The “Woodstock Music & Art Fair Presents an Aquarian Exposition in White Lake, N.Y. (3 Days of Peace & Music),” conducted in mid-August, 1969, on Max Yasgur’s dairy farm, in Bethel, New York (an event now known simply as, “Woodstock”), was expected to draw 50,000 young people, but ended up attracting nearly 500,000 people. The three-day rock music festival has become legendary, not just for its jam-packed lineup of name-brand rock bands, but also for its rain-soaked collection of stoned hippies and others cavorting in the muddy fields, and for snarling traffic in upstate New York for days.
The three-day festival featured thirty-two different performers, kicked off by Richie Havens at 5:00 p.m. on a Friday, and concluded just after 11:00 a.m. the following Monday morning with the end of Jimi Hendrix’ set (I guess the remaining hippies didn’t have to make it to the office that morning). Notable performers (and, by “notable,” of course I mean those who I recognize in some way) included:
Ravi Shankar - an Indian musician with whom the Beatles became enamored, and from whom they derived some of their more mystical musical stylings.
Melanie - think, “Brand New Key” - I’m sure she recorded other songs, but this is the one that sticks in my head, much like Disneyland’s, “It’s a Small World,” because you simply can’t banish it from your consciousness once it surfaces. You’re hearing it right now, aren’t you? “I got a brand new pair of roller-skates, you got a brand new key. . .” You’re welcome!
Joan Baez - a folk singer whose songs reflected protests and social justice - playing in front of several hundred thousand hippies - yeah, that sounds about right.
Santana - fronted by Carlos Santana, this hard-driving Latin-infused rock group has had a very long and storied career, just beginning at the time of Woodstock.
John Sebastian - pressed into service because other scheduled musicians had trouble arriving at the site, and heavy rains had to be cleared from the stage, before allowing electrical equipment such as amplifiers, and electric guitars to be used - Sebastian was an acoustic performer, so, problem solved. Although I’m thinking that he probably had at least one microphone, which, I suspect was powered by electricity - I’m sure he was able to sing and play his guitar so that the handful of people on stage and backstage could hear him, but what about the nearly 500,000 concertgoers pictured above? Thank goodness he wasn’t electrocuted; that would have been really awkward. Those of my generation recall Sebastian best as the guy who wrote and performed the theme song for, “Welcome Back Kotter.”
Grateful Dead - proponents of the so-called, psychedelic rock sound, which I believe involved use of a healthy dose of acid, and other drugs. I don’t know much about the band’s music, but I had at least one acquaintance who spent time as a “Deadhead,” one of a collection of people who traveled around the country following the band from one concert-site to the next, selling tie-dyed t-shirts outside the venue; now that’s a tough one to list on your resume, and to defend in a job interview. . .unless the job in question requires you to sell t-shirts while stoned.
Creedence Clearwater Revival - a San Francisco-based band, they were the first name act signed to perform, which greased the skids for other big-name bands to jump in. As a San Francisco-based band, naturally their vibe has been characterized as: “swamp rock,” “Southern rock,” “Country rock,” and “blues rock” - wait, what?
Janis Joplin, Sly and the Family Stone, The Who, and Jefferson Airplane - these iconic 1960’s bands performed during the coveted, 2:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning time-slot; most Top-40 music radio stations back then, and now, I’m pretty sure, don’t even invest in disc-jockey talent for that time period, instead allowing automation to manage the task for the six or seven listeners on board. But, the Woodstock promoters decided that they should put their best foot forward at that time with this lineup - of the nearly half-a-million concertgoers in attendance, there may have been six or seven people paying attention - in fact, it may have been the same six or seven Top-40 music station listeners on board from 2:00 a.m. to 10:00 on Saturday mornings.
Joe Cocker - the question to pose here is: Who did a better Joe Cocker singing ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’ imitation? Joe Cocker, at Woodstock, or John Belushi on Saturday Night Live, a few years later?
Blood, Sweat & Tears - a jazz-rock band, featuring a killer horn section, and fronted by soulful lead singer, David Clayton-Thomas, who may be the only rock musician to hyphenate his name, they also performed after midnight (Monday morning) - perhaps the word “Aquarian” should have been replaced with “Nocturnal.” What were these guys doing during the daylight hours? Oh yeah, sleeping, doing drugs, and skinny-dipping.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - these guys definitely reflected the 1960’s vibe, with such songs as, “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” “Marrakech Express,” Teach Your Children,” and “Our House.” And, Neil Young is a member of the triumvirate of famous “Neils” active in the 1960’s and 1970’s in the pop music world, in addition to Neil Sedaka, and Neil Diamond.
