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| The Good Book | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 vinyl album cover (UK edition) | ||||
| Studio album by Melanie | ||||
| Released | 1971 | |||
| Studio | Allegro Sound Studios, New York City | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Label | Buddah | |||
| Producer | Peter Schekeryk | |||
| Melanie chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| 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
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."
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."
Track listing
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
- 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
| Album Charts | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S Billboard Charts | 80 |
| U.S Cash Box Charts | 45 |
| U.K. Album Charts | 9 |
| Australian Album Charts | 29 |
| Canadian Album Charts | 26 |
| Norwegian Album Charts | 20 |
| German Album Charts | 29 |
| Swedish Album Charts | 17 |
| Austrian Album Charts | 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 | "The Good Book" | 60 |
References
- "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.
- ^ "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
- "Record World" (PDF). Wordradiohistory.com. 1971-05-10. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
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