– Customer review on 03/06/2011

I happened on Melanie by accident, the song Brand New Key was playing in the background of something, I'm not even quite sure where, but I totally focused on the song, not what I was watching. My dad used to listen to a lot of 60's/70's stuff and I must have heard it then, as the song took me back to that time. After a certain point in my life, I had absorbed all of the current music of my generation, and had wanted to start to expand my musical pallette, and thus I began buying older cds and seeing if there was something there I might enjoy. I began enjoying tons of singers/bands from before my time, and I guess I had matured enough to realise that there was more to music than just what my peers were listening to. However, somehow I had never gotten any of her stuff. And it was not even reccommended by the music store owners that would give me ideas on what to buy next. Now that I had heard this song, I decided to look online, and found a greatest hits cds to see if she was a one hit wonder or whatever. What I found was very impressive. This lady had raw talent. Her vocals were a bit quirky at times, but not without its charms. I was totally drawn now to her music. So I searched and searched online hoping to find more of her stuff in cd format. However I did not find much, aside from Crazy Love which was a newer cd. NOW finally there are three cds out that contain two whole cds on each one. so that's six original albums. This of course is one of those three reissues. So obviously I was happy. But I was worried. As with some artists, sometimes the greatest hits is pretty much all the best that they have. Of course there are those artists where their greatest hits only tell/show part of the story. This is how it was with Melanie. The remasters sound beautiful. And the songs shine because of it. One beautiful side effect of new technology is that music always gets new ways of being improved and shared.I was very happy with the overall quality of the cd, and impressed by the writing and singine to the point, that I bought all three reissues. And hopefully they will have more. The first cd, candles in the rain was great and a definite treasure to add to my growing collection, as with leftover wine, a live album, I was impressed. some singers tend to sound watered down on live albums. However, she is the type that translates well live, and her music is as well performed and enjoyable as any studio cd. Another Welcome addition. Anyone who is a fan of "real music" (not the producer-d…ly-plastic music that seems prevalent today)will definitely enjoy Melanies body of work. Although perceived as a flower child (from what I have read) she's more than just 60's feel-good hippie culture. It is kinda folksy at times and bluesy at others. But no matter the musical mood, it is always well written and beautifully performed. I hope that more people will discover her as I have, because she is definitely a treat. I think I'll need to revisit some of those old record stores and let them know they left out something very very important. Until then I hope to pass along this discovery for anyone else wishing to expand their musical pallette. You won't be disappointed.