melanie

One of the very best singer / songwriters of her type , but sadly often overlooked.

She has done many albums [and still currently performing and recording]during her career.

Look for any of the early [Buddah] ones and 'Ballroom Streets' and 'Photograph'

On a related note , Melanies husband [Peter Schekeryk] who produced most of her albums very recently suddenly died of a heart attack.

This is the one that I bought - Candles in the Rain, which apparently was her third LP. Interesting voice - there's a bit of Marianne Faithful and some Buffy Saint Marie in there somewhere. That was £5 well spent....

Get the album with 'Cyclone' on it. Worth it for that track alone.

Best Regards,
Mark Dunn

Hi Andy

I've always admired Melanie Safka: one of America's finest singer songwriters.

quote:

there's a bit of Marianne Faithful and some Buffy Saint Marie in there somewhere.

Yes both were influenced by Melanie.

Have you got the full version of Lay Down on your Candles in the Rain album; I had a German CD were some clot had replaced the album version with the single version - luckily I had the full version on another CD.

Although Candles is a great place to start with Melanie Safka - my favourite record of hers is Affectionately Melanie with some stunning tracks like Tuning My Guitar.

I'd also strongly recommend Gather Me and Good Book.

I'd love to recommend Madrugada and Stoneground Words which I used to have on cassette, but have never been able to replace them as these recordings are virtually unobtainable. Good records though, as is the much undervalued Garden in the City.

One tip with Melanie is don't listen to the words if you're feeling down as they are not written to give you a lift.



Babe rainbow
Keep your glow on
There's a show on you know
And they're all gonna be there
Put the gleam in your eyes
And do somethin' to your hair
Keep your glow on

Babe rainbow
Keep your glow on
Though your hand has
Been held away too long,
You're afraid to walk
The streets alone
Keep your glow on
Babe rainbow oh -
You gotta go on

It must be hard lookin' up at the sun
When you know in your heart
You might never be warm
I know it's hard lookin' up at the sun
When you know deep inside
You might never be warm

ATB Rotf

quote:

Yes both were influenced by Melanie.

Clever that as Buffy had been making albums for 4 years before Melanie's first one, so more like t'other way around?

We had been listening to B S-M for a long time before Melanie and Marianne came on the scene.

OK - it's a fair cop, I'll come quietly - I didn't know Buffy was as old as that, be she was making elpees before Melanie Safka - first I remember BSM was Soldier Blue so I was thinking 1970 and Melanie was recording from 68. When I first heard Soldier Blue I thought it was a Melanie song - only goes to show how wrong you can be.

I haven't got any Buffy albums, but lots of Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk (wonder why she was just known as Melanie) albums though her first album Born to Be is not is good as those that were to come.

So what Buffy would you recommend to an old vampire like me?

I enjoyed Melanie at the time, haven't heard much of her in 30 years. Brand New Key was the big hit in CA.

I've come into 2 Buffy albums this year. Fire, Fleet & Candlelight and It's My Way. Can't say I want to put them on regularly.

I was going to my folks and stopped by a record shop in Laguna Beach that I used to buy my records at in '70 as a teen. The original owner is a nice guy, I engaged him in talk so he didn't think of me as just a one off. He has lots of posters and I said "oh Buffy S-M, I now have 2 of hers" he looked at me askance and said you have to be of a certain "age" to know her. I didn't know much but remembered her. He said she's living in Hawaii and still sings and travels out. That's nice to know.

The whole era of folk oriented singers including Baez, Judy Collins, Peter Paul and Mary was a wonderful one. I have 5 Judy albums and now 3 PP&M, 2 Baez. Also the early Dylan albums for free this summer.

quote:

OK - it's a fair cop, I'll come quietly - I didn't know Buffy was as old as that,

Oih! Buffy is only a month older than me.

As mudwolf points out a great era of folk stuff.We spent many hours huddled around the SP25, little amp and speakers , trying to decode the "messages" hidden in the lyrics.

There has been a show on PBS, John Sebastian showing clips of folk groups. VEry interesting tho I'll pass on buying. I wanted to see Judy Collins but was tired and they were schilling for money support. Then in a short interview she looked fabulous and said that so much was going on, but they had stories to tell and they were very literary, not just lyrics.

After that I turned it off and went to bed. I got to see Judy, I'm still in love with her.