Melanie — Live At Drury Lane

Honestly, I don’t get too excited about Record Store Day – I’m not a fan of created scarcity and the commercial push to go to a certain place on a certain day or completely miss out (on the popular items, anyway) just doesn’t do it for me. Record stores are my relaxing place – I don’t want crowds and competition.

I get why it’s good for the stores, but I’m really unlikely to race to the store on RSD. I have gone a couple of times at the end of the day, once the dust has cleared, and been happy to find the records I wanted still available.

This was 2020 RSD release of a live show from 1974 that included the Incredible String Band. And as much as I’m not paying attention to the releases, I think MaTones posted this album on social media a day or so later, and I decided that yes I wanted it, so I trekked up to Collegeville and got this. (And for the benefit of future generations: Yes, they held RSD events during the height of the pandemic – in fact, there were several that year, in order to try to help keep stores alive. There was not yet a vaccine, and people mostly wore cloth masks so there was no way I was going when the store was full.)

Glad I did. It’s well-produced (’70s live albums are either great or a bucket of suck; there is no in-between), with great songs, and great contributions from The Incredible String Band. when I’m in the mood for Melanie, this is often my first choice.

It should be noted that this record goes by several names: “Live At Drury Lane,” “Live with The Incredible String Band,” and “An Evening with Melanie.”