"Born To Be/Melanie/Candles In The Rain/Leftover Wine" by MELANIE – November 1968 USA Debut Album [February 1969 UK], October 1969 US Second Studio LP as "Melanie" in the USA but Issued December 1969 in the UK as "Affectionately Melanie", May 1970 US Third Studio Album [August 1970 in the UK] and September 1970 Live Album "Leftover Wine" [December 1970 in the UK] (June 2022 UK Beat Goes On Records (BGO) Compilation – 4LP Plus One Bonus Track onto 2CDs – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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RATINGS: 

*** to **** Material

**** Audio

***** Presentation

"…If The People Are Buying Tears...I'll Be Rich Someday…"

Hippy warbler and all-round cutie-pie and decent human being Melanie was not for everyone at the time - and some five and half decades later here in the spring of 2024 – even more so. Her voice is fab to some – Marmite to others. But New Yorker songwriter Ms. Safka's popularity and chart successes were not without reason.

This superbly annotated and brilliant-sounding twofer from England's Beat Goes On Records (aka BGO Records) shows why fans like this reissue label so much. As you can see from Total Playing Times of 83:05 for CD1 and 81:32 for CD2 – you are not short of serious value for money. In a nutshell you get her first four albums in full – three studio starters and then a Live Show recorded at Carnegie Hall as platter number Four (all releases originally on Buddah Records and stretching from November 1968 in the USA to December 1970 in the UK) plus a Bonus 45-Single Mix on CD2. As I say, plenty on offer. 

The "Candles In The Rain" set (probably her most popular album) even gets a Single Version of that title song as a lone Bonus. One of only three ladies on the day (Janis Joplin and Joan Baez were the others) Melanie debuted her epic tune "Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)" at the legendary July 1969 Woodstock Festival in the USA where she won over the crowd after filling in for a cancelled Incredible String Band slot (it broke her to a worldwide audience). The LP "Candles In The Rain" followed May 1970 in the USA (August 1970 in the UK) to capitalise on her popularity and the festival's growing influence and legend.

And as much of the female singer-songwriter material across these four long-players (not all but most) is a young woman with a warble and powerhouse set of lungs (once she lets rip) accompanied by only an Acoustic Guitar – the clarity of the Remasters is starkly powerful and moving and very much in the listeners favour (if you can take that voice – Marmite - love it, loathe it). Lot to talk about – to the facts…

UK released Friday, 3 June 2022 - "Born To Be/Melanie/Candles In The Rain/Leftover Wine" by MELANIE on Beat Goes On Records BGOCD1479 (Barcode 5017261214799) offers 4LPs Plus 1 Bonus Track Remastered onto 2CDs that plays out as follows:

CD1 (83:05 minutes):
1. In The Hour [Side 1]
2. I'm Back In Town
3. Bo Bo's Party
4. Mr. Tambourine Man
5. Momma Momma
6. I Really Loved Harold [Side 2]
7. Animal Crackers
8. Christopher Robin
9. Close To it All
10. Merry Christmas
Tracks 1 to 10 are his debut studio album "Born To Be" – released November 1968 in the USA on Buddah Records BDS 5024 and February 1969 in the UK on Buddah Records 203 019. Produced by PETER SCHEKERYK (her husband) - it didn't chart in either country, but the 45-single for "Bo Bo's Party" on Buddah 610 022 was a No.1 hit in France. All songs on the debut written by Melanie Safka except "Mr. Tambourine Man" by Bob Dylan and "Christopher Robin" has lyrical references to A.A. Milne

11. I'm Back In Town [Side 1]
12. Tuning My Guitar
13. Soul Sister Annie
14. Any Guy 
15. Uptown Down
16. Again 
17. Beautiful People [Side 2]
18. Johnny Boy
19. Baby Guitar
20. Deep Down Love
21. For My Father
22. Take Me Home
Tracks 11 to 22 is her second studio album "Melanie" (USA) – released October 1969 in the USA on Buddah Records BDS 5041 and December 1969 in the UK credited as "Affectionately Melanie" on Buddah Records 203 028. Produced by PETER SCHEKERYK (her husband) - it didn't chart in the UK but peaked at No.196 on the US Billboard charts in November 1969. All songs written by Melanie Safka except "Soul Sister Annie" by Thomas Jefferson Kaye

23. Candles In The Rain (1:42 minutes) [Side 1]
24. Lay Down (Candles In The Rain) (Long Version, 7:37 minutes)
25. Carolina In My Mind
26. Citiest People
Tracks 23 to 26 are the first four of five songs on Side 1 of her third studio album "Candles In The Rain" (US Version) – released May 1970 in the USA on Buddah Records BDS 5060 and August 1970 in the UK on Buddah Records 2318 009. Produced by PETER SCHEKERYK (her husband) – it peaked at No.17 on the US Billboard charts and No.5 in the UK. All songs written by Melanie Safka except "Carolina In My Mind" and "Ruby Tuesday" which are James Taylor and Rolling Stones cover versions. "Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)" features Edwin Hawkins on Piano accompanied by The Edwin Hawkins Singers. For the last song on Side 1 and the rest of Side 2 of "Candles In The Rain" – see CD2.

