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This release on the Trapeze label follows our strategy of unearthing gems from the post-Beatles decades which have not had the wide distribution and attention they deserve on CD. The artist in question released two albums during the late ‘70s under two different names. When Melanie Harrold was an aspiring folk singer and songwriter in the early part of the decade, she was advised to change her name to avoid confusion with Melanie Safka, who was enjoying success with the likes of “Brand New Key”. So the persona of Joanna Carlin was born. She released her first album “Fancy” under that name, produced by Hugh Murphy, who was around the same time also producing the landmark “City To City” album with Gerry Rafferty. The album made some noise in the market, though maybe overshadowed by the launch of Kate Bush. Melanie decided to revert to her own name for her second release “Blue Angel”, also produced by Hugh Murphy, and featuring many of the same great musicians from the first album and the “City To City sessions, including Tommy Eyre (keyboards), Gary Taylor (bass), Dave Mattacks, Henry Spinetti, Liam Genockey (drums), Micky Moody, Jerry Donahue, Julian Littman (guitar), Pete Zorn (sax) and others. The two albums trace a fascinating musical progression from Melanie’s roots to fully fledged electric folk/rock, a not always comfortable journey which Melanie relates in the extensive notes which she wrote for the booklet, which also includes many fascinating photos from the era. Melanie went on to become the popular singer Irma Cetas in the Hank Wangford Band. We know there is considerable demand for this long overdue anthology, which encompasses all Melanie’s commercial recordings during the ‘70s
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