On January 23, 2024, Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk aka Melanie Safka died aged 76. She was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, one of the Woodstock Festival stars. Her best known songs are “What Have They Done to My Song Ma” and “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)”. Melanie released 28 studio and 13 live albums.
Tag Archives: Melanie
Melanie: Affectionately Melanie
In October 1969, “Buddah” label released “Affectionately Melanie”, second Melanie Safka album. It was recorded in 1969, at “Wessex Studios” in London, and was produced by Peter Schekeryk.
Personnel:
- Melanie – vocals, guitar
- John Cameron – arranger
Track listing:
All tracks by Melanie Safka; except where noted.
- I’m Back in Town
- Tuning My Guitar
- Soul Sister Annie – Thomas Jefferson Kaye; adapted by Melanie
- Any Guy
- Uptown Down
- Again
- Beautiful People
- Johnny Boy
- Baby Guitar
- Deep Down Low
- For My Father
- Take Me Home
Freddie Redd Quintet: Shades of Redd
In May 1961, “Blue Note” label released “Shades of Redd”, the fifth Freddie Redd album. It was recorded in August 1960, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, and was produced by Alfred Lion.
Personnel:
- Freddie Redd– piano
- Jackie McLean- alto saxophone
- Tina Brooks- tenor saxophone
- Paul Chambers- bass
- Louis Hayes- drums
Track listing:
All tracks by Freddie Redd
- The Thespian
- Blues, Blues, Blues
- Shadows
- Melanie
- Swift
- Just a Ballad for My Baby
- Olé
Melanie: Born To Be
In November 1968, “Buddah” label released “Born to Be”, the debut Melanie album. It was recorded in 1968, at “Allegro Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Peter Schekeryk.
Personnel:
- Melanie – guitar, vocals
- Roger Kellaway– arrangements
- Bruce Staple – engineer
- Mozelle Thompson – illustrations, design
- Artie Ripp- director
Track listing:
All tracks by Melanie Safka except where noted.
- In the Hour
- I’m Back in Town
- Bobo’s Party
- Tambourine Man – Bob Dylan
- Momma, Momma
- I Really Loved Harold
- Animal Crackers
- Christopher RobinIs Saying His Prayers
- Close to It All
- Merry Christmas
Melanie: Gather Me
In October 1971, “Neighborhood” label released “Gather Me”, the eight Melanie album. It was recorded in 1971, at “Allegro Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Peter Schekeryk.
Personnel:
- Melanie – vocals, guitar
- Sal DiTroica – acoustic and electric guitar
- Roger Kellaway- piano, arrangements
- Toots Thielemans, Gilbert Chimes, Michael Chimes – harmonica
- Don Payne- bass
- Buddy Saltzman, Donald MacDonald, Robert J. Gregg – drums
- Johnny Pacheco – congas
- George Marge – woodwind
- Artie Kaplan– contractor
- Bruce Staple – engineer
- Maddy Miller – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Melanie Safka; except where noted
- Little Bit of Me
- Some Day I’ll Be a Farmer
- Steppin’
- Brand New Key
- Ring Around the Moon
- Ring the Living Bell
- Railroad
- Kansas
- Some Say (I Got Devil)
- Center of the Circle
- What Wondrous Love – arranged and adapted by Melanie
- Baby Day
- Tell Me Why – Michael Edwards, Richard Parish, Sigmund Spaeth
Tegan And Sara: If It Was You
On August 20, 2002, “Vapor” label released “If It Was You”, the third Tegan and Sara studio album. It was recorded in 2002, and was produced by John Collins and David Carswell.
Personnel:
- Tegan Quin– main performer, photography
- Sara Quin– main performer, album design and layout
- Gabe Cipes – bass guitar
- Rob Chursinoff – drums, percussion
- David Carswell – multi instruments, mixing, engineer
- Michael Ledwidge – organ, keyboards, slide guitar
- Ezra Cipes – banjo
- John Collins– multi instruments, engineer, mixing
- Sheldon Zaharko – engineer
- Pascal Leclair – engineer assistant
- Steve Hall – mastering
- Demoe – design, layout
- Kaare Andrews– cover photography
- Melanie – photography
Track listing:
- Time Running
- You Went Away
- Monday Monday Monday
- City Girl
- Not Tonight
- Underwater
- I hear Noises
- Living Room
- Terrible Storm
- And Darling (This Thing That Breaks My Heart)
- Want to Be Bad
- Don’t Confess
Melanie: Candles in the Rain
In April 1970, “Buddah” label released “Candles in the Rain”, the third Melanie album. It was recorded in 1970, and was produced by Peter Schekeryk.
Personnel:
- Melanie – vocals, guitars
- Alan Parker- guitars
- Alan Hawkshaw- keyboards, organ
- Edwin Hawkins- keyboards, piano
- Harold McNair- fiddle, flute
- Herbie Flowers- bass
- Barry Morgan- drums
- Rico Reyes – congas, percussion
- John Abbott, Lee Holdridge- arrangements
Track listing:
All tracks by Melanie Safka except where noted.
- Candles in the Rain
- Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)
- Carolina in My Mind – James Taylor
- Citiest People
- What Have They Done to My Song Ma
- Alexander Beetle – Melanie Safka, A. Milne
- The Good Guys
- Lovin’ Baby Girl
- Ruby Tuesday – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
- Leftover Wine
Woodstock Festival
On August 15, 1969, Woodstock Festival started on Max Yasgur’s 600 acre farm in Bethel outside New York. The three day festival was attended by more then 400,000 people. Some of the festival performers were Jimi Hendrix, Richie Havens, Joe Cocker, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Santana, The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Band, Canned Heat, Joan Baez, Melanie, Ten Years After, Sly and the Family Stone, Johnny Winter, Jefferson Airplane, Ravi Shankar, Country Joe and the Fish, Blood Sweat and Tears, Arlo Guthrie and Joe Cocker.
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