CD2 (81:32 minutes):
1. What Have They Done To My Song, Ma [Last Song on Side 1]
2. Alexander Beetle [Side 2 of the US LP - see below]
3. The Good Guys
4. Lovin' Baby Girl
5. Ruby Tuesday
6. Leftover Wine
Tracks 1 to 6 are the last song on Side 1 of her third studio album "Candles In The Rain" and the whole of Side 2. However, the UK LP used the song "Close To It All" from the debut album as the opener for Side 2 instead of "Alexander Beetle" which was only ever on the US album version of "Candles In The Rain". To avoid duplication of the song "Close To It All" – BGO has used the US configuration of the LP. Release details etc – see Tracks 23 to 26 on CD1

BONUS TRACK:
7. Lay Down (Candles In The Rain) – Single Version
Track 7 is the Edited to 3:49 minutes UK 45-single version issued 17 April 1970 on Buddah 2011 013, A-side – credited to Melanie with The Edwin Hawkins Singers. It used Track 23 on CD1 as its B-side. It was issued March 1970 in the USA on Buddah BDA 167 with the same flipside

8. Close To It All [Side 1]
9. Uptown and Down
10. Momma Momma
11. The Saddest Thing
12. Beautiful People
13. Animal Crackers
14. I Don't Eat Animals [Side 2]
15. Happy Birthday
16. Tuning My Guitar
17. Psychotherapy
18. Leftover Wine
19. Peace Will Come (According To Plan)
Tracks 8 to 19 are her fourth album (first live) "Leftover Wine" – released September 1970 in the USA on Buddah Records BDS 5066 and December 1970 in the UK on Buddah Records 2318 011. Produced by PETER SCHEKERYK (her husband) – it was recorded in one night at Carnegie Hall, New York with Melanie on Acoustic Guitar only. It peaked at No.33 on the US Billboard charts and No.22 in the UK.

The outer card slipcase and substantial 24-page booklet with new liner notes from JOHN O'REGAN (dated January 2022) give an extraordinarily detailed overview not just of the four albums presented here – but her entire career past the No.1 single "Brand New Key" on her own Neighborhood Records (and those who later covered it) right up to inductions in Halls Of Fame in 2015 and 2019. It's impartial and yet affectionate and quite rightly gives a congratulatory nod to her successes and popularity. The front and rear artwork for all the LPs is here too along with any original liner notes like say Margie Joseph for the Carnegie Hall live set "Leftover Wine" (Page 1 to10) - while fans will recognise other photos from the inner sleeves punctuating the remainder of the text.

The New Remasters from licenced tapes are by BGO's resident Audio Engineer and a veteran of such vintage material – ANDREW THOMPSON. These albums were well recorded – there is shockingly little hiss yet enough air and warmth around the songs as they play to keep a personal touch coming out of your speakers. She was young too, full of passion and vim and when Melanie let rip on say "Bo Bo's Party" – the impact is amazing. Coming across like a more manic Bobbie Gentry or even Julie Felix – for her second UK 45 off the debut album in February 1969 – Buddah paired it with another album cut "I'm Back In Town" on the flipside of Buddah 201 028 and the audio on both is warm and everything you would hope for. That great clear sound continues throughout. To the music…

A very Paris-by-the-Seine accordion plays in "In The Hour" soon to be accompanied by an acoustic guitar and her highly affected warble. As other reviewers of the time noted – song-wise Buddah seemed to pitch the music at anything goes – vaudeville at times – hippy upbeat ditties the next – all styles - Nilsson meets Randy Newman in tights. Unfortunately, this means that stuff like "I'm Back In Town" and the ha-ha yuck "Animal Crackers" sound terribly dated – but simple songs like "Bo Bo's Party" and "I Really Loved Harold" feel powerhouse by contrast (like a female Fred Neil at times).  "Bo Bo's Party" even made inroads on European 45-singles charts. Buddah UK made her British debut 45-single "Christopher Robin" b/w her brilliant stripped-back almost-spoken cover of the Dylan Sixties classic "Mr. Tambourine Man" – the A-side all about A.A. Milne and the Hundred Acre Wood (Buddah 201 027, December 1968). Melanie talks to her mother in "Momma Momma" – fears she reared her daughter wrong – longing for something – a place to belong – a huge performance and announcement of a major Folk-Rock talent. 

