Beautiful People: The Greatest Hits of Melanie [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Melanie

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 13, 1999)
• Original Release Date: July 13, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Buddha
• ASIN: B00000JIL0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #13,630 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Melanie was the Jewel of the Woodstock Generation. Like her three-decades-down-the-road heir, the woman born Melanie Safka made a quick splash as a radio-friendly singer-songwriter. Something of a male Donovan (what is this, no-surname syndrome?), Melanie took hits (like Jewel, too) for delivering what critics considered hippie-dippy platitudes. (She came to resent her "bliss ninny" image and rebelled against it following her late-'60s, early-'70s heyday.) But, also like Donovan, Melanie's best songs have aged nicely, thanks in large part to her knack for integrating her distinctive rasp into ingratiating hooks and solid folk-rock arrangements. Alternating between melismatic sing-alongs ("Lay Down," here in unedited seven-minute-plus form, her splendid cover of "Ruby Tuesday," "What Have They Done to My Song, Ma?") and precious novelty numbers ("The Nickel Song," "Brand New Key," "Animal Crackers"), Melanie wrote her own little bit of pop history, which is celebrated in this worthy 19-song retrospective. All the hits are here, remastered by art-rock avatar Robert Fripp. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a Melanie fan, _but_, December 23, 2002

By	Patricia R. Andersen "redheaded booklover" (Baltimore, MD USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I bought this cd mostly for "The Nickel Song" which I happen to think is a terrific view of life in any sort of business. I really didn't expect to like the other cuts, having stated I'm not a Melanie fan.

But guess what - I did. I had forgotten how amazing "(Lay Down) Candles in The Rain" sounded, how the gospel singers and Melanies voice worked so well together. And I even sort of like "Brand New Key" now that they don't play it on the radio station every 20 minutes. My only complaint was "Lover's Cross" - I much prefer that by Jim Croce, but considering I didn't expect to like the rest of the cd except for "The Nickel Song", I was quite surprised.

If you're a fan, buy this cd - the sound is wonderul and her voice is clear and pure on it. If you're a wishy washy fan as I was, buy it anyway and enjoy it - you'll probably be surprised how much you like Melanie's music. I know I was.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An American Treasure, December 9, 2000

By	K. Glenn (Arizona, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Melanie's been discounted unjustly over the years as a hippie flower child of the Woodstock era, mainly because of her record label's marketing but also because of her many peace songs and earthy style. This is unfortunate because Melanie is a songwriter of incredible style and wit and no one out there sounds quite like she does. This collection spans just about her entire career from the fans' favorite, "Beautiful People," which was her first single, through the quirky number 1 single of 1971, "Brand New Key," which many feel doomed her as a cute, one hit wonder, through a couple 1990s tracks, "Summer of Love," and "I Will Get Over." Melanie's other big hit, "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)," is here as well and what a song it is even today. The arrangement still sounds fresh in the year 2000 and Melanie's vocals are downright inspired and inspiring. A couple of cuts from her incredible but neglected 1974 album, "Madrugada," are included as well. "Love to Lose Again," should have been a huge hit for Melanie and her rendition of Jim Croce's, "Lover's Cross," is second to none. This is the compilation CD, along with 1999's, "Ring the Living Bell," to have of all of the compilation CDs out there of Melanie's music because it has been digitally recorded from the masters so the songs are as clear and resonant as Melanie's powerful voice.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Animal Crackers are in this year...", April 14, 2000

By	Megg (Napa, CA) - See all my reviews

WOW! I first heard MELANIE, when I bought the Boogie Nights Soundtrack, and heard "Brand New Key"and it was a song that was easy to learn and fun to sing, and my roomates and I sang it ALL over at our Art School. And its somethig we still laugh about. It wasnt until I bought the ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY : 1970 variety CD, and heard "LAY DOWN (candles in the rain) " that I realized, it wasnt at ALL about the simplicity in learning her lyrics, but the way her music just seems to wiggle its way into your life and nuzzle up to your heart. I have NEVER EVER in my entire life, heard a song, or voice, that makes me want to crawl up in bed and write in my journal, and then cry, and not shave my legs, and grow my hair long, and protest everything, and love everyone, and at the same time, just BE....BE content, BE happy, BE sad.........simply BE me. This CD will make you want to move around , and do ANYTHING BUT listen, because you will be petrified to let the words in, seeing how the melody, clings to your soul, and shakes it to the very core, and makes you feel as though you cant breathe. Yes...you should buy this CD, but only if you intend on expanding your CD collection with ALL of her CD'S, because MELANIE is the curve in my smile. She does that too you......listen to her, SHE will change your senses, and make you whole.