I was listening to the radio, yes, I did say the radio, to a local station playing songs from WOODSTOCK 1969! What, it's been 49 years? Now, I was 11-years-old and even though we didn't have the internet, no special music channels on tv (we had 3 channels) WOODSTOCK was HUGE NEWS!
I think it's impossible for younger people to even imagine what it was like in 1969. Technology has changed our life in so many ways ... music was listened to on the radio (static and all) or on records.
So, when I listen to that music now, I think about that time in my life, things that were going on, people who were in my life ... family, friends, heartaches, school ...music takes me back.
Popular music groups appeared on tv, on shows like the Ed Sullivan Show and variety shows.
I wonder how younger people look at WOODSTOCK... I wonder if schools even take the time to teach students about WOODSTOCK.
It also made me wonder about the 50 year celebration of WOODSTOCK?
Let's take a look at both!
On history.com :
On this day in 1969, the Woodstock Music Festival opens on a patch of farmland in White Lake, a hamlet in the upstate New York town of Bethel.
Promoters John Roberts, Joel Rosenman, Artie Kornfield and Michael Lang originally envisioned the festival as a way to raise funds to build a recording studio and rock-and-roll retreat near the town of Woodstock, New York. The longtime artists’ colony was already a home base for Bob Dylan and other musicians. Despite their relative inexperience, the young promoters managed to sign a roster of top acts, including the Jefferson Airplane, the Who, the Grateful Dead, Sly and the Family Stone, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Creedence Clearwater Revival and many more. Plans for the festival were on the verge of foundering, however, after both Woodstock and the nearby town of Wallkill denied permission to hold the event. Dairy farmer Max Yasgur came to the rescue at the last minute, giving the promoters access to his 600 acres of land in Bethel, some 50 miles from Woodstock.
Early estimates of attendance increased from 50,000 to around 200,000, but by the time the gates opened on Friday, August 15, more than 400,000 people were clamoring to get in. Those without tickets simply walked through gaps in the fences, and the organizers were eventually forced to make the event free of charge. Folk singer and guitarist Richie Havens kicked off the event with a long set, and Joan Baez and Arlo Guthrie also performed on Friday night.
Though Woodstock had left its promoters nearly bankrupt, their ownership of the film and recording rights more than compensated for the losses after the release of a hit documentary film in 1970. Later music festivals inspired by Woodstock’s success failed to live up to its standard, and the festival still stands for many as a example of America’s 1960s youth counterculture at its best.
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Woodstock Lineup Day 1 **Tomorrow Day 2**
DAY ONE: FRIDAY, AUGUST 15 -
Richie Havens
From the Prison
Get Together
From the Prison (Reprise)
The Minstrel from Gault
I’m a Stranger Here
High Flying Bird
I Can’t Make It Anymore
With a Little Help from My Friends
Handsome Johnny
Strawberry Fields Forever > Hey Jude
Freedom (Motherless Child)
Watch Havens perform Freedom.
Havens as a live performer earned widespread notice. His Woodstock appearance in 1969 catapulted him into stardom and was a major turning point in his career. As the festival’s first performer, he held the crowd for nearly three hours. In part, Havens was told to continue playing, because many artists scheduled to perform after him were delayed in reaching the festival location with highways at a virtual standstill. He was called back for several encores. Having run out of tunes, he improvised a song based on the old spiritual Motherless Child that became Freedom. The subsequent Woodstockmovie release helped Havens reach a worldwide audience. He also appeared at the Isle of Wight Festival in late August 1969.
SWEETWATER
The second band that played at the Woodstock Festival was Sweetwater following Richie Havens. Sweetwater arrived later on Friday afternoon because they were stuck in the traffic jam. They started at about 6.15 pm. Sweetwater arrived later on Friday afternoon because they were stuck in the traffic jam. They started at about 6.15 pm.
Sweetwater
Motherless Child
Look Out
For Pete’s Sake
Day Song
What’s Wrong
Crystal Spider
Two Worlds
Why Oh Why
Let the Sunshine In
Oh Happy Day
Sweetwater
Motherless Child
Look Out
For Pete’s Sake
Day Song
What’s Wrong
Crystal Spider
Two Worlds
Why Oh Why
Let the Sunshine In
Oh Happy Day
Sri Swami Satchidananda
Sri Swami Satchidananda opened the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival in Bethel, New York on August 15, addressing a crowd of approximately 500,000.
