Ellen, Melissa - Forward Into The Past

Year of Release: 2003
Label: Amatones Music
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 40:20:00

Melissa Ellen moves Forward Into The Past on her twelve-track tribute to a lifetime of inspirations to create music. At first glance of this CD, I was a bit put off, an entire album of covers?what is so unique about that? Well as it turns out this recording is very different, in fact, it is one of the most satisfying groups of well-known pop-rock covers I have ever heard. I have heard a few mind you, so that is saying something.

I found the cover interesting in that the capital M and E are very prominent in both size and color spelling her name, giving the hint that all of these songs are a clue to who Melissa Ellen is and when she grew up. Each of the songs was popular when I was growing up so I had an immediate identification happening as "Dust In The Wind" began, one of my favorite tracks, along with "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" and "I Can't Stand The Rain." Upon first listen, I could not see the correlation between the covers and the original songs; nothing sounded even remotely the same to the originals, at least I thought so initially. I gave it another spin, and then it all began to come together for me just like a puzzle. It is not that easy to hear similarities when an artist does a celebrated song so entirely different from the originally intended version.

It was not just the familiarity of the songs that endeared me to this CD?it was the incredible voice of the woman singing them. Ellen puts her own flair and touch into each tune, giving berth to new music, making something old something new again. This is not an easy task to see through considering they all do sound so different. I heard funky R & B, blues, jazz and pop, all done with a classy and alluring sensual way that I would think most folks would find appealing.

When you look at the cover of the CD, your first thought is that this a spiritual/new age album because of the colors, the sun and her pose of meditation. My interpretation is that Ellen's musical journey is a very intimate personal one that we are fortunate enough to share with her. This album will grow on you with each listen; it is somewhat sneaky that way, but all very pleasant and joyous. Relive the past and step into the future with Melissa Ellen now, you will be so glad you did, I sure was :)

Tracklisting:
Forward Into The Past (:47) / Dust In The Wind (3:31) / Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (4:12) / Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (3:47) / Just What I Needed (3:40) / This Is It (3:54) / Best Of My Love (3:46) / Only the Lonely (4:12) / I Can't Stand The Rain (4:01) / Time After Time (3:33) / Same Ole Love (3:52) / Takin' It To The Streets (3:45)

Musicians:
Ellen, Melissa- vocals
Joseph Patrick Moore ? bass
Omar Phillips, Emrah Kotan ? percussion
Carlton Clark - Rhodes electric piano
Buzz Amato ? clavinet
Rick Hinkle - guitar, ukele, coral sitar
Billy Odum, Jeep Hook, Vic Stafford - electric guitar
Peter Vogl, Tom Righi - acoustic guitar
John Driskell Hopkins, Lisa Irby, Alicia Terry, Nita Love, Sarah Mackey, Latasha Williams, Kenya King - background vocals

Discography:
Forward Into The Past (2003)

Genre: Various Genres

Origin US

Added: May 2nd 2004
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Artist website: www.melissaellen.com
Hits: 2281
Language: english