Joe Cocker played at Woodstock

Of course Joe Cocker played at Woodstock. He came on as the first opening act on Sunday, August 17. Chris Stainton (later with Clapton, Bryan Ferry) played keyboards. I just started the new book out called The Road to Woodstock by the guy who really put it all together, Michael Lang. My wife loves when I read aloud to her in the car, so we are just at the point when Lang put together his first festival, in 1968, the Miami Pop Festival. Shades of things to come. I will have the Les Paul banner up for a week. And I am in a Woodstock mode for the 40th anniversary. Plus, my high school 30th is in October. This is the gatefold of the album, turned sideways.

Woodstock - 40th Anniversary

The album and the story of the photo.

In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock Music & Art Fair - here is the album. I was 8 years old in 1969, needless to say - I did not attend. I have two badly worn copies of this 3-record album. 32 acts played at the 3-day fair, but there are some awesome acts that played but but did not make onto this album. A 4-disc collector’s edition DVD movie includes footage from acts not on the this album: Paul Butterfield, CCR, The Dead, Johnny Winter, and Mountain.

I take Smithsonian magazine. Their August 2009 issue features the story behind the album cover photo: who took the picture, the couple who are in it (they are still together!), and the dude in the sleeping bag. That story is here: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Indelible-Images-Still-Together-Now.html