Melanie – MELANIE***

I’m Back In Town/Tuning My Guitar/Soul Sister Annie/Any Guy/Uptown Down/Again/Beautiful People/Johnny Boy/Baby Guitar/Deep Down Low/For My Father/Take Me Home

Self titled second album from pop-folk singer songwriter Melanie. Seen as the ultimate hippie flower child, her career would receive a boost from an appearance at the Woodstock festival. (US:196)

“Melanie is truly the most under-appreciated talent of all the female vocalists of this era. Her ability to transition into so many musical genres is masterfully demonstrated on this album. Her voice is so different and is truly what sets her apart. To some it is an acquired taste but to me it is haunting, powerful and beautiful.”

“Many old music artists of the 60s and 70s are being re-discovered by younger people like myself, but Melanie is almost always overlooked. Her music can be best described as folk-rock.”

“Melanie was a true great and never a one hit wonder. She was a heartfelt original songwriter. Not a great musician but she wrote and sang what she observed and felt with one of the most unique voices ever heard in music. Tuning My Guitar is one of Melanie's greatest unknown songs.”

“Melanie is a skilful, soulful singer and guitar master. She loves to create songs that create moods that mean different things to different people. Melanie's roots were firmly planted in folk music although she ultimately embraced other influences. This album will take any fan back to the days when music was simple and fun.”

“Melanie, her second album, suffers from over the top vocal delivery. But, her songwriting has started to improve. Beautiful People is a classic, and Tuning My Guitar is one of her best songs, but suffers from emotive excess. The rest of the album is good, but certainly not great. Melanie would soon develop into one of music's great talents. This was only the beginning.”

“Because of these early albums Melanie received the label as `the ultimate flower child' and listening to the songs, you can understand why. They are filled with the sweetness and innocence of that short-lived 'flower power' era. However, that does not mean that the albums are too hopelessly dated to be enjoyable, in fact they are immensely enjoyable. I must admit that I really love Melanie and that I have most of her albums, but her best work was yet to come.”