No Melaine Safka RIP?

[tr4252]

I remember her well; she was really popular during the flower people era. I liked her voice and many of the songs she wrote. I think I heard her at Woodstock, but not sure.

The line "My analyst assured me that I really was inferior" from the song Psychotherapy always made me laugh.

Rest in peace.

Tom

 

[P. Aaron]

She had great moments on radio just prior to the switch to FM. Few people had multiple hits, even on AM.

Melanie added to the mix in her own way. You heard her & you knew it.

 

[Ostie]

I don’t see it as a novelty song. I view it as playful, child p-like, but with an adult theme. She was a serious singer. The body of her work was serious. I see novelty songs as being done by comedians who are purposefully going for a laugh, like Ray Stevens, Spike Jones, or Dave Seville. And even Ray Stevens made a serious effort on “Everything is Beautiful”.

 

[5StringBlues]

Lay Down, great bass part.

 

[Inverstone]

Yes. She was at the original (REAL) Woodstock Festival. I saw here there and the fest. was my very lst rock concert! (I was a Classical/Folk nerd prior). One of my H.S. friends was in direct competition with Melanie for a recording contract but Melanie got it.
"Lay Down" still holds up very well and is up there with the Edwin Hawkins Singers, etc. for rousing gospel-y quality.
Like many, she probably would've been able to sustain a more mainstream career if radio formats and corporate radio hadn't killed off great FM radio.
She has toured consistently up 'til the present and was recording a CD of cover tunes when the passed. The roller skating "key" song never turned me on, but "Lay Down/Candles" is worth seeking out if you've never heard it.

 

[GretschWretch]

I don’t see it as a novelty song. I view it as playful, child p-like, but with an adult theme. She was a serious singer. The body of her work was serious. I see novelty songs as being done by comedians who are purposefully going for a laugh, like Ray Stevens, Spike Jones, or Dave Seville. And even Ray Stevens made a serious effort on “Everything is Beautiful”.

Don't forget Ray's "Take Care of Business, Mr. Businessman" when it comes to serious. And don't dis Spike at all. Do you have any idea how much musical talent it takes to play this badly, this well?

 

[Michedelic]

Yes. She was at the original (REAL) Woodstock Festival. I saw here there and the fest. was my very lst rock concert! (I was a Classical/Folk nerd prior). One of my H.S. friends was in direct competition with Melanie for a recording contract but Melanie got it.
"Lay Down" still holds up very well and is up there with the Edwin Hawkins Singers, etc. for rousing gospel-y quality.
Like many, she probably would've been able to sustain a more mainstream career if radio formats and corporate radio hadn't killed off great FM radio.
She has toured consistently up 'til the present and was recording a CD of cover tunes when the passed. The roller skating "key" song never turned me on, but "Lay Down/Candles" is worth seeking out if you've never heard it.

“Lay Down” and “Brand New Key” were big AM hits; the only song of hers that my local hippie underground FM station ever played was her take on “Ruby Tuesday”. I remember that distinctly as it stood out because they never played her stuff otherwise.
As for the change in FM programming, you can thank Richard Nixon and a guy named Lee Abrahms for that.

 

[GretschWretch]

Wow! I just Googled her, including the Wikipedia article. There was a lot more to this lady than just a few am radio hits. Respect.