Thirty nine years ago
Some of you were there

Billboard on the June 17.
MELANIE
Carnegie Hall, New York
It's a new Melanie back on the concert trek after a too -long absence -but retaining the ability to move her cult following as she did during her flower -child days. A more mature presentation, the same exuberant onstage prancing, and an interesting blend of new material and some old but not forgotten standards served a good recipe for her first date of what is promised as a "five -year tour."
Some solid backing by Arista's Brecker Brothers- Michael on sax and Randy on trumpet - heightened the second half of the show, virtually SRO, June 3. Also effective were two sets of drums with Chris Parker and Gary (Coffi) Hall plus percussionist Tony Ramos on Bongos, and guitarist Sal Ditroia who dueted effectively on a number of selections.
Only the production itself marred the evening, with the show a half -hour late, a dragged - out 40- minute intermission and a too-long encore period -although you couldn't blame the girl for not wanting to leave the stage.
Her costumes set the show's tenor, with a black gown and sequined shawl for the opening half, featuring a booming "Cyclone" opener that was one of the night's high spots, a fast shift of mood to "Ground Hog Day," then an upbeat ballad styling on "Running After Love" from her new Midsong LP, and a solid rendition of Jesse Winchester's "Yankee Man," featured on both the new and her old albums.
Ditroia provided effective counterpoint on one of her new songs, "Hand Me Downs," with Ramos' bongos backing another effective unrecorded tune, "Leftover Emotions."
A rockin' "Photograh" closed the first half, with her impromptu dance on stage working on stage evoking memories of the last decade, bringing the audience into the aisles and down front.
Michael Brecker's solo sax was a plaintive backdrop for the post -intermission opener, "I'm So Blue," dedicated to her mother, as Melanie reverted to old -style with tunic pants, T -shirt, over blouse and sandals -closer to the original perhaps, but definitely with a new "bite."
"Look What They Done To My Song Ma" was a clapalong hit of the second half, with Randy Brecker chipping in some great trumpet, followed by an upbeat "Spunky" and "Miranda," at which point she exclaimed to the applause: "It's my rebirth!"
Program closed with a rousing "Lay Down Sally" providing the best jam session of the evening for the band as a whole; a belting "Knock On Wood" (new single) with her exuberance shining out and another old favorite windup, "Friends And Company," with the audience again in the aisles as she hit that magic chord of response.
The two -hour -plus show of 18 numbers was more new than old, disappointing a number of old fans, but her encores included "I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love," "Beautiful People," a distinctive arrangement of "It's Almost Like Being In Love," a rousing "Ruby Tuesday" and a two- guitar "Leftover Wine."
That would have been the spot to end, but two more reprises of earlier songs were anti - climatic. It's nice to know she's still got "it," and perhaps the tour will provide a career rebirth.
STEPHEN TRAIMAN