I remember sound recording this documentary of Melanie way back in the late 60’s. Especially remember recording her in a rowing boat on the serpentine in Hyde Park, London. Her voice really did carry across the lake and so many people were able to enjoy a beautiful voice from a lovely lady. Phil Smith
The sound quality of her performances outside the studio is remarkably clear, and the guitar-vocal mix seems pretty close to perfect. I'm not an engineer, so I don't know all the ins and outs of this kind of production, but I'm guessing that it was a little more elaborate a set-up than it looks to have been.
She is a musical genius... and is still performing today ....she has written hundreds of songs and remains in the hearts of her fans for over 45 five years....some people are absolutely unforgettable
Over 45 years? Well, technically accurate but she has been active since 1967 and appeared at Woodstock in 1969 (one of the three women who performed solo at the festival).
Her voice runs through my veins, her songs touch my soul, and her beauty makes me sigh. I can't believe it has been over 50 years, but what a wonderful journey.
I’ve wanted to know more about Melanie after finding some of her records, so glad I found this documentary! I love how sweet she is, and yet bold in her songs .
Melanie never signed up or sold out ! We have followed you since we were all kids, come to your concerts, buy your music , get lucky and get big hug squueezes from you ! You are our queen. We the people award you: Rock Goddess!
I remember as a kid in the 1980s, my Dad used to play your records really loud on a Saturday morning, those were some care free times. To this day I play your records loudly on a Saturday morning in the 2020s... what a voice!
This is the young, angelic lady who captured my heart and soul way back in the 1970's when I first heard "Beautiful People," and had held me a captive fan of her music ever since! Melanie's fresh innocence is here, transporting the listener back to a sweeter time, when her beauty and her plaintive voice in song made us believe in her, heart and soul. Today,, the lady is a legend! She deserves the most utmost recognition in the 'Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!"
I have felt revived hearing this music from my youth. I lived and breathed on it !!!! Now that it's back I can't wait to hear more! My albums were lost long ago,,,I was heart broken,,,,,,so now I'm learning to use cell phone Media....Thank goodness for that! Melanie was and still is my go to for inspiration...
It seems like my life flew by. It seems like it was just yesterday when it was 1970. It was such a better time back then. Watching this makes me feel better
First heard Melanie over the speakers at Mothers club in Erdington Birmingham whilst waiting to see Fairfield Parlour, then in1970 at the Isle of Wight pop festival, where she was brought up on the stage by Keith Moon. She stopped singing part way through her act and told us all to turn around, the sun was just rising as a huge red ball, it was a magical moment etched into my memory. Thank you Melanie for making All the right Noises. X💓 .
Thank you for sharing this personal experience … those of us coming full circle with the sweeter days of our lives in the 70’s … the sound of Melanie’s epic voice reflecting that period of time those dreams
She was a beautiful human being and I have listened to her music since my youth. She is part of my DNA and has been a blessing to me. I just hope she has gone to a better place. I am not far behind her.
What a beautiful and unique woman. Simple, humble, and that special voice. Her eyes and smile are out of this world. She was and still very underrated.
Hi. I won a tape of your songs when i graduated. It was in 1981 . I never forgotten this Nice voice. It was in algeria. Now i am living in France but still listening to the same songs. Same pleasure.
It's interesting watching this documentary how her accent goes from British to American and back, rest in peace Melanie one of the most beautiful versions of Ruby Tuesday ever recorded
Yes, the accent switching is a bit unsettling and a bit bizarre. She seems to have a lovely personality, though, from what I could gather from the various interviews with her that are out there.
When the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame nominations were announced last week and again, Melanie was overlooked while Dionne Warwick(who played Sun City at the of height of Apartheid) and country music legend Dolly Parton were on the short list I felt almost sickened. Melanie should have been inducted decades ago. It's an injustice that needs to be corrected.
danielrdrown1 the common belief is she has a legion of cult followers but is disdained by the majority, meaning she is not popular and never was. Her music is just not mainstream enough, no matter how good and brilliant. She is always thought of as the one hit wonder Brand New Key girl. Let them remain ignorant and musically stunted I say. When she does produce a great modern sounding album it gets no promotion or airplay. I should add that the best things in life are not the most popular or appreciated oddly enough, that includes music and truth.
