Affectionately...

Original Released on LP Buddah BDS 5041 
(US 1969, November 15)

The US release of this album was simple called "Melanie" and was released in 1969 on the Buddah Records label (BDS 5041). For the UK it was re-named "Affectionately Melanie" (Buddah 203 028) and was also re-packaged. While the US issue came in a gatefold sleeve that opened up to reveal the lyrics, the UK issue came in a single sleeve with separate lyric sheet. The UK album also contained Melanie's message to the buyer in hand written form instead of typed as on the rear of US cover. There were no hits off Melanie's second release, but it did spawn a handful of concert favorites, among them "Any Guy" and "Uptown Down," both chirpy pop songs with lusher, more commercial arrangements than anything on "Born to Be". "Beautiful People" was the first indication of Melanie's flower child leanings and became one of her standards. "Tuning My Guitar" is the most affecting moment: even though its whiny "troubled artist" lyric is grotesquely self-indulgent, the song ends in an astonishing display of vocal pyrotechnics that is hard to forget. "Affectionately" is a more palatable and disciplined work than the debut; there are no hair-raising children's songs or attempts to be all things to everyone. (Charles Donovan, All Music Guide)