18/08/2023
ON THIS DATE (54 YEARS AGO)
August 15, 1969 - The Woodstock Music and Art Fair, promising "three days of peace, love, and music," began on Max Yasgur's 60-acre farm in Bethel, New York.
Performers included Joe Cocker, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, the Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, the Band, Canned Heat, Joan Baez, Santana, Melanie, Ten Years After, Sly & the Family Stone, Johnny Winter, Jefferson Airplane, Ravi Shankar, Country Joe and the Fish, Blood Sweat & Tears, Arlo Guthrie, and Jimi Hendrix.
The festival was remarkably peaceful given the number of people and the conditions involved, although there were two recorded fatalities, one from insulin usage and another caused when a tractor ran over someone sleeping in a nearby hayfield. There also were two births recorded at the event, one in a car caught in traffic and another in a hospital after an airlift by helicopter; there were four miscarriages. Over the course of the three days, there were 742 drug overdoses.
Woodstock Music & Art Fair was a music festival, billed as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music". It was held at Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm in the Catskills near the hamlet of White Lake in the town of Bethel, New York, from August 15 to August 18, 1969. Bethel, in Sullivan County, is 43 miles (69 km) southwest of the town of Woodstock, New York, in adjoining Ulster County. Of the approximately 1/2 million fans drawn to the town, three died, two gave birth, four had miscarriages, and two got married during the festival.
During the sometimes rainy weekend, thirty-two acts performed outdoors in front of 500,000 concert-goers. It is widely regarded as a pivotal moment in popular music history. Rolling Stone called it one of the 50 Moments That Changed the History of Rock and Roll.
The event was captured in the 1970 documentary movie Woodstock, an accompanying soundtrack album, and Joni Mitchell's song "Woodstock", which commemorated the event and became a major hit for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
PERFORMERS and SET LISTS
FRIDAY, August 15
The first day officially began at 5:07 p.m. with Richie Havens and featured folk artists.
Richie Havens - 5:07pm - 7:00pm
"The Minstrel from Gault"
"From the Prison/Get Together/From the Prison"
"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)"
Swami Satchidananda - gave the invocation for the festival -
7:10pm - 7:20pm
Sweetwater - 7:30pm - 8:10pm
"Motherless Child"
"Look Out"
"For Pete's Sake"
"What's Wrong"
"Crystal Spider"
"Two Worlds"
"Why Oh Why"
"Let the Sunshine In"
"Oh Happy Day"
"Day Song"
Bert Sommer - 8:20pm - 9:15pm
"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"
Tim Hardin - 9:20pm - 9:45pm
"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"
Ravi Shankar, with a three-song set, played through the rain - 10:00pm - 10:35pm
"Raga Puriya-Dhanashri/Gat In Sawarital"
"Tabla Solo In Jhaptal"
"Raga Manj Kmahaj (AIap, Jor, Dhun In Kaharwa Tal)"
Melanie Safka - 10:50pm - 11:20pm
"Close to It All"
"Momma Momma"
"Beautiful People"
"Animal Crackers"
"Mr. Tambourine Man"
"Tuning My Guitar"
"Birthday of the Sun"
Arlo Guthrie- 11:55pm - 12:25am
"Coming into Los Angeles"
"Wheel of Fortune"
"Walkin' Down the Line"
"Story about Moses and the Brownies"
"Oh Mary, Don't You Weep"
"Every Hand in the Land"
"Amazing Grace"
Joan Baez- she was six months pregnant at the time - 12:55am - 2:00am
"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"
SATURDAY, August 16
The day opened at 1:20 pm, and featured some of the event's biggest psychedelic and guitar rock headliners.