“My Beloved Brothers and Sisters:
I am overwhelmed with joy to see the entire youth of America gathered here in the name of the fine art of music. In fact, through the music, we can work wonders. Music is a celestial sound and it is the sound that controls the whole universe, not atomic vibrations. Sound energy, sound power, is much, much greater than any other power in this world. And, one thing I would very much wish you all to remember is that with sound, we can make—and at the same time, break. Even in the war-field, to make the tender heart an animal, sound is used. Without that war band, that terrific sound, man will not become animal to kill his own brethren. So, that proves that you can break with sound, and if we care, we can make also.”
Bert Sommer
Jennifer
The Road to Travel
I Wondered Where You Be
She’s Gone
Things Are Going My Way
And When It’s Over
Jeanette
America
A Note That Read
Smile
Bert Sommer played on Friday, August 15th. He played for about 30 to 40 minutes (based on the given setlist) accompanied by a bass and a second guitarist. Since he was a talented Folk artist he fit perfectly in the Friday band schedule.
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Ravi Shankar
“Raga Puriya-Dhanashri/Gat In Sawarital”
“Tabla Solo In Jhaptal”
“Raga Manj Kmahaj (AIap, Jor, Dhun In Kaharwa Tal)”
The Indian music genius Ravi Shankar was for sure someone very special for the Woodstock festival. He made his first appearance to the western world at the Monterey International Pop Festival in 1967, followed by an invitation from Beatle George Harrison. In the wake of spiritualism and the search for new influences his music became very popular but Shankar wasn’t fond of the drug-consuming and partying crowd of young people.
Shankar started at about 10 pm on Friday evening and played for over 40 minutes throughout the rain.
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Tim Hardin
“How Can We Hang On to a Dream?”
“Susan”
“If I Were a Carpenter”
“Reason to Believe”
“You Upset the Grace of Living When You Lie”
“Speak Like a Child”
“Snow White Lady”
“Blue on My Ceiling”
“Simple Song of Freedom”
“Misty Roses”
In 1969, Tim Hardin appeared at the Woodstock Festival where he sang his “If I Were A Carpenter” song solo, as well as a full set of his music while backed by a band that included drummer Muruga Booker.
Melanie Safka
“Close to It All”
“Momma Momma”
“Beautiful People”
“Animal Crackers”
“Mr. Tambourine Man”
“Tuning My Guitar”
“Birthday of the Sun”
Melanie’s solo set was short but sweet though you can hear her anxiety in her voice. She performed at 11 pm on Friday, the 15th. Melanie played instead of The Incredible String Band who refused to play while it was raining. In an interview with WAMC Radio in Albany, NY broadcast on December 20, 2007, Melanie stated that the producers of the Woodstock Festival maintained offices in the same building that she did. Due to this, Melanie asked to be part of the Festival. During her set the audience lit up candles to accompany the music. Later she wrote a song about that which was a great hit: “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)”.
Arlo Guthrie
Coming into Los Angeles
Wheel of Fortune
Walking Down the Line
Arlo Speech: Exodus
Oh Mary, Don’t You Weep
Every Hand in the Land
Amazing Grace
Arlo Davy Guthrie (born July 10, 1947) is an American folk singer.[1] Like his late father, Woody Guthrie, Arlo is known for singing songs of protest against social injustice. Guthrie’s best-known work is “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree”, a satirical talking blues song about 18 minutes in length. His song “Massachusetts” was named the official folk song of the state in which he has lived most of his adult life.
Joan Baez
“Oh Happy Day”
“The Last Thing on My Mind”
“I Shall Be Released”
“Story about how the Federal Marshals came to take David Harris into custody”
“No Expectations”
“Joe Hill”
“Sweet Sir Galahad”
“Hickory Wind”
“Drug Store Truck Driving Man” duet with Jeffrey Shurtleff
“I Live One Day at a Time”
“Take Me Back to the Sweet Sunny South”
“Let Me Wrap You In My Warm and Tender Love”
“Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”
“We Shall Overcome”
The female counterpart to Bob Dylan, folksinger and anti-war protester Joan Baez, was the last act on Friday evening. She started at about 1:00 am. Appropriately, she wished everybody a good morning. Her perfectly arranged set combined with her beautiful and skillful voice was a fine finish for a chaotic and exhausting first day. During her performance it was drizzling, and then after her she finished it started to rain heavily.
Top 5 Rockin' Facts About Woodstock Watch this and learn, some cool facts not really talked about!