Randor's Song of the Week: 03.21.10

"Ring the Living Bell" by Melanie from the album Gather Me. 1971.
    Gather Me happens to be one of my all time favorite albums. I discovered it by chance, but the simple, folksy tunes get beefed up by Melanie's startlingly raw and emotional vocals. It may not be the most beautiful voice, but the piercing ruggedness moves mountains better than most of the "pretty sounding" singers. I was actually planning to feature a different song from the album, "Steppin'", but could only find a stripped-down live acoustic version, which showcases her vocal talent, but lacks the extra instrumentation for emphasis. "Brand New Key," another song from the album, may ring a bell for yourself as it's her biggest hit. I'm obviously fond of all the tracks, but other considerations for the weekly selection were "Baby Day" and "Little Bit of Me," which regretfully I could not find a sample of.
    In my opinion, the slower, more soulful songs she makes have greater effect, but the lighthearted bounce of "Ring the Living Bell" just as equally hits the mark. Starting off with her voices dancing over each other, the track kicks into a steady groove. It occasionally pauses for a line or drum beat, only to shuffle right back in. Each consecutive verse adds flexibility in Melanie's voice while each chorus adds greater instrumentation. Three-and-a-half minutes in, she refrains the intro. As the song glides towards its end, a crescendo of complexity occurs before pulling back to come full circle.
    It's artists like Melanie that make me yearn to have been alive during the 70s. Finding good recordings of her work in this era can be quite difficult, or at the very least pricey. Considering how many albums she's released, it's a shame only a few are sold at places like Amazon. I have only bits and pieces from other albums, but surely would love to come across the obscure records. Gather Me is a gem though, and I encourage an attempt to track it down and listen in full.
    Bonus Points: I found this clip of her appearance on The Johnny Cash Show in 1969. She performs a duet with Cash, contrasting his smooth deepness with her unique raw sound. It's an interesting pairing. I'm not sure if it quite works; it seems Melanie's voice is best suited for solo work.