Quill, thirty minute set of four songs - 12:15pm - 12:45pm
"They Live the Life"
"That's How I Eat"
"Driftin'"
"Waitin' for You"
Country Joe McDonald - 1:00pm - 1:30pm
"Janis"
"Donovan's Reef"
"Heartaches by the Number"
"Ring of Fire"
"Tennessee Stud"
"Rockin' Round the World"
"Flying High"
"I Seen a Rocket"
"The "Fish" Cheer/I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag"
Santana - 2:00pm - 2:45pm
"Waiting"
"Evil Ways"
"You Just Don't Care"
"Savor"
"Jingo"
"Persuasion"
"Soul Sacrifice"
"Fried Neckbones and Some Home Fries"
John B. Sebastian - 3:30pm - 3:55pm
"How Have You Been"
"Rainbows All Over Your Blues"
"I Had a Dream"
"Darlin' Be Home Soon"
"Younger Generation"
Keef Hartley Band - 4:45pm - 5:30pm
"Spanish Fly"
"She's Gone"
"Too Much Thinkin'"
"Believe in You"
"Rock Me Baby"
"Sinnin' for You / Leaving Trunk / Just to Cry / Sinnin' for You"
The Incredible String Band - 6:00pm - 6:30pm
"Invocation"
"The Letter"
"Gather 'Round"
"This Moment"
"Come with Me"
"When You Find Out Who You Are"
Canned Heat - 7:30pm - 8:30pm
"I'm Her Man"
"Going Up the Country"
"A Change Is Gonna Come / Leaving This Town"
"Too Many Drivers at the Wheel"
"I Know My Baby"
"Woodstock Boogie"
"On the Road Again"
Mountain, hour-long set including Jack Bruce's "Theme for an Imaginary Western." - 09:00pm - 10:00pm
"Blood of the Sun"
"Stormy Monday"
"Theme for an Imaginary Western"
"Long Red"
"For Yasgur's Farm" (song was untitled at the time)
"Beside the Sea"
"Waiting to Take You Away"
"Dreams of Milk and Honey / Guitar Solo"
"Blind Man"
"Dirty Shoes Blues"
"Southbound Train"
Grateful Dead, their set was cut short after the stage amps overloaded during "Turn On Your Love Light" - 10:30pm - 00:05am
"St. Stephen"
"Mama Tried"
"Dark Star"
"High Time"
"Turn on Your Love Light"
Creedence Clearwater Revival - 00:30am - 1:20am
"Born on the Bayou"
"Green River"
"Ninety-Nine and a Half (Won't Do)"
"Commotion"
"Bootleg"
"Bad Moon Rising"
"Proud Mary"
"I Put a Spell on You"
"Night Time Is the Right Time"
"Keep on Chooglin'"
"Susie Q"
Janis Joplin with The Kozmic Blues Band - 2:00am - 3:00am
"Raise Your Hand"
"As Good As You've Been to This World"
"To Love Somebody"
"Summertime"
"Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)"
"Kozmic Blues"
"Can't Turn You Loose"
"Work Me, Lord"
"Piece of My Heart"
"Ball 'n' Chain"
Sly & the Family Stone - 3:30am - 4:20am
"M'Lady"
"Sing a Simple Song"
"You Can Make It If You Try"
"Everyday People"
"Dance To The Music"
"Music Lover"
"I Want to Take You Higher"
"Love City"
"Stand!"
The Who - 5:00am - 6:05am kicking off a 25-song set including Tommy'"
"Heaven and Hell"
"I Can't Explain"
"It's a Boy"
"1921"
"Amazing Journey"
"Sparks"
"Eyesight to the Blind"
"Christmas"
"Acid Queen"
"Pinball Wizard" Abbie Hoffman incident
"Do You Think It's Alright?"
"Fiddle About"
"There's a Doctor"
"Go to the Mirror"
"Smash the Mirror"
"I'm Free"
"Tommy's Holiday Camp"
"We're Not Gonna Take It"
"See Me, Feel Me"
"Summertime Blues"
"Shakin' All Over"
"My Generation"
"Naked Eye"
Jefferson Airplane - 8:00am - 9:40am
"The Other Side of This Life"
"Somebody to Love"
"3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds"
"Won't You Try/Saturday Afternoon"
"Eskimo Blue Day"
"Plastic Fantastic Lover"
"Wooden Ships"
"Uncle Sam Blues"
"Volunteers"
"The Ballad of You and Me and Pooneil"
"Come Back Baby"
"White Rabbit"
"The House at Pooneil Corners"
SUNDAY, August 17 to Monday, August 18
Joe Cocker was the first act on the last officially booked day (Sunday); he opened up the day's events at 2 PM. His set was preceded by at least two instrumentals by The Grease Band.
Joe Cocker and The Grease Band - 2:00pm - 3:25pm
"Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring" (without Joe Cocker)
"40,000 Headmen" (without Joe Cocker)
"Dear Landlord"
"Something Comin' On"
"Do I Still Figure in Your Life"
"Feelin' Alright"
"Just Like a Woman"
"Let's Go Get Stoned"
"I Don't Need a Doctor"
"I Shall Be Released"
"Hitchcock Railway"
"Something to Say"
"With a Little Help from My Friends"
After Joe Cocker's set, a thunderstorm disrupted the events for several hours.
