Taking Woodstock - movie review

We saw Taking Woodstock last night - at the Yorktown "primo" theater, in style. The endearing and sweet kid at the center of the film is mentioned in Lang's book of course. Noteably - as the guy who knew the guy who had the land (Max). But our Elliot Tiber had something even more crucial - a permit to hold his little annual summer craft fair and folk fest in the county. You can guess the rest. I recommend the movie - as another way to become familiar with what Woodstock was supposed to be about: 3 days of peace and music, kids not getting hassled as they "camped" at a huge concert while helping each other - along with some epic, spotty, and historical musical performances. In the book, Lang has just related beggnig Richie Havens to go out first and his stretched-to-fill-time opening set, at 4:30 pm. Seems no one wanted to go out there first - least of all, Tim Hardin. Turns out, Havens was the perfect guy for the job. Friday, day one, closed with Joan Baez doing We Shall Overcome - at around 2 am.

CSN plus or minus Y at Woodstock

It has rained here in Chicago for three straight days - just to get us in the mood. In the Lang book, we are at T-minus two days out. We learned of the true blessing and great guy Max Yasgur is and was. Lang is clearly the visionary - but huge props to Max. Déjà Vu is the first album by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, from 1970. CSN (sans y) did put out a first album in 1969. Lang tells us in the book he (they) played the "new" CSN album over the PA system at Woodstock before the first acts played - to try to keep everyone cool. Buffalo Springfield was S&Y's previous band. I played Suite: Judy Blue Eyes, from the Woodstock record recently - and though it sounded pretty rough, the tell-tale vocal harmonies were clear. There is a version of Joni Mitchell's song "Woodstock" on this record. Woodstockers Jerry Garcia and John Sebastian play on this record. Note: we just read in Lang's book at the last minute - Ahmet Ertegun, of Atlantic Records (CSNY's label) steps in and signs for the live recording rights to make the Woodstock 3-record album.

Santana also played at Woodstock

I just read a "review" of the music that was played 40 years ago at Woodstock. The Wall Street Journal's cover story in their Weekend section last Friday has a review titled, "But How Was the Music?" The reviewer ripped every act. Not sure if he was even at Woodstock. I sure wasn't. Sounds like sour grapes, man. But enough of that dude. By all accounts, Santana may have played the tightest set - opening Sunday. (View a clip of Soul Sacrifice.) A bargin addition, Lang booked them for just $1,500, ten percent of what most other acts got. They did not even have their first album out yet, Lang, needing some west coast balance, heard a tape and booked them. In his book, Lang says they were one of the last bands booked. A deal was hatched with Bill Graham, for Lang to take Santana, in order to also get the Dead. Greg Rolie later went on to Journey. This is Santana's 2nd record, called Abraxas, consider among his finest.

Blood Sweat and Tears at Woodstock

Already rather big by the time Michael Lang booked Blood Sweat and Tears (for $15,000) to play at Woodstock, they were to play on Sunday Night. Based on the rain and the act scheduling getting off-track, they may have played early Monday morning. I am not at that part in the book yet. This is their second studio album. The song on it called Smiling Phases was written by Traffic guys Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, and Chris Wood. Al Kooper had left the band after their first record (I have that one too). Mainstream, radio pop hits were Spinning Wheel and You've Made Me So Very Happy by Berry Gordy Jr. This album won Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards over The Beatles' Abbey Road - perhaps not as egregious as when Jetrho Tull beat out Metalica for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance in 1989.