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CANDLES IN THE RAIN

 

 

SIDE 1

CANDLES IN THE RAIN (1:42)
LAY DOWN (CANDLES IN THE RAIN)*(Note 1) (3:49)
CAROLINA IN MY MIND (3:37)
CITIEST PEOPLE (3:32)
WHAT HAVE THEY DO TO MY SONG MA (4:02)

SIDE 2

ALEXANDER BEETLE (Note 2) (3:02)
THE GOOD GUYS (3:08)
LOVIN' BABY GIRL (4:20)
RUBY TUESDAY (4:31)
LEFTOVER WINE (6:06)

 

*Accompanied by the Edwin Hawkins Singers.

 

US album released April 1970 on Buddah Records BDS 5060

UK album released September 1970 on BUDDAH Records 2318 009

 

Note 1. The US album contained the shorter version of Lay Down while the UK version contained the full version running for nearly 8 minutes.
Note 2. The UK release replaced Alexander Beetle with Close To It All. The track was also dropped on subsequent US releases.

 

Album Produced and directed by Peter Schekeryk

 

Carolina In My Mind, The Good Guys, Lovin’ Baby Girl and Leftover Wine recorded at Wessex Studio, London (Engineer: Robin Thompson, asst: Tony Page). Alan Parker: Lead Guitar, Barry Morgan: Drums, Alan Hackshaw: Organ, Herbie Flower: Bass, Harold McNair: Flute, Melanie: Guitar.


Lay Down (Candles In The Rain) recorded as Catero Sound , San Francisco (Engineer: Fred Catero) Edwin Hawkins: Piano, Ricko Reyes: Conga. Arranged by John Abbot.


Candles In The Rain, Citiest People, What Have They Done To My Song Ma, Ruby Tuesday recorded at Allegro Studios, New York (Engineer: Bruce Staple) Strings on Citest People arranged by Lee Holdridge. Ruby Tuesday arranged by Lee Holdridge. What Have They Done To My Song Ma conducted by John Abbot.

 

All tunes written by Melanie Safka except
Carolina In My Mind written by James Taylor
Alexander Beetle written by A. A. Milne and Melanie Safka
Ruby Tuesday written by Mike Jagger and Keith Richard

Current CD release

 

 

Released 5th February 2007 by Demon Music Group, Demon Edsel EDSD2001

 

Project co-ordination: Val Jennings

CD Package: Jools at Mac Concept

CD Mastering: Peter Rynston at Tall Order

Invaluable Assistance: Caroline Cook, Sonja D’cruze

Album Sleeves: Val Jennings

Sleeve Notes: Alan Robinson

CANDLES IN THE RAIN/LEFTOVER WINE (2CD)

 

Track Listing for CANDLES IN THE RAIN

1. CANDLES IN THE RAIN (1:47)

2. LAY DOWN (Candles In The Rain) (7:40)

3. LOVIN’ BABY GIRL (4:03)

4. CITIEST PEOPLE (3:38)

5. LEFTOVER WINE (6:12)

6. ALEXANDER BEETLE (3:03)

7. THE GOOD GUYS (3:10)

8. CAROLINA IN MY MIND (3:46)

9. RUBY TUESDAY (4:37)

10. WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY SONG, MA? (4:04)

 

Bonus Tracks

11. IN THE HOUR (3:58)

12. EARS TO THE GROUND (1:48)

13. PLEASE LOVE ME (3:29)

14. GETTING OUT (1:18)

15. ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE(3:49

16. DREAM SELLER (Meet Me On The Corner) (3:32)

 

Tracks 11-14 originally released on the soundtrack album All The Right Noises

Tracks 15-16 originally released on the album Sunset and other Beginnings.

 

 

This 2007 release manages to achieve something that, to my knowledge, has not been achieved by any previous release of Candles In The Rain, either on CD or vinyl, as it combines elements from the US and UK versions to produce a definitive edition. Not only do you get Alexander Beetle, which was only included on the US album, but you also get the full recording of Lay Down (Candles In The Rain), which was used on the UK version. On top of that you also get six bonus tracks.

 

The 2CD set combines Candles In The Rain with Melanie’s first live album Leftover Wine. It comes with a 16-page booklet, which includes all elements from the original sleeves, including lyrics and photos as well as newly written extensive sleeve notes.

 

Previous CD Releases

 

The album has been issued on CD a number of times, usually following the format of the US release, either with or without Alexander Beetle. An early CD issue (AXIS/EMI CDAX 701480) actually included several bonus tracks taken from the soundtrack album All The Right Noises. However, probably the best of the rest is the Buddah Collector Classics below.

 

 

CANDLES IN THE RAIN (Buddah Collector’s Classics)

CD released in the US in 1996 on BUDDAH RECORDS/BMG Direct Marketing Inc. 75517 - 49509 2

 

This digitally re-mastered CD followed the original US album format. Therefore, Lay Down (Candles In The Rain) was the shorter version and Alexander Beetle was included. Bonus tracks were,

ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE (Lerner and Lowe)

DREAM SELLER (Rod Clements)

 

COMMENTS

 

The original vinyl version of Candles In The Rain exists in at least three different formats. In the US as a 10 track album (as listed above) and also as a nine track, which excluded Alexander Beetle. US versions also used the edited version of Lay Down (Candles In The Rain) running for just under four minutes.

 

For the UK release in September 1970 (Buddah 2318 009), Alexander Beetle was excluded to be replaced by Close To It All (from Melanie's first album) but the full version of Lay Down (Candles In The Rain) running nearly eight minutes was included.

 

Ruby Tuesday b/w What Have They Done To My Song Ma (Buddah 2011 038) was released as a single in the UK in August 1970 and reached No. 39 in the charts. The first single was Lay Down b/w Animal Crackers (Buddah 2011 013) issued April 1970.

 

The album reached No. 5 in the UK album charts.

 

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