Search - Melanie :: Ruby Tuesday

On second thought...

Charles - Music Lover | Phoenix, AZ, USA | 08/18/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I reviewed this album and originally gave it two stars. When I first heard the album (in its original incarnation, "Melanie Recorded Live @ Borders"), I didn't think much of it. Well, the review began to haunt me and I realized that I needed to listen to the album again. And again, and again.



As a result, I've developed a tremendous fondness for the disc. This is Melanie in concert, and it's a real concert recording. There was minimum overdubbing, if any, so the performances are sometimes raw - irresistably so. And Melanie chose to include some of her strongest early songs, ones you don't necessarily hear a lot: "Baby Day," "The Good Book," and "Close To It All." And, of course, there are the hits, too: "Brand New Key," "Peace Will Come," "Look What They Done To My Song, Ma," "Lay Down." The songs are interspersed with great stage patter.



Melanie is joined by her daughters, Leilah and Jeordie (known as "Safka") on background and harmony vocals, and her son Beau Jarred on guitar. The strongest track here is the version of "Lay Down (Candles In the Rain)." What a great song!!!



Thank you, Melanie, again, and again, and again..."