Cyclone should have been a monster hit for Melanie right round the world but sadly wasn't, first track from the Photograph album, for me her best work of which i play often, i just can't get enough of the emotion in her songs, she was born to sing. Thanks Melanie
Melanie was amazing at this time. I went to see her and this band perform live in Fort Myers, FL (Melanie also lived there at the time) in 1977 and they just tore it up. Fantastic concert. Went out and bought the superb double live album "Ballroom Streets" album immediately thereafter. Thanks for posting this proof that Melanie could rock with the best of them! One of the most expressive vocalists of the '60s and '70s. ;-)
On this day in 1977 {February 12th} Melanie performed "Cyclone" on the above episode of the ABC-TV Saturday-afternoon program, 'American Bandstand'... "Cyclone" was track one of side one on her 1976 album, 'Photograph'... And on the same 'Bandstand' episode she also performed "The Nickel Song", it had peaked at #35 in 1972 on Billboard's Top 100 chart... Between 1970 and 1974 the Astoria, Queens, New York native had nine records on the Billboard's Top 100 chart, two made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "Brand New Key", for three weeks in December of 1971... Besides "Brand New Key", her other Top 10 record was "Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)"*, it peaked at #6 for one week in July of 1970... Melanie, born Melanie Anne Safka, celebrated her 74th birthday nine days ago on February 3rd, 2021... * Melanie was accompanied by The Edwin Hawkins Singers on "Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)"...
“Photograph” is one of Melanie’s most obscure and best albums. Atlantic Records did nothing to promote it yet it contained all forms of musical genres...rock, blues, folk and even gospel. It’s a shame it went unnoticed.
Damn she was so much better than anybody else out there doing this genre in the late 70's. She was so talented. My favorite stuff is her soulful bluesy stuff though, but she could obviously do anything she wanted. Love her amazing voice. RIP she will be missed. Wish she would've been in the Rock and Roll hall of fame.
can't believe clark is asking such great questions. if it had been leno, it would have like 'so melanie, u were the first flower child right?' he even noticed the song was not the same version as the album
It wasn't a big hit because Melanie was managed by her dumb dishonest husband Peter, who everyone in the music business disliked. People tried to tell Melanie about him but she wouldn't listen to them. Her career suffered for it. Very sad.
I can only speak for myself, and I’ve been one of the faithful since Woodstock, but I loved it! In fact, that entire LP is brilliant from start to finish!
As an early fan....This was a great song....but I think this was a style that was forced on her and not her style at all....but she did very at adapting to the change... and so did her early fans...
This song from the album, released as a single, was clearly designed to fly up the charts. It's very catchy. I don't know why it didn't. It's probably her best effort, certainly better than Brand New Key. America's taste was changing for sure by '77, but not so much there was no room for a good song like this. When it faded along with the album, so did Melanie and we didn't hear from her very much after that. Very sad. This really was a great album; lots of good songs on it.
John Smith Actually, it’s not lip-synced. If you know the recording from the Photograph LP, you’ll know that this isn’t the same recording at all. It’s similar, but not the same. Compare the two and you’ll see. ☮️💟🕉
John Smith I have that LP, but unfortunately I only have one copy of it. I also have the movie. I even found a copy of the movie R.P.M. that she did the soundtrack for. I’m a long-time collector. We’ll have to talk about our collections sometime. ☮️💟🕉
John Smith I texted her yesterday (she’s in the Netherlands right now) and she said that she didn’t lip-synch anything on American Bandstand. She’s always got a sore throat. I’ve been to concerts where she was popping cough drops like they were M&M’s LOL. she always sounded great, though!
I love this song so much. I had it on an album back in the early 80s. Been thinking a lot about it lately for some reason.
RIP Melanie. One of a kind.
I didn't Melanie rocked like this! She was extraordinary, very underrated and overlooked sad to say.
I love this song and album. If Stevie Nicks got a hold of this tune, it would have gone top 10. Rest in Peace. ❤
This popped up in my feed after 3 years. We just lost Melanie this past January. 😢
Cyclone should have been a monster hit for Melanie right round the world but sadly wasn't, first track from the Photograph album, for me her best work of which i play often, i just can't get enough of the emotion in her songs, she was born to sing. Thanks Melanie
Underappreciated in her lifetime. RIP
WOW!!! Brilliant and Phenomenal singer/songwriter and so loved by all!
Great song, great voice, great band, great production. Love this song first time hearing it.
Dave Dorn on guitar, Jay B. Wolfe and Angelo Mauceri on Percussion and Jim Drennen on Keyboards
Love you Melanie and thanks for the music!
Melanie was amazing at this time. I went to see her and this band perform live in Fort Myers, FL (Melanie also lived there at the time) in 1977 and they just tore it up. Fantastic concert. Went out and bought the superb double live album "Ballroom Streets" album immediately thereafter. Thanks for posting this proof that Melanie could rock with the best of them! One of the most expressive vocalists of the '60s and '70s. ;-)
Incredible Melanie. You are the best.
