Melanie Safka dead at 76 sang 'Brand New Key' & 'Lay Down'

[halbroome]

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/melanie-singer-performed-woodstock-topped-205756565.html

 

[halbroome]

Apparently she was working on a cover album . . . perhaps it will get released.

 

[GOS]

Aw, that's too bad.

 

[4-earredwonder]

Loved, LOVED Melanie and her perky upbeat style. May you rest in peace, Melanie and continue your musical journey as one with the Universe

 

[Doug G.]

Very sad. I remember when the "serious" music world castigated her for doing "Brand New Key" and I hated them for that. A bunch of phonies.

RIP

Doug

 

[Petr Kropotkin]

Ah, very sad news. She was quite popular in the early 70s in Oz (especially with her version of "Ruby Tuesday"), had pretty much forgotten about her after those days until I saw her (in fine form too) at the Edmonton Folk Festival in 2010 for the first time (also with Van Morrison).

Vale, Melanie.

 

[bktouchstone]

Brand New Key was the sound track of a camping trip when it was riding high in Buffalo courtesy of WKBW. Great memories, may she rest in peace.

 

[hafquark]

Terribly sad. Melanie was often the target of sneery criticism in the sixties/early seventies, but to me she was simply a believer in the virtues of peace, love, and tolerance -- the original tenets of hippiedom.

RIP Melanie Safka.

 

[quicksrt]

Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) was a major late 60's anthem. It had the Edwin Hawkins Singers ("Oh Happy Day") backing. A more series tone in this track. But I loved "Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma" as well. I hope she made some decent money off of the three or four hits she had.

 

[Bill B]

Sorry to hear that. “Brand New Key” is a song I remember from my childhood. I still enjoy it whenever I hear it.

 

[LuvMyQuad]

Brand New Key was the sound track of a camping trip when it was riding high in Buffalo courtesy of WKBW. Great memories, may she rest in peace.

WKBW.... There's a blast from the past. When AM radio was king.

 

[Mesozoic Mike]

Brand New Key reminds me of my college days, Another part of my youth gone. RIP Melanie.

 

[bktouchstone]

WKBW.... There's a blast from the past. When AM radio was king.

Grew up there, it was a 50k watt ”clear” station, which I think meant there was no other station competing on that frequency. I heard that on some nights, the signal could bounce all the way to Chicago. That’s probably why AM sounded so bad at night with all those signals bouncing around!

 

[winopener]

Wow... very fond memories blasting Lay Down on my slot-45rpm-player... RIP

 

[DuncanS]

Very sad. As a student Melanie LPs were the ones we would listen to in the early hours.

 

[GOS]

I don't own any Melanie records, but I need to change that.

 

[par4ken]

Very sad. I remember when the "serious" music world castigated her for doing "Brand New Key" and I hated them for that. A bunch of phonies.

RIP

Doug

I actually hated that song! I don't mind it now that it's not played everyday on the radio. I think that song caused people to think less seriously of her music, sort of type casting her. Incredible when you think of all the great hits that preceded it. And a lot of great stuff afterwards.

I used to heavily play the compilation album "Four Sides Of Melanie". Side four were live recordings that sounded great via the DynaQuad speaker configuration. Her voice sort of echoed in the back speakers, fantastic hall ambiance!

I remember having the photos/posters from "Stoneground Words" on my wall.

 

[DuncanS]

I remember having the photos/posters from "Stoneground Words" on my wall.

I've still got mine with the LP

 

[JohnN]

RIP - saw her at Maple Leaf Gardens 1970s and I can't find the listing. Can't remember the date.

 

[Quad Linda]

Just finished spinning a 7 1/2 ips reel of Candles in the Rain album.

Will be moving on to 2 LP best of and Rhino best of CD.

RIP