Melanie - Born To Be (1969 US Folk )

Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk (born February 3, 1947 in Astoria, New York City) is an American singer-songwriter.
Usually known professionally as Melanie, she is best known for her hits "Brand New Key," "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)," and "Look What They've Done To My Song, Ma." Melanie has sold over 25 million records over the course of her career

Born to Be is singer Melanie's debut album, released on Buddha Records in 1968.
Following Melanie's success at the Woodstock Festival in 1969 Buddah re-packaged and re-issued the album as My First Album

SIDE 1
1. IN THE HOUR (3:04)2. I'M BACK IN TOWN (2:17)3. BO BO'S PARTY (3:58)4. MR. TAMBOURINE MAN (4:20)5. MOMMA, MOMMA (4:00)

SIDE 2
6. I REALLY LOVED HAROLD (4:05)7. ANIMAL CRACKERS (2:12)8. CHRISTOPHER ROBIN (IS SAYING HIS PRAYERS) (2:35)9. CLOSE TO IT ALL (3:22)10. MERRY CHRISTMAS (2:50)

All songs written by Melanie, except track 4 written by Bob Dylan and track 8 written by A. A. Milne and Melanie

Produced By: Peter Schekeryk

Recorded at Allegro Sound Studios

Engineer: Bruce Staple
US LP released November 1968 on Buddah Records
BDS 5024

Early career(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Melanie grew up in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens in New York City.[1]
She made her first public appearance at the age of four on the radio show Live Like A Millionaire performing the song "Gimme a Little Kiss". She was a student at New York's American Academy of Dramatic Arts when she began singing in the folk clubs of Greenwich Village and signed her first recording contract.
Initially signed to Columbia Records in the United States, Melanie released two singles on the label. Subsequently she signed with Buddah Records and first found chart success in Europe when her 1969 song "Bobo's Party" reached Number 1 in France. Her debut album received rave reviews from Billboard Magazine which heralded her voice as "... wise beyond her years. Her non-conformist approach to the selections on this LP make her a new talent to be reckoned with."
Later in 1969 Melanie had a hit in the Netherlands with "Beautiful People" before performing at the Woodstock Festival. The inspiration for her signature song "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" apparently arose from the Woodstock audience lighting candles during her set. A gospel-boosted genuine one-off, that combined high drama with Melanie's trademark hippie sincerity, the recording became a hit in Europe, Australia and the United States in the spring and summer of 1970. The B-side of the single featured Melanie's spoken-word track "Candles in the Rain". "Lay Down" became Melanie's first Top Ten hit in America, peaking at #6 on the Billboard singles chart, and a worldwide success. Later hits included "Peace Will Come (According To Plan)" and a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Ruby Tuesday". In 1970 Melanie was the only artist to brave the court injunction banning the Powder Ridge Rock Festival, playing for the crowd on a homemade stage powered by Mister Softee trucks. She also performed at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970 where she was introduced by Keith Moon and received four standing ovations.
Melanie was also the artist who sang to herald in the summer solstice at Glastonbury Fayre (later the Glastonbury Festival) in England in June 1971.
After leaving Buddah Records, because they insisted that she produce albums on demand, Melanie formed her own label, Neighborhood Records, in 1971 with her producer-husband Peter Schekeryk.
It was on the Neighborhood label that Melanie had her biggest American hit with the novelty-sounding 1972 number one, "Brand New Key" (also mistakenly known as "The Roller Skate Song"). "Brand New Key" sold over three million copies worldwide and was featured in the 1997 movie Boogie Nights.
When first released, Brand New Key was banned by some radio stations due to the lyrics being interpreted as being sexual innuendo:
"I got a brand new pair of roller skates / You got a brand new key / I think that we should get together and try them out you see / I been looking around awhile / You got something for me / Oh! I got a brand new pair of roller skates / You got a brand new key. / I ride my bike, I roller skate, don't drive no car / Don't go too fast, but I go pretty far / For somebody who don't drive / I been all around the world / Some people say I've done alright for a girl..."

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