On this day in 1977 {February 12th} Melanie performed "Cyclone" on the above episode of the ABC-TV Saturday-afternoon program, 'American Bandstand'...
"Cyclone" was track one of side one on her 1976 album, 'Photograph'...
And on the same 'Bandstand' episode she also performed "The Nickel Song", it had peaked at #35 in 1972 on Billboard's Top 100 chart...
Between 1970 and 1974 the Astoria, Queens, New York native had nine records on the Billboard's Top 100 chart, two made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "Brand New Key", for three weeks in December of 1971...
Besides "Brand New Key", her other Top 10 record was "Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)"*, it peaked at #6 for one week in July of 1970...
Melanie, born Melanie Anne Safka, celebrated her 74th birthday nine days ago on February 3rd, 2021...
* Melanie was accompanied by The Edwin Hawkins Singers on "Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)"...
I love Melanie no matter what she does.
Thank you so much, beautiful singer. Godspeed, Melanie.
*Pattie Noah* I am so glad I found your page! THANK YOU just doesn't quite describe my emotions right now.
Thanks for uploading this wonderful performance, Pattie! You're a star... :) xx
she rocks for sure
“Photograph” is one of Melanie’s most obscure and best albums. Atlantic Records did nothing to promote it yet it contained all forms of musical genres...rock, blues, folk and even gospel. It’s a shame it went unnoticed.
Damn she was so much better than anybody else out there doing this genre in the late 70's. She was so talented. My favorite stuff is her soulful bluesy stuff though, but she could obviously do anything she wanted. Love her amazing voice. RIP she will be missed. Wish she would've been in the Rock and Roll hall of fame.
Live baby! Live!
can't believe clark is asking such great questions. if it had been leno, it would have like 'so melanie, u were the first flower child right?' he even noticed the song was not the same version as the album
Yeah, Dick Clark was the best!!
how come this wasn't one of the biggest hits of 77 ?? brilliant track
It wasn't a big hit because Melanie was managed by her dumb dishonest husband Peter, who everyone in the music business disliked. People tried to tell Melanie about him but she wouldn't listen to them. Her career suffered for it. Very sad.
She sounds like Heart. This was her more rocking song, a departure from her acoustic folk vibe. I wonder how her early fans took it?
I can only speak for myself, and I’ve been one of the faithful since Woodstock, but I loved it! In fact, that entire LP is brilliant from start to finish!
I am a long- time fan of Melanie's (since 1971) and I loved everything she did! She's Melanie! Why not?
As an early fan....This was a great song....but I think this was a style that was forced on her and not her style at all....but she did very at adapting to the change... and so did her early fans...
This song from the album, released as a single, was clearly designed to fly up the charts. It's very catchy. I don't know why it didn't. It's probably her best effort, certainly better than Brand New Key. America's taste was changing for sure by '77, but not so much there was no room for a good song like this. When it faded along with the album, so did Melanie and we didn't hear from her very much after that. Very sad. This really was a great album; lots of good songs on it.
She never went away. She just didn’t have much chart activity after that.
And yes, I agree…it’s a great album!👍🏻😊
Fantastic! Would be great if someone could write the names down of those guys who play with Melanie here
Always mystified as to why this wasn't a hit. Even my older brother - who was no Melanie fan - really liked it.
The old sayn " Shes got my nose busted wide open " Love her to bits !
Me too, Barbara. Thanks for the comment :)
let me say this is the top of my acid, quite a while after its official peak
Thanks!
Is this live?
Yes, recorded live...
John Smith Actually, it’s not lip-synced. If you know the recording from the Photograph LP, you’ll know that this isn’t the same recording at all. It’s similar, but not the same. Compare the two and you’ll see. ☮️💟🕉
John Smith I have that LP, but unfortunately I only have one copy of it. I also have the movie. I even found a copy of the movie R.P.M. that she did the soundtrack for. I’m a long-time collector. We’ll have to talk about our collections sometime. ☮️💟🕉
John Smith I tell you what...I’ll text Melanie and ask her about lip-syncing on American Bandstand. Would that help?
John Smith I texted her yesterday (she’s in the Netherlands right now) and she said that she didn’t lip-synch anything on American Bandstand. She’s always got a sore throat. I’ve been to concerts where she was popping cough drops like they were M&M’s LOL. she always sounded great, though!
Yeah, I saw that. It's a different Melanie. I have no idea if I can even remove that crap. It's pissing me off!
Great tune. Haven’t heard it in over 40 years, and I think I only heard it once. Obviously memorable! Dick Clark was a bit of a dork.
Yeah, I always loved this song!
Yeah, but he was a huge fan of Melanie.