Melanie - Oh Boy / Brand New Key 7" (1978)

In October of 2012 Didier (a French Melanie fan) wrote this entry into his blog:

Between 1978 and 1982, Melanie tried to reach some kind of success using covers of others' songs. There were "Knock On Wood", there will be "Detroit or Buffalo" and here was the classic Buddy Holly "Oh Boy". Honestly, I never found she succeeded in covering rocky songs when she triumphs in making hers ballads or sad songs. 

Here it's a rocker, and even if she sings it really well and with guts, behind, the band is too mainstream to make it a total success. But the interest of this single is the B-side. 
At least the US single (elsewhere it will be backed with one song from Phonogenic, "Running after Love"). 

A re-worked version of her biggest hit "Brand New Key". First you must know that in 1971, she initially wanted to record the song as a sort of Louisiana cajun one and was greatly disappointed to realize that Peter Schekeryk had done of it a much poppy song. 

So, here, it's not a version to fit in the 1978-mood, but the version she had initially in mind. And it's true that it's totally different. Much better in a way, but the song has became such a classic, that it's difficult not to love the version that was a hit. 

It's interesting to post this lost treasure when Melanie re-worked it recently with her son in the  hope that when this song will be used for ads (recently for HP) or in movies, she will win at least some money from it, since she has apparently no right on the hit version. 

So here I add another brand new piece to this puzzle. Sorry for the sound quality. It's a rip from my vinyl and the one I found is rather noisy and scratchy. I did my best to improve things but couldn't do miracles. 

Totally unbelievable not any of the hundreds of Melanie compilations included any one of these songs. The web allows to share them with Melanie's amateurs.

There was no picture sleeve for this US single so I did one.

[Didier 2012]

02 Brand New Key (Swamp Version 1978)

"There are songs stuck in my head where most people have a brain."

WHO IS THIS MARYAM?

Some chick with a keyboard who writes her own songs

But not exactly like any "singer-songwriter" you've ever heard. Punk, funk & other junk rolled into one! 

Influences include: Regina Spektor, Fiona Apple, Tori Amos, Bjork, Melanie, The Clash, No Doubt, Metric, Weezer, They Might be Giants, Bell & Sebastian, The Cure, The Smiths, The Pixies, Fiest  and many more!

More music is available for sale on on I-tunes and Amazon as well as many other on-line distributors. 

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02 Brand New Key (Swamp Version 1978)

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