Melanie
Album: Candles In The Rain
Label: Talking Elephant
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.melaniesafka.com/

If it hadn't rained, then The Incredible String Band would have taken the stage, and a legend would not have been born.

Stepping in at the last moment when the scheduled act refused to play in the rain, Melanie Safka performed a short set, (seven songs) and captivated the audience on the first day of the Woodstock festival, although sadly, none of the performance found its way to the DVD.

Inspired by the audience lighting candles, Melanie wrote "Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)", which became her first hit and which was featured on her third album, Candles In The Rain released in 1970.

This CD, by Talking Elephant, is a re-release and is based on the US version of the original album rather than the UK version, which had a slightly different track list.

Some purists may object, but to me this is a good thing, as it features the utterly gorgeous song "Alexander Beetle", which was based on A.A.Milne's poem "Forgiven". Melanie is one of those extremely rare talents, which includes Pink Floyd's Syd Barrett, and possibly Marc Bolan and Donovan, who can write and sing songs convincingly from the point of view of the innocence of childhood.

Melanie has a characteristic tremble in her voice. Somehow, when she sings a song like "Alexander Beetle", the tremble embues her voice with the sound of innocence, but when she belts out a song like "Lovin' Baby Girl" the tremble makes her voice sound rich with wisdom and experience. On "Leftover Wine" she sounds fragile and dangerously close to tears. A really versatile, and unique voice.

As well as having such an amazing voice, Melanie is a brilliant songwriter. Some of her lyrics would hold their own against any poet. I particularly like the lines "To the citiest people in the citiest town" (from "Citiest People") and "I know your mirror'd mornings in rehearsal of your look" (from "Good Guys").

The majority of the songs on the album were written by Melanie (with a little help from A.A. Milne on "Alexander Beetle"), but there are also a couple of covers. I adore the Rolling Stones, and love their version of "Ruby Tuesday", but have to confess that I have always prefered this version by Melanie. When she sings 'goodbye', you can hear the heartbreak in her voice at parting.

There is also a cover version of James Taylor's "Carolina In My Mind". I'm not really that familiar with much of Taylor's work, and hadn't realised until now that this track was a cover, but having now listened to the original I have to say that in Melanie's version you get the sense of homesickness which I really don't think came across when Taylor was singing.

The album also contains two bonus tracks, both of which are covers. Not sure that if it was me that was compiling the list for the bonus tracks that I would include "Almost Like Being In Love" as it features on Melanie's 1975 album "Sunset and Other Beginnings." This is a song that has been covered by almost everyone including Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Cliff Richards, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey and even Woody Allen, but having spent an entire evening listening to just about all of them, I feel qualified to state that Melanie's version is the best (Gene Kelly coming a close second).

The second bonus track is a cover of Lindisfarne's "Meet Me On The Corner", though strangely it is entitled "Dream Seller".

All told, this is a classic album, and deserves to be in everyone's collection. If it isn't in yours, yet, take the opportunity with this re-release.

Pete Bradley