They all are excellent in each of their own ways. Melanie is one fantastic folk artist and she unknowingly got me through a year of culture shock with one oh her albums. Although her best piece of film was when she was somewhere on stone steps and explaining how and why she wrote her epic piece. As she explained, her entire body seemed to transform to another level. I saved it, and lost it when my old computer died It was the most beautiful telling of a song that I have ever heard.
Well I'm here to fix that. Melanie is absolutely my favourite artist of all time. Her songs speak to my soul. I can't go a day without listening to her. I'm a singersongwriter, you can watch my covers and I'll be promoting her to everyone I meet as I have ever since I found her.
"Melanie" is a by word for truth, honesty, feelings, and more emotion than you could poke a stick at. She was the best back in 69 and in 2020 still is, a true music legend. Just wish todays youngsters would try to be that good, come on girls give it a go.
Why hasn,t someone made a Movie about this Incredible singer yet!?? It boggles the mind!!! Melanie is a Legend and a musical Icon!!! What a Voice!! I could listen to her all day long! And she's from my hometown; NEW YORK CITY!!!! Nuff said!!!😎
Oh how I miss her so much. I was just a little boy during Woodstock of 1969, but I sure loved her and the other Woodstock performers. Thank you for sharing. Beautiful Memories.
Sad thing is, my agent and I are taking a TV series out to production companies in February and I wanted to use a clip from Melanie's song 'Hearing The News' at the end of one episode. Now she'll never know.
oh melanie, i wish i could tear down my walls so i could sing and play and live my dreams freely like you have done. the music created by the good guys seems to be little and far between now. thank you for sharing your music with us my mom grace and my sister cindy and cousin bonnie and I got to see you in oxford ny at the night eagle cafe about 10 years ago or so. you had your beautul son playing by your side you were still as beautiful as ever before. i wish for more times like those. god bless you and your family!
So adorable! I love how she cops a slight British accent from her short time there. Her voice is so amazing. Even the recordings on the fly - in a park, in an office - she sounds absolutely incredible.
@@sarahmega-hertz it's both at different times. there is a lot of ny accent in her singing on words like "for" that adds to the charm, for this southerner. i can watch videos of brooklyn gangsters and think how could people with such cute accents hurt anybody...
Melanie still takes me away with her passion and voice like no other female 52 years later. If I could only choose one singer/ musician/songwriter as my only music to listen to even in my dying days, it would be Melanie even with my love of 70s Rock and heavy metal select groups. Still waters run deep.....✌🏼☮️🎵
The studio version of Beautiful People is still my favorite version of that song, it is timeless. Oh how I miss those earlier days of Melanie's music, the world seemed to be almost perfect then. At least my world did lol. She is one of God's most beautiful creations and will always have a special place in my heart. Seeing her in concert was a dream come true for me, getting to hug her was nothing short of awesome. Love you Melanie, I always will : )
I couldn't help-as she was singing "Tuning My Guitar"-to think about how at this time in her life she was yet to appear on Tonight with Johnny Carson and Mike Douglas and other network shows, seen by millions upon millions. What a trip it had to be for her.
What amazes me the most about Melanie that really hit me hard watching this isthis- yes she is beautiful inside and out yes she has a rare talent and amazing unique voice but there is so much more... the real gift underneath it all is that she has a powerful message that goes beyond the 60s- it is timeless - embrace the good and the bad-be open- be vulnerable-She was and is uncompromising in her integrity .She was and is her authentic self . So rare in the world in general and especially in the music business. And not only that- SHE LIVED TO TELL . Shes still very much alive -still writing-still recording preforming and singing as she vowed to do. She is proof that the real "badasses" are those who dare to be vulnerable and still survive,
I always got annoyed that a lot of people never mentioned Melanie's amazing beauty; it seemed almost like that should not be mentioned or something, but that flawless face only complimented her songs and singing...
I have loved Melanie and her music and songs from day one from "way back when"...they rarely played her music on "pop radio" then but late at night I listened to an "Underground FM" radio station with Eliot Mintz and he played Melanie, Laura Nyro, (also one of my all time fave musicians) Velvet Underground,etc.. I bought every single new album of Melanie's that came out year after year. I have so many of her albums they are old records but still playable and I shall cherish those albums forever. She has the most powerful, strong, unique and yet often "innocent" voice. Her vocal range is incredible and like you I have kept up with her as our lives go on. She lost her husband (Peter Schecyrack- spelling sorry?) the dark haired young man seen walking with Melanie in this video in the streets of London. I never tire of listening to all her songs. A true lover of peace and love and learning to understand one another and be there for each other in this crazy chaotic world of ours!
