Brand New Key is so good. You have never been so wrong. Same with all the replies of everyone trashing that song. It’s epic. It’s a perfect little pop song and always makes me smile.
Next time I see you I’m gonna sing it right in your ear. Really close. I mean really close so you can feel the energy in your neck down to your cold Brand New Key hating heart. I’ll sing it loud and soft. And then you can punch me in the face and I won’t hit back. I’ll turn the other cheek and sing it again. Then I’ll follow it up with Dead Skunk In The Middle Of The Road by Loudo!
And then Hello Muddah Hello Faddah here I am at Camp Granada by the Shermster.
Melanie was lucky to have that hit. It still sounds great. It’s all a part of her story.
I rode my bicycle past your window last night -I roller skated to your door at daylight.
This is poetry Bob. Poetry!
Have some fun for once. Relax. Smoke a J. Eat a brownie.
Dog bless you my friend,
Steve Poltz
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Pete Fornatale and WNEW-FM played Melanie all the time. She was the soundtrack for us free spirit hippie high school kids eating granola. In the summer of my freshman year of college I went to work for Michael Lang's Just Sunshine records which was part of Paramount Records in the tall building at Columbus Circle. Just Sunshine shared a suite of offices with Neighborhood Records (the label owned/run by Melanie's husband Peter-Tony Martell was President of Paramount and his office was across the hallway)-Michael and Peter did not like each other to put it mildly -they hated each other. One morning when I came to work-(Michael and staff did not come in til late afternoon)-Michael had hired a carpenter to build a wall between Neighborhood and Just Sunshine so Michael didn't have to see Peter. Many years later when I was consulting Live Nation in New York I tried to put together concert with Melanie-Richi Havens-John Sebastian and Donovan. Long story and it never happened but I had a meeting with Melanie and her husband Peter and son Beau in Florida. Wild fun meeting -their son had written a classical concerto that was fantastic-Peter was trying to get me to invest in this magic lotion for your body that would "cure all" and had to kept in the freezer. Peter and Melanie were rubbing it all over their arms and faces and then rubbed in on my arms. Never felt a thing. Anyway Melanie agreed to do the concert that never happened and said " I would love to play my music for my people"-she then proceeded to tell my how all her fans and the people who attended Woodstock were her love people. She was a real hippie that believed in the magic of the 60's and the summer of love. The last time I saw Melanie was at BB Kings on 42nd street-she had taken over Mama Cass's body but still sang like an angel!
In high school my wife Nancy loved Melanie and played her music all the time and also played guitar and sang Melanie songs. One of Nancy's fav songs was Alexander Beetle by Melanie-a fairly obscure fun kid like song. If you dont know it check it out-
www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2hK-Ex-J88 Melaine-rest in peace-the above is the same as the below and the below is the same as the above. Eternal peace. Ring the Living Bell!!
Harvey Leeds
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I have some comments about Melanie who we just lost. I'll confess, (like you, Bob), I hated her silly hit, "Brand New Key." However I was a fan of so much of her work -- having discovered her years earlier via a couple of recorded versions of her great "Beautiful People." Also her fine cover of The Rolling Stones' "Ruby Tuesday" as well as originals like "What Have They Done To My Song Ma." Saw Melanie perform several times -- always good -- she had incredible stage presence and was so nice when I met her. Yet, for me, her best was when she was amongst almost every known folkie still alive then (except Dylan) as part of a fantastic 5 hour Felt Forum (NYC) tribute to Phil Ochs in the spring of 1976 shortly after he left us. She excelled that night -- more than just 'holding her own' performing along with the likes of Tim Hardin, Tom Paxton, Joan Baez, Ritchie Havens, Peter Yarrow, Linda Ronstadt, Oscar Brand, Judy Collins, Eric Anderson and a score more! And it was recorded with highlights shown nationally on PBS over the next couple of years (when their 'pledge begging was tolerable). It's now a lost historical gem and no one (not even Phil's bro, famous archivist Michael Ochs) can locate it! This was, perhaps, one of the 3 best concerts I ever saw! And, trust me, I was fortunate to attend well over 1000 shows during my four decades in 'the biz!' Melanie was indeed a star -- so deserving of the praise you and others are giving her!
Ron Farber
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Melanie did play a Garden Party.
It was mine at the Crystal Palace Bowl Garden Party in June 1972.