Opening platter number two is a snippet Acapella re-record of "I'm Back In Town" from the debut that is a dismissible – far better is "Tuning My Guitar" – her true aching personality coming through even if it is a tad hissy in places before the strings kick in. Thomas Jefferson Kaye would release his own solo albums in 1973 and 1974 on Dunhill USA (Probe Records in the UK) and even secure the talents of Steely Dan as musicians on the self-titled debut (Donald Fagan, Walter Becker, David Palmer and Jeff Baxter are all on there – along with Engineer and Producer Roger Nicholls and Gary Katz). But before all that Thomas Kaye was a songwriter for hire – and Melanie uses his lone contribution "Soul Sister Annie" as a cool rocker that works as it breaks up the Folkie overload. 

Coming on very much like a female Labi Siffre – her "Uptown Down" is brilliant. Buddah used it as the flipside to "Beautiful People" (a more commercial pitter-pattering A-side) for Buddah 201 066 in December 1969 – a British 45-single - but it did no business (maybe they should have flipped it). Accomplished is how the quiet loveliness of "Again" comes over – a lyrical pain too as she searches for meaning and even friends in a business that offers few. The acoustic guitar and voice theme continues with "Johnny Boy" while her pal is gonna be a big star according to those in the know in "Baby Guitar" – a great 60ts groove and lyrically up there too. "Deep Down Low" and "For My Father" show how far her songwriting had gone while the peaceful and simple "Take Me Home" ends platter number two on a lovely note. "Melanie" or "Affectionately Melanie" as it was known in the UK was a big step forward after the style-tentative debut and it sounds gorgeous here. 

Door No.3 "Candles In The Rain" was her "Mud Slide Slim" LP – the album that broke her out into the mainstream. In fact, Melanie covers James Taylor's "Caroline In My Mind" on Side 1 perhaps aligning herself with US singer-songwriters who were smashing down doors everywhere in 1970 and 1971 and 1972. Her choir-version and almost hymnal take for "Lay Down (Candle In The Rain)" may make 2024 ears bleed a little - but back in the day it had that Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar vibe that captured audiences and listeners in their droves. The in-yer-face album cut of "Lay Down (Candle In The Rain)" hammers on with handclaps and walls of choir voices (Edwin Hawkins singers) and tambourines for a full 7:39 minutes (the single is an edit at 3:49 minutes – a Bonus Track on CD2). Her soft and sweet feel-the-sunshine cover of James Taylor's "Caroline In My Mind" fits – while she ends Side 1 with a gem - "Citiest People" – her gentle ballad telling of a harsh tale of a man who was unkind to an un-city girl – turned a maid ugly when there was no need. Lovely audio too.

"…If the people are buying tears...I'll be rich someday…" - Melanie sang on her other famously self deprecating song "What Have They Done To My Song, Ma" - the 45-single B-side of "Ruby Tuesday" in the UK (August 1970, Buddah 2011 038). Her stunning cover version of The Stones' classic "Ruby Tuesday" deconstructs the song and reveals its inherent menace. Can't say that the childish "Alexander Beetle" is something I ever want to hear again (USA-LP exclusive or no) - but both "The Good Guys" and "Lovin' Baby Girl" save the day with their whacking acoustic passion. Melanie brings her "Candles In The Rain" LP to a close with a song she would use to name her next LP by - the live "Leftover Wine". With sparse and in the background instruments - "Leftover Wine" has sugar-plums dancing in her head - bowls of stale vino enticing come the morning after. Fans will dig the 'Single Edit' of "Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)" cleverly placed after the LP has ended. 

The live set is supposed subtitled 'Recorded Live At Margie's Birthyday Party' which turns out to be New York's Carnegie Hall done 'solo' - her and an Acoustic Guitar. Opening with a slightly dreary "Close To It All" - things pick up with a far better "Uptown Down" - her voice and finger-picking echoing ever so reverentially around the famous venue with surprising clarity. The boys in the city couldn't care less if she loves them or not - while she continues to search for God knows what. Another strong song elicits applause - "Momma Momma" starting out politely until she lets go - a brave brute of a performance in front of such an audience with just an acoustic guitar. Someone even shouts 'we love you' inbetween tunes and they did.

Melanie Safka sadly passed in January 2024 - but this BGO twofer documenting her first four albums on Buddah Records (1968 to 1970) does her starting out period a genuine solid - a fabulous release and one I'm sure fans will love. 

What have they done to my song ma - they've treated it right. God Bless...