Melanie - Madrugada (2023 Remaster) (1974/2024)

By 1974, Melanie had shed the worst of her vocal excesses (along with half her audience, unfortunately). Madrugada explored a few new musical ideas. "The Actress" found Melanie striding boldly into high-flown, fretful autobiography with some success. Her attempt at the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses," a frantic orchestral arrangement, is richer for some deft chord progressions not found on the original. As a performer, she was displaying more skill and restraint than ever before. As a songwriter, there were signs that her gifts were on the wane; Madrugada was half covers (including Randy Newman and Goffin & King), and some of the originals, particularly the wispy "Pine and Feather," seemed mere exercises in quaintness. But everything was immaculately produced (by husband Peter Schekeryk) – the glossy, professional mix of rock with a large string section was clearly safe territory for Melanie. And nothing on Madrugada is anything less than pleasant.

Review by Charles Donovan

Tracklist
[4:36] 1. Melanie - Love to Lose Again
[5:04] 2. Melanie - Lovers Cross
[6:41] 3. Melanie - Wild Horses
[4:41] 4. Melanie - Holding Out
[2:56] 5. Melanie - I Think It’s Going To Rain Today
[2:48] 6. Melanie - Maybe Not For A Lifetime
[3:41] 7. Melanie - Pretty Boy Floyd
[3:15] 8. Melanie - I am Being Guided
[6:00] 9. Melanie - The Actress
[2:15] 10. Melanie - Pine and Feather