Sha Na Na - one question: what the hell were these guys doing at Woodstock? This 1950’s tribute band played early Monday morning, just before Jimi Hendrix? I mean, I get the nostalgia thing, but, again, what the hell were these guys doing at Woodstock?
Jimi Hendrix - although Jimi Hendrix’ career lasted only a short period of time, as he died just a bit more than a year after Woodstock (as did Janis Joplin), of drug-related causes (as did Janis Joplin), he is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists ever. And, his performance closing out the festival on that Monday morning, included the familiar (and, quite jarring) rendition of the Star Spangled Banner - a link to that recording is helpfully attached here.
Yes, Woodstock did include some very popular rock acts, but I can’t help but wonder who was missing from that lineup - bands that would have changed the legacy of the event. Some obvious missing pieces:
The Beatles - the Beatles would have played at Woodstock, but a condition of their appearance was the inclusion of the Plastic Ono Band on stage - you know, featuring the primal scream music of Yoko Ono - good call, Woodstock promoters, stopping that train-wreck in its tracks.
The Doors - they’d done the Monterey Pop Festival a couple of years earlier, and thought Woodstock would just be more of the same.
Bob Dylan - Dylan lived in Woodstock, so he was an act who could have rolled out of bed, and found his way to the stage; he had no interest, however.
The Rolling Stones - Mick Jagger was filming a movie somewhere, and Keith Richards was a new father at the time (can you picture Keith Richards as your father? “Can you help me with my multiplication tables, Dad?”) , so the band was unable to attend.
Chicago - a concert promoter pulled a bait-and-switch on these guys, in order that another band he represented, Santana, could secure the gig. Ah well, with Blood, Sweat & Tears already in the fold, who needed another jazz-rock band, with a killer horn section?
Joni Mitchell - she passed on this opportunity in order to appear on The Dick Cavett Show; she later composed a song, “Woodstock,” inspired by seeing coverage of the event on TV. What, The Mike Douglas Show didn’t have an opening for her?
Simon & Garfunkel - they were recording an album, and missed the event - they should have been there, no?
Frank Zappa - Frank apparently was repelled by the presence of too much mud at Woodstock.
Roy Rogers - you know, the singing cowboy - he was asked to close out the event by singing, “Happy Trails,” but declined. This invitation to perform is proof that the Woodstock promoters had a devilish sense of humor.
Meanwhile, a review of the top 100 songs of 1969, as reported by Top40Weekly.com, reveals some bands who definitely would have added their own personal stamp on the proceedings:
The Archies - their “Sugar, Sugar,” is touted as the number one hit of 1969 - I mean, Archie and the gang could have piled into Jughead’s jalopy, and traveled to Woodstock in style.
Henry Mancini - his “Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet” landed just outside the top ten - Henry Mancini would have killed at Woodstock.
Johnny Cash - his “A Boy Named Sue” was also near the top of the list. Johnny Cash was a badass - appearing at Woodstock would have made sense for him, although he likely would have been the only dude wearing black, amongst the hippies clad in brightly-colored clothes.
Tom Jones - maybe Woodstock would not have been the right venue for him, because women wishing to throw their panties on stage for him probably would have had to tie them to a rock, in order to reach the stage.
Sammy Davis Jr. - Sammy charted in 1969 with “I’ve Gotta Be Me,” but I like to imagine him singing “The Candy Man” on stage at Woodstock.
Elvis Presley - 1969 was a relatively quiet time for Elvis - he had made a slew of movies in the 1960’s, but his “68 Comeback Special” was a recent reminder that Elvis was still out there, and could still bring it on stage. And, his frequent drug use would have endeared him to the crowd.
Would the addition of these bands have made a difference in how Woodstock is viewed through the prism of cultural relevance over time? Perhaps, but to the nearly 500,000 people in attendance in the mud in upstate New York during those days in August, 1969, it likely would not have mattered one whit - I mean, they were stoned, after all.