Gather Me is a 1971 album released by Melanie and featuring the US Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart #1 song "Brand New Key" (a novelty hit which also reached the #1 chart position in Canada, New Zealand and Australia between November 1971 and March 1972Brand New Key at Songs from the Year 1972.). The album also features the singles "Some Day I'll Be a Farmer" and the Top 40 hit "Ring the Living Bell". The album was certified Gold in the U.S. and was arranged by Roger Kellaway.
Reception In their review of the album, Billboard called it a "beautiful package... she is at her plaintive best with "Little Bit of Me." The imagery of "Baby Day" explores new depths of awareness."
Cashbox noted that the album was a "lovingly designed quilt of songs" singling out "the assertive "Steppin'," the wistful "Little Bit Of Me" and the spirited "Ring The Living Bell" are among her very best works."
Allmusic stated that the album "is one of her most accomplished and confident albums, a set that allowed Melanie the room to indulge her lyrical obsessions while Schekeryk created superb musical accompaniment from her simple but forceful melodies...Gather Me may well be Melanie's finest album, capturing her at the height of her skills as a writer and singer, and it has stood the test of time better than the majority of her work."
Track listing All songs written by Melanie Safka; except where indicated "Little Bit of Me" "Some Day I'll Be a Farmer" "Steppin'" "Brand New Key" "Ring Around the Moon" "Ring the Living Bell" "Railroad" "Kansas" "Some Say (I Got Devil)" "Center of the Circle" "What Wondrous Love" (Arranged and adapted by Melanie) "Baby Day" "Tell Me Why" (Michael Edwards, Richard Parish, Sigmund Spaeth)
Personnel Melanie – guitar, vocals Sal DiTroia – acoustic and electric guitar Don Payne – Fender electric bass Roger Kellaway – piano, arrangements Buddy Saltzman, Donald MacDonald, Robert J. Gregg – drums Johnny Pacheco – congas Toots Thielemans, Gilbert Chimes, Michael Chimes – harmonica George Marge – woodwind Artie Kaplan – contractor Technical Bruce Staple – engineer Maddy Miller – photography
Charts ChartPeakpositionAustralian Albums Chart9Canadian Albums Chart14UK Albums Chart14US Billboard Albums Chart15 US Cash Box Albums Chart 12Norwegian Albums Chart 25
Singles ChartTitlePeakpositionU.S. Billboard Hot 100"Brand New Key"1Billboard Adult Contemporary"Brand New Key"5US Cash Box Singles"Brand New Key"1UK Singles Chart"Brand New Key"4Australian Chart"Brand New Key"1Canadian Chart"Brand New Key"1US Billboard Hot 100"Ring the Living Bell"31US Cash Box Singles"Ring the Living Bell"21Billboard Adult Contemporary"Ring the Living Bell"18Australian Chart"Ring the Living Bell"74Canadian Chart"Ring the Living Bell"24US Billboard Bubbling Under Chart"Some Day I'll Be a Farmer"106US Cash Box Singles"Some Day I'll Be a Farmer"79US Record World Singles "Some Day I'll Be a Farmer"73Australian Chart"Some Day I'll Be a Farmer"95
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