Description
The Melodies in Me is the fourth studio album by the American singer and songwriter Honeytree (a.k.a. Nancy Henigbaum), released on Myrrh Records in June 1978, a division of Word. The album was produced and engineered by Al Perkins at United Western Studios in Hollywood and at Location Recording Service in Burbank, California. Arranged and conducted by Jim Stipech. All songs composed by Honeytree, except the introduction to “Melody” – “Theme from Largo” – which is a theme from New World Symphony by Antonin Dvorak.
The Melodies In Me finds Honeytree once again in top form. True, she’s mellowing out and beginning to shed that hippie image a smidgen, but none of that matters when you’ve got a great collection of songs like this. The lyrics also seem more personal this time, some of them being inspired by her parents (to whom the album is dedicated). Melodies is probably her most diverse set, something you’ll notice right from the start with the opening ‘40s-style slow jazz crooner «The Broadmoor Song», complete with swingin’ brass section. In fact the brass-backed «One Sweet Word» is the only track with any real rock edge to speak of. Her love for classical music is evident on the ballad «Melody» which opens with a segment from Dvorak’s «Largo» theme. Smooth velvety soft-jazz grooves turn up on «Making Melody In My Heart», «Bittersweet», «Mirage» and the lovely string-caressed «Diamond In The Rough». In the folky category are the minstrel-like «His Majesty Reigns» and the mandolin-backed «Up To The Mountains». My second favorite Honeytree record, right behind Evergreen. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]
On her previous three studio albums, Honeytree moved successively deeper into the realm of rock. With the exception of one tune, this new album is anything but rock.
Side one opens with a nostalgic forties style tune, replete with muted horns, called «The Broadmoor Song». Then, having gotten us into a nostalgic frame of mind, she carefully fades to a beautiful, even haunting, lullabye. It is classical music (Dvorak, to be precise), and the lyrics explore the wonders of “melodies.” The effect of these two songs together is really interesting. It isn’t until well into the third song that there is any hint that this is a “religious” record.
The “melody” concept occurs in three songs on side one, really giving the album a sense of direction. She even sneaks in her ‘Honeytree‘ theme at the end of side one, a trademark of all her albums. The song in which it is contained expresses the mood of the album rather well: “Bittersweet, that’s my melody; Not quite sad, but not quite happy; that’s the way they come to me.”
The ‘Melodies in Me’ features just about every kind of musical style you can think of, all very capably handled by Honeytree, who proves her versatility with each of these self-penned songs. There’s over 40 minutes of very enjoyable music here, a bonus for veteran Honeytree fans and an appropriate introduction for future fans. [J.S., Contemporary Christian Acts, Vol. 2, No. 6, July 1978]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-melodies-in-me/1168431730)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “The Broadmoor Song” – 4:05
A2. “Theme from Largo”, Symphony #5 (New World Symphony) & “Melody” – 5:22
A3. “Up to the Mountains” – 3:17
A4. “Making Melody in My Heart” – 3:08
A5. “Bittersweet” – 3:56
Side Two
B1. “Thief” – 4:15
B2. “His Majesty Reigns” – 3:43
B3. “Mirage” – 4:58
B4. “One Sweet Word” – 4:50
B5. “Diamond in the Rough” – 4:19
Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Maranatha! Music. Re-issued on CD in 1998, paired with Evergreen.
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