Crazy Love

Melanie | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 24, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Orpheus Records
• ASIN: B00006JJ49
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #319,525 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Melanie At The Peak Of Her Powers, July 4, 2003

By 

Thomas H. Moody "Music Enthusiast" (Nobleboro, ME United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Crazy Love (Audio CD)

Before Melanie got unfairly labeled as a "novelty" artist with her hit "Brand New Key", she was an unexpected well-received performer at Woodstock. Following Woodstock she hit the charts with the brilliant "Lay Down (Candles In The Rain). I consider "Lay Down" one of the staples of pop music culture. Not just because of it's brilliant delivery (with the Edwin Hawkins Singers) but because it captured an essence of Woodstock that Melanie had witnessed and lived. An essence that still lives on today for those who wish and hope for peace on earth.

Her new recording "Crazy Love" is possibly the best set she has ever released. It certainly matches the greatness of "Gather Me", "Stoneground Words" and the wonderful "Madrugada". (However, it is sad to see that Amazon currently lists it as "out of stock." It is available at other online sites).

It's hard to pick a favorite from this recording because they're all equally good. "Punishment Fits The Crime" and "You Can Get Anything Here" are very Dylan-like.
While songs like "Smile", "This House" and "Poet Is King" are pure Melanie in top form. "Prone To Wander" and "You Don't Know Me" are also songs that leave an impact. The title track is probably the most unexpected sounding track here, but it's just great and very current sounding. And, Melanie hasn't lost anything vocally. It's as if time has done nothing to alter her voice.

The recording gets its updated sound thanks to the involvement of her son Beau Jarred who also contributes outstanding guitar work here. He treats his momma well!! Interestingly enough the European version of this disc has an alternate version of "Crazy Love" on it that is totally different in atmosphere from the one on the American release. The great thing is the two versions compliment each other. I love them both. (Incidently, the European release also contains an extra track "Last Call").

This is a generous CD musically and time wise. It's as if Melanie has given her all on this recording with the feeling that she may not have another shot at a project like this. She sort of alludes to her fear of "lack of time" in a short-spoken dialogue on the CD.

Melanie is an artist who deserved better from the pop music world. But, she appears to have done things her way and persevered. No matter what she sings she sounds involved, convincing, and honest. In this day and age of midriff baring cloned female singers, Melanie is a true relief. Poet is King.....indeed!!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crazy Love is wonderful!, September 26, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Crazy Love (Audio CD)

What a wonderful surprise! This CD is great whether you are a Melanie fan from long ago or just discovering her. The music here varies in style from pop rock to dance rhythms to simpler folky songs. Melanie has not lost her touch and is growing as an artist. This CD makes that very apparent. My favorites are And We Fall, Smile, Crazy Love, and Prone to Wander. I have listened to this CD over and over already and don't think I'll ever tire of it because there seem to be so many hidden layers to the songs. Melanie's phrasing is as good as ever and this CD deserves to be recognized as one of the best of 2002.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the "Beautiful People" back with full force, October 19, 2002

By 

Christopher A. Raso (Bloomfield, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crazy Love (Audio CD)

If you've forgotten the musical and lyrical force that Melanie blessed us with in the late 60's, early 70's, one listen to her new CD "Crazy Love" will remind you of what makes the singer-songwiter so important an American fixture. And the best part of this is that it is not a throw-back to her early work,(despite the fact that the collection concludes with a re-working of her contoversial Brand New Key) but music and lyric timely and current, but still unmistakingly Melanie. She speaks with the wisdom of age, without pretention or sentimental whimsy.The arrangements are beautiful, and especially notewotrthy is the fantastic guitar work of her son ,Beau Jarred,who simply graces this collection with his performances. I was hopefull when I brought this CD home, and delighted when I heard it.It would be beneath the merit of this work to say "welcome back" I'd rather say "welcome home, Melanie" In a world grown colder each day, this music will make you feel warm again. And we all need a little warmth, don't we?