The Good Book (album)
This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2022) |
The Good Book | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1971 | |||
Studio | Allegro Sound Studios, New York City | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Label | Buddah | |||
Producer | Peter Schekeryk | |||
Melanie chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | link |
The Good Book is a 1971 album released by Melanie and featuring the Top 40 hit "Nickel Song". The album also features "Birthday of the Sun", a track Melanie originally performed at Woodstock in 1969.
The album was the last 'official' Melanie release from Buddah Records - she left the company to form her own label; however several Buddah albums were later issued featuring 'leftover' material from earlier sessions; in addition to several compilation albums.
Reception
[edit]Cashbox called the album "her best recording to date. Her songwriting reflects a new maturity and vision; each of her new pieces is wonderfully crafted and performed in the inimitable Melanie fashion."[1]
In a mixed review, Allmusic stated that the album "seemed like a case of two steps forward, one step back" however conceding that "it's worth noting there's no such thing as a Melanie album without a bit of emotional excess, and she speaks her heart and mind with clarity and gentle force on these numbers."[2]
Track listing
[edit]All songs written by Melanie Safka except where noted.
- "Good Book"
- "Babe Rainbow"
- "Sign on the Window" (Bob Dylan)
- "The Saddest Thing"
- "Nickel Song"
- "Isn't It a Pity"
- "My Father" (Judy Collins)
- "Chords of Fame" (Phil Ochs)
- "You Can Go Fishin'"
- "Birthday of the Sun"
- "The Prize"
- "Babe Rainbow (Reprise)"
Personnel
[edit]- Melanie - nylon guitar, banjo, vocals
- Vinnie Bell - electric guitar
- Sal DiTroia - classical and steel guitar
- Hugh McCracken - classical guitar
- Eric Weissberg - fiddle
- Joe Mack - bass
- Ron Frangipane - keyboards
- Margie English - banjo
- Buddy Saltzman, George Devens - drums, percussion
- Dave Melaney - accordion
- George March - woodwind
- The Pennywhistlers - backing vocals
- John Abbott, Lee Holdridge, Ron Frangipane - arrangements
Charts
[edit]Album Charts | Peak position |
---|---|
U.S Billboard Charts [3] | 80 |
U.S Cash Box Charts [4] | 45 |
U.K. Album Charts | 9 |
Australian Album Charts | 29 |
Canadian Album Charts | 26 |
Norwegian Album Charts[5] | 20 |
German Album Charts[5] | 29 |
Swedish Album Charts[6] | 17 |
Austrian Album Charts [7] | 6 |
Singles Charts | Title | Peak position |
---|---|---|
U.S Billboard Hot 100 | "Nickel Song" | 35 |
U.S Cash Box Charts | "Nickel Song" | 25 |
U.S Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart | "Nickel Song" | 30 |
Australian Charts | "Nickel Song" | 74 |
Canadian Charts | "Nickel Song" | 27 |
U.S Cash Box Charts | "The Good Book" | 78 |
U.S Record World Charts [8] | "The Good Book" | 60 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Album Reviews: Pop Picks" (PDF). Cash Box. No. 6 February 1971. p. 36. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
- ^ Melanie - The Good Book Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2024-01-30
- ^ "Melanie". Billboard.
- ^ "Cash Box" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. 1971-03-27. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- ^ a b "norwegiancharts.com - Melanie - The Good Book". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ "Melanie - Se alla låtar och listplaceringar". NostalgiListan (in Swedish). Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1971/1971-09-04-Billboard-Page-0034.pdf#search=%22melanie%22 [bare URL]
- ^ "Record World" (PDF). Wordradiohistory.com. 1971-05-10. Retrieved 2023-05-29.