Seekers also liked to record Melanie's songs. Rival versions of What have they done to my song Ma both became minor UK hits, with Melanie doing slightly better than the New Seekers, who also covered Nickel song & Beautiful people.\
While Melanie wrote plenty of original material, she also liked to record a few covers. Apart from Ruby Tuesday, this collection includes Melanie's versions of Lay lady lay & Mr Tambourine man, both written by Bob Dylan although the latter was popularised by the Byrds.
Melanie has a very distinctive voice that does not appeal to everybody although I love it. If you enjoy the folk-pop singer-songwriters of the early seventies, you will enjoy Melanie's music providing you like her voice. There have been plenty of Melanie compilations released down the years but this one is as good as any.
Melodic Pop & Moving Folk - By: Pieter, 20 Apr 2003 Although she emerged from the folk/singer-songwriter boom of the Woodstock generation, Melanie’s music has always had more of a pop edge to it. This excellent collection includes most of her hits – with the exception of Bitter Bad - & the cream of her popular album tracks. It kicks off with the novelty song (and her biggest hit) Brand New Key, followed by her soulful & moving version of Ruby Tuesday which alone is worth the price of the album. Her interpretation of Mr Tambourine Man is unique & delectable too; she never fails to elegantly make the songs of her others her own (Lay Lady Lay & Carolina On My Mind). Her own compositions are catchy & intelligent like Nickel Song or poetic & perceptive like Beautiful People. The only serious omission in my opinion is the song Ring The Living Bell Shine The Living Light, but otherwise this album is comprehensive enough. Somehow Melanie represents the essence of the 60s folkie, although this album demonstrates her pop prowess too.
Melodic Pop and Moving Folk - By: Pieter, 30 Mar 2003 Although she emerged from the folk/singer-songwriter boom of the Woodstock generation, Melanie’s music has always had more of a pop edge to it. This excellent collection includes most of her hits – with the exception of Bitter Bad - & the cream of her popular album tracks. It kicks off with the novelty song (and her biggest hit) Brand New Key, followed by her soulful & moving version of Ruby Tuesday which alone is worth the price of the album. Her interpretation of Mr Tambourine Man is unique & delectable too; she never fails to elegantly make the songs of her others her own (Lay Lady Lay & Carolina On My Mind). Her own compositions are catchy & intelligent, like Nickel Song or poetic & perceptive, like Beautiful People. The only serious omission in my opinion is the song Ring The Living Bell Shine The Living Light, but otherwise this album is comprehensive enough. Somehow Melanie represents the essence of the 60s folkie, although this album demonstrates her pop prowess too.
From Woodstock to the world! - By: , 10 Apr 2002 Born out of the Woodstock era, Melanie is the original flower child who began releasing music in the late 60's, up to the present day. This CD, however, only see's Melanie at her hight with classic's such as her No9 hit 'Ruby Tuesday' & her No4 hit 'Brand New Key'. Other amazing tunes included are 'Baby Day', 'Close To It All', 'Pebbles In The Sand' & 'Lay Down- Candles In The Rain' which was inspired by her 1st performance at Woodstock where she appeared, as a totallly unknown, unsigned artist, during a rainstorm.
From start to finnish this album celebrates everything that Melanie stood for- Peace, Love & a great tune on an acustic guitar!