The artists who played in addition to Melanie were : The Beach Boys, Joe Cocker, Richie Havens and Sha Na Na.
15,000 people attended and it was a great day.
Keith Moon arrived in a Helicopter and after trying to loop the loop finally arrived on stage by Hovercraft! He came to introduce The Beach Boys. Elton John played piano for The Beach Boys.
It was filmed for a special on NBC.
Best
Harvey Goldsmith
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Her husband, Peter came to me after he heard that I helped Motown change the perception of Little Stevie Wonder to Stevie Wonder (the man).
I had a total marketing, graphic design and advertising agency
in the music industry at that time and had just opened a branch
office and studio in LA and brought Tom Wilkes in as a partner!
Peter wanted to get away from the teeny “Brand New Key”image!
We spent a lot of time together Melanie, Tom and myself. I called Tom Zito at The Washington Post and asked him to help us
rebrand her as part of a feature story about Wilkes & Braun.
Then we took her to Joshua Tree and photographed her for the
Stoneground Words album package, which I’d conceived as a
Portfolio for Melanie dressed in soulful, outfits from that period
ala Joanie Mitchell.
She was impressive, genuine and committed to our overall concept
and a delight to know and work with! She was loved by so many!
I’m pleased to see all the comments and stories about her and
the talent she possessed… souvenirs for a lifetime!
All my best,
Craig Braun
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hey Bob.....I worked Melanie's tour press a few years back. she was a joy to work with and larger than life. I'm glad you highlighted "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" as that is my favorite track of hers.
her kids are extremely talented as well, especially Jeordie.....check out this song and her voice, SO good:
open.spotify.com/track/6dI1UBPUUY5XJVrABifcju?si=707f32af0fa7432d Mike Farley
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Wow, Bob -- you put your finger on exactly why I quit loving Melanie -- I Got A Brand New Key. Such a vapid follow up to Candles in the Rain. Even before she passed away, I would occasionally watch her You Tube performance with the Edwin Hawkins singers to feel that sense of discovery again, as you described.
Denise Madden
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Interesting article. Regardless of anything else she ever did, and your opinion of "Brand New Key" is unnecessarily dismissive, "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" is an absolute tour de force. Every time I hear it, I get goosebumps. Her commitment to the song was complete, and her 1970 live performance in the Netherlands demonstrates her willingness to risk it all on stage. What a performance! I wasn't a big fan, but that is a song of songs. I'm sad that she's gone.
Sam Folmar
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Brand New Key was my introduction to Melanie, and I liked it. It WAS still her voice, after all.
David Shilman
Toronto, ON
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As for ‘Brand New Key’, I was almost 14 and loved her ‘Ruby Tuesday’, and read about her at The IOW festival (that I was livid I wasn’t allowed to go to). It was a great pop song. I doubt as many people claiming to hate it, did so back then.
Hope you are well, Bob.
Hugo Burnham
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Melanie played on the first day/night of Woodstock and went on in the rain right after Ravi Shankar. She played from 1:00am to 1:30am..She played in the rain because the Incredible String band who was scheduled to play after Ravi would not play in the rain. After she played Arlo Guthrie and then Joan Baez played. Sly did not play the festival until about 4 am on the Sunday the 17th right before The Who. Melanie was a friend of mine who I saw many times when I lived and played in the village at places like Village Vanguard, Gerdes Folk City, Cafe Wha?, Bitter End, Night Owl during the late 60s before Woodstock.
Al Marks
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Melanie! I saw the headline and thought you had her on your podcast.
I set it aside to read later.. and then saw the responses and realized she'd f*cking died.
How rude of her.
She's forever linked in my memory, to one of my close high school friends.
We went to see her when she played in Winnipeg when we were in high school and there's a silly memory there.
I mean we never saw Joni, but Melanie was this kind of hippy goddess..so, a big deal for us.
I lost track of my friend and about four or five years ago thought it was time to search her out.
The last I heard she was in Vancouver, so I searched her name and Vancouver and came across her memorial page at a funeral home..
She died when she was 57 or 58..
So for me, Melanie is intertwined with Pam and I'm still so sad about it that I haven't been able to write anything on her memorial page although I'd like to.
Your column said it all.. Each death like this is, for me, a reminder of something not just fading, but disappearing.
At least that's how it feels to me these days.. And I don't believe we die, but rather that we transition..
but these days that's not enough comfort.
Karen Gordon
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