Customer Reviews

Beautiful People: The Greatest Hits of Melanie

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

Finally, a compilation of Melanie's music that has been re-mastered digitally from the original masters, and apparently, from some masters that have just recently been discovered after being feared lost. What a joy it is to listen to some of these old chestnuts in brilliant stereo with crystal clear sound quality. In addition, there is a new cut of her fairly recent, "Summer of Love," which is quite good (though we'll let slide the kitchy faux audience cheering near the end), and the re-mixed, "I Will Get Over," from her 1993 effort, "Freedom Knows My Name." One wonders about the possibilities of commercial success if that entire album had been mixed as beautifully and professionally as this cut has been.

The joy in this compilation CD, though, is how absolutely fresh all of the songs sound, and most of the songs are 20 to 30 years old! Now: Melanie's fans could use a compilation album of her more obscure songs that are loved as much as these. Re-mastered digitally, of course! And how about a collection of her unreleased recordings? Their existance is well known and Melanie's fans won't rest until they are released on a collection as well. Re-mastered digitally, of course. How about it?

The stylistic variety on this compilation reveals the versatility of this singer-songwriter who made her mark in the early 1970s. There is genuine soul in her great hit Lay Down (Candles In The Rain), an inspiring arrangement with lovely vocals. The rousing Ring The Living Bell is an anthemic song with a strong melody, whilst What Have They Done To My Song is a typical pop-folk ballad from the era, something that Francois Hardy or Marianne Faithfull might have done.

The novelty numbers Brand New Key and Nickel Song are quirky and tuneful, quite addictive, in fact. The highlight is Melanie's version of Ruby Tuesday, a stellar performance, very mature, elegant and authentic. The moving Beautiful People is the song that made her famous at Woodstock in 1969.

This is a great mix of folkie ballads, soulful rock and quirky pop. Don't be put off by the flowergirl image, this woman had real talent as songwriter but also in her impressive vocal skills. Not everything here is 5-star material, but the aforementioned songs prove that Melanie's legacy, although small, is worthwhile and very enjoyable today.

Although I haven't heard this particular CD, I've heard all these songs before, though I couldn't say if they are all originals. I AM a Melanie fan. She has been a part of my life. I love her. All these early songs are of course of a different style than her mid 70s to mid 80s work, which had progressed to sheer brilliance. There's precious little to compare it with. I've never heard her work likened to witchy, as a reviewer said, which is plain stupidity. It WAS unique however, and I didn't always like it.

It took a little while to grow on me, but then I was hooked. Of course it is now passe, and also she has moved on. It was magic for it's time however, with it's folksy flowery appeal. Took me 30 years to work out the meaning of her lyrics, but now I don't care.

One must criticise the music companies once again for the constant stream of compilations. The normal studio albums contain so many rehashes of earlier work anyway. Her 90s and 2000s work is generally pretty ordinary compared to earlier. The music executives should be incarcerated for giving us now only a few compilations on CD rather than put out her brilliant albums, which maybe they plan to do after many more comps, but I was expecting them when CDs were first invented. I was willing to pay again even though I already own all the LPs. Here it is now 20-30 years after her best work, and still nothing. I may only live another 20 years. (barring disease or terrorism)

BTW Melanie's version of Lover's Cross is superior to Jim Croce's, though I love his work. Generally when she performed other people's songs, she improved on them.

This compilation is a small sampling of her earlier work from her youth, when she wrote and sung about 300 wonderful songs. So to say, where's Bitter Bad? Be real, this is only one CD.

For those knockers who are old enough to know better, you can continue wallowing in your ignorance and poor taste. "Oh yes, the Brand New Key girl". Gimme a break. These are the types who'd criticise the Beatles as "One Hit Wonders". For those of the younger generation, I know you have more sense, and I could do no better favour for you than to recommend you seek out Melanie's mid 70s to mid 80s material, and everything in-between. You WON'T be disappointed.

I remember listening to a great rock station in Atlanta in the late '60s. It played several of her songs and I am still in love with that raspy voice that's so unique. I do recall one song that I don't see listed on any on these releases. She did a version of the Who's "We're Not Going To Take It" and I wish I could hear it again. Maybe it's under a different title. But anyway, her voice stands out among the rest of female vocalist. She's captured my heart.

Hooray, this CD has the great track Psychotherapy! together with Beautiful People worth the price of the CD together. Although this is a sort of Melanies finest hour product I would see it as more of a delicious sampler of what she is capable of, if you love it you'll want more, and believe you me there is more where this came from.

Animal Crackers is also a brilliant track...

"BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE" IS THE ONE AVAILABLE CD OF MELANIE'S TO BUY,....BUT ONLY UNTIL A DEFINITIVE BOX-SET COMES ALONG! (I HOPE BUDDHA RECORDS IS LISTENING)...IT IS A TREAT TO HEAR HER SONGS FINALLY COME ALIVE THROUGH FRIPP'S GREAT RE-MASTERING....THE FULL 7 MINUTE VERSI0N OF "LAY DOWN" IS A REVELATION AND A JOY....AS IS "RING THE LIVING BELL". ULTIMATELY THOUGH, "BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE" IS A WELL-DONE, BUT MOSTLY REDUNDANT RE-DOING OF OTHER MELANIE'S "GREATEST HITS" CD'S...HOPEFULLY A "BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE #2-GREATEST HITS" IS IN THE WORKS! ...ONE THAT WOULD INCLUDE "RAINBOW RACE","CYCLONE","RUNNING AFTER LOVE",ETC...RE-ISSUING "GATHER ME" AND "STONEGROUND WORDS" IS ALSO LONG OVERDUE...MELANIE'S VOICE NEARLY RIVALED JANIS JOPLIN'S..WITHOUT THE DESPAIR AND THE SELF-DESTRUCTIVENESS.

For those of you unfamiliar with the music of Melanie (born Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk), this CD is a great opportunity for you to hear the best of this wonderful and very overlooked singer. Her sound is a unique fusion between blues and folk, and, though, people were quick to peg her as "just another hippie musician," this is about as far a description from her as you can get. Some of her most well-loved tunes are featured here, including "Brand New Key," an upbeat "novelty" number, that sounds like it could have been recorded in the 1920s (I am not sure if this is the case, but, it fared very well with her 1960s audience when she did her rendition), "Animal Crackers," "Peace Will Come (According to Plan)" and her version of "Ruby Tuesday." I only wish "I Don't Eat Animals," her anthem to vegetarianism was on here. That song you just have to hear to believe. Melanie's soaring vocals are so life affirming and filled with expression. It's hard not to love her. That's why I do and I think you will, too.

When I was young, I listened to Melanie on records... a favorite phrase from her songs being "I don't eat animals, and they don't eat me." Melanie has the reputation of being "the" flowerchild... maybe, partially, she is. Her songs show a grasp of beauty, of unity, of strength and of humor. Some of the songs fill you with a sense of awe, some make you think, and some make you giggle. For all you beautiful people out there, this CD is a great addition to your collection.