We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…..
In late 1972 Melanie was coming off a big year. The album “Gather Me”, released in late 1971 had produced the novelty #1 smash “Brand New Key” and another Top 40 hit, “Ring The Living Bell. Her old record company, Buddah, had also released an older recording of the ‘The Nickel Song” which gave the veteran of Woodstock three singles in the Top 40 at the same time. Some of her tunes were also hits for The New Seekers.
She was awarded Billboard Magazine’s Top Female Vocalist Award for 1972. She gave up a tour that year to become a UNICEF Ambassador and raised money for the organization
But things would never be as good.
The hits might have disappeared, but in late 1972 Melanie released the album “Stoneground Words”. It’s not flashy but it’s a solid addition to the singer-songwriter genre.
Backed by some quality cats like Sal DiTroia, Hugh McCracken, Bill Keith and Richard Davis, the set delivers a group of mellow tunes sung with her unmistakable vibrato.
She covers Pete Seeger’s “Rainbow Race” and adapts “Song of The South” for an original take. Some of my faves on the record include “Do You Believe”, “I Am Not A Poet” and the lovely track “Here I Am” which finishes the record. With Roger Kellaway’s piano noodling in the background, her weary voice sounds like a NYC barroom at 3am.
The critics liked it with one calling it “a mature, intelligent and ambitious, underheard classic”
You didn’t hear these songs on the radio…maybe you’re hearing them for the first time.
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