Candles in the Rain by Melanie (Vinyl record album review)

Album name: Candles in the Rain

Artist name: Melanie

Year: 1970

Number of discs: one

Label: Buddha Records

Collection: Brenner / Gessner

Buy it on Amazon: $14.98

My review

Level of familiarity before listening

I wasn’t sure that I’d ever heard of “Melanie” so I looked her up, and she’s the artist who was responsible for the song Brand New Key, which you have heard, and which you will never hear the same way again after listening to the Wurzels’ version. I’ve never listened to this record or any of Melanie’s records.

What I expected

Folk.

What it was actually like

It was folky, but also folk rock, and rock. Lovin’ Baby Girl was good and that was more of a rock song with some funk elements. What Have They Done to My Song Ma wasn’t terrible, but it was Oompa-Loompa music, so I didn’t listen that closely.

I started off hating Melanie’s cover of Ruby Tuesday, then in the middle I started liking it a lot more, and then by the end, I thought it was ok.

Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) is the record’s outstanding song, but mainly because of the incredible gospel-style chorus that’s extremely distinctive.

Grade

4/5: would listen again