Country Joe and the Fish 6:30pm - 8:00pm
"Rock & Soul Music"
"(Thing Called) Love"
"Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine"
"Sing, Sing, Sing"
"Summer Dresses"
"Friend, Lover, Woman, Wife"
"Silver and Gold"
"Maria"
"Love Machine"
"Ever Since You Told Me That You Love Me (I'm a Nut)"
"Short Jam (instrumental)"
"Crystal Blues"
"Rock & Soul Music (Reprise)"
"The "Fish" Cheer/I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag"
Ten Years After- 8:15pm - 9:15pm
"Spoonful"
"Good Morning Little Schoolgirl"
"Hobbit"
"I Can't Keep from Crying Sometimes"
"Help Me"
"I'm Going Home"
The Band - 10:00pm - 10:50pm
"Chest Fever"
"Don't Do It"
"Tears of Rage"
"We Can Talk"
"Long Black Veil"
"Don't You Tell Henry"
"Ain't No More Cane"
"This Wheel's on Fire"
"I Shall Be Released"
"The Weight"
"Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever"
Johnny Winter - 12:00am - 1:05am featuring his brother, Edgar Winter, on three songs.
"Mama, Talk to Your Daughter"
"Leland Mississippi Blues"
"Mean Town Blues"
"You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now" / "Mean Mistreater"
"I Can't Stand It" (with Edgar Winter)
"To***co Road" (with Edgar Winter)
"Tell the Truth" (with Edgar Winter)
"Johnny B. Goode"
While Winter was on stage, Hurricane Camille roared ashore along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, becoming the first Category 5 hurricane to strike the United States in 34 years.
Blood, Sweat & Tears - 1:30am - 2:30am
"More and More"
"Just One Smile"
"Something's Coming On"
"More Than You'll Ever Know"
"Spinning Wheel"
"Sometimes in Winter"
"Smiling Phases"
"God Bless the Child"
"I Stand Accused"
"And When I Die"
"You've Made Me So Very Happy"
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - 3:00am - 4:00am with separate acoustic and electric sets. Chip Monck announced the group as "Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young", but the name Young was dropped from the movie and film soundtrack.
Acoustic Set
"Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"
"Blackbird"
"Helplessly Hoping"
"Guinnevere"
"Marrakesh Express"
"Mr. Soul"
"Wonderin'"
"You Don't Have to Cry"
Electric Set
"Pre-Road Downs"
"Long Time Gone"
"Bluebird"
"Sea of Madness"
"Wooden Ships"
Acoustic Encores
"Find the Cost of Freedom"
"49 Bye-Byes"
Neil Young skipped most of the acoustic set (the exceptions being his compositions "Mr. Soul" and "Wonderin'") and joined Crosby, Stills & Nash, but refused to be filmed during the electric set; by his own report, Young felt the filming was distracting both performers and audience from the music. Young's "Sea of Madness," heard on the album, was drawn from the Fillmore East concert, one month after the festival. The original recording was later restored on the six-CD boxed set Woodstock: 40 Years On [Back To Yasgur's Farm]
Paul Butterfield Blues Band - 6:00am - 6:45am
"Born Under a Bad Sign"
"No Amount of Loving"
"Driftin'"
"Morning Sunrise"
"All in a Day"
"Love March"
"Everything's Gonna Be Alright"
Sha-Na-Na - 7:30am - 8:00am
"Get a Job"
"Come Go with Me"
"Silhuettes"
"Teen Angel"
"Jailhouse Rock"
"Wipe Out"
"Blue Moon"
"(Who Wrote) The Book of Love"
"Little Darlin'"
"At the Hop"
"Duke of Earl"
"Get a Job (Reprise)"
Jimi Hendrix - 9:00am - 11:10am
After being introduced as the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Hendrix corrected the new group's name to "Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, for short it's nothin’ but ‘A Band of Gypsies." Later during the set he introduced them as "Sky Church."
"Message to Love"
"Hear My Train A Comin'"
"Spanish Castle Magic"
"Red House" (Hendrix's high E-string broke while playing, but he played the rest of the song with five strings.)
"Mastermind" (written and sung by Larry Lee)
"Lover Man"
"Foxy Lady"
"Jam Back at the House"
"Izabella"
"Gypsy Woman"/"Aware of Love" (These two songs written by Curtis Mayfield were sung by Larry Lee as a medley)
"Fire"
"Voodoo Child (Slight Return)"/"Stepping Stone"
"The Star-Spangled Banner"
"Purple Haze"
"Woodstock Improvisation"/"Villanova Junction" (both titles are posthumous)
"Hey Joe"