@@Brsbeach Well it's far better that way than the all too common "just a pretty face" approach many people have, where it's all about looks and nothing else matters much.
I first heard Melanie sing when my father brought home her Candles in the Rain album when I was 9. I played that album over and over. I've loved Melanie ever since. Such a beautiful voice, profound lyrics. I had the extreme good luck of attending a private Christmas party in the early 00's where she performed. Truly magical!!!
Melanie that was all she needed was her first name back in my day -- dad bought the album that I've got a brand new pair of roller skates and I fell in love with Melanie ever since - she is so genuine and a flower child from my youth. I was a young hippie who wanted to be a flower child (lol). The 60s and/or 70s will never be forgotten.
Beautiful! You had so many different genres of music: Folk, gospel, rock, country. All performed with exquisite originality and intelligence. Hope all is well with you!
My daughter's boy friend was playing Ruby Tuesday by the Stones the other day. I pulled up Melanie's version, which he loved. It seems strange that many young people are be re-introduced to the music I grew up with. I first heard Melanie in high school after Woodstock and was impacted in such a positive way. I don't know why but it seems that whenever I listen to many of her songs it brings tears to my eyes and touches my heart. I am not sure which is my favorite Melanie song, probably Left Over Wine.
I was about 10 hearing Ring the Living Bell on the Radio directly after my older Brother played James Taylor's Sweet Baby James Album for me for the 1st time and I was in this Artistic Divine sensory overload, loving both from that day on.😊I'll never forget that day actually.
I was infatuated with her since seeing her at Woodstock. Saw her shows as often as she played NYC. The Fillmore East and Felt Forum. Sadly, she can no longer sing. She lost her voice through some kind of ailment. A life long performer, her gift finally gone. I was young at the right time, the golden era of music. My love of rock had room for great artists like Melanie, Joni Mitchell, Linda Rondstat, Joan Baez. All my love, Melanie. Your beauty still shines.
Melanies voice touched my soul. i heard her first time in school, in an english lesson, in the 70th in Berlin, when the teacher played her song Alexander beatle, and we had to translate the text into german. I specially love her early songs, like In the hour or Jonny boy or Mama mama... i am so sad that she died. i am 62 now. And knowing that she died makes me feel llike losing an important part of my life and makes me feel lonley...
Such a powerful voice. Just awesome. I still remember when I saw "Cyclone" live on TV and thought "Who is she?". I just fell in love with her voice. Thank you Melanie.
What an absolute delight - glad to find you on here Melanie, hope all's well with you and yours, and thanks for the many, many hours of pleasure your music has brought me through the years.
You sound engagingly like an English girl who has spent time in America, rather than the other way around. I was just 6 years old when this was filmed. I wish I could get a time machine and watch this being filmed as an adult. :) Wonderful artistry, wonderful voice. Thank you.
I recall someone said she was in the Big Pink house of Bob Dylan before Woodstock 1969 and was heard singing Mr Tambourine Man in the basement and somehow I heard a tape of that and to this day that song and the way she sang it to me is the most beautiful song I never heard played. Then I “think” I saw her sing at the Isle of White concert in 1970, and she was just as wonderful. So glad to hear these other songs.
I've been a great fan of Melanie since the late sixties. I still have some of her long-playing recordings. She is a good songwritter and has that unique style of singing her own compositions which she does so well and beautifully. "Beautiful People" brings such beautiful memories. Nowdays it makes me reflect on life at this moment that we have a nitwit, moran in The White House.
You were a beautiful young woman and artist. Such a quintessential innocent hippie chick (sorry, I'm a guy), but with a voice that was so enchanting it was impossible not to listen to you. This is an interesting chronicle of your early career. Thank you for sharing it with us.
This is only the second time I heard this song since that first night at woodstock and 3 rows away from the stage I have often wondered how she was able to play in front of over a hundred thousand people that nite.
Thank you Bill Dudas for bringing much more of Melanie's music to me. PDQ Records had a whole bin of just her Vinyl before they closed at the end of 2019.
