August 15, 2019
Max Yasgur was an upstate New York farmer and the largest
milk producer in Sullivan County, New York in 1969. Yasgur was a Republican who supported the
Vietnam War, but he went against the wishes of his sleepy rural community of
Bethel, and rented out his farm for a weekend music festival in August of 1969,
thinking it would be good for the local economy and would help bridge the
contentious generation gap.
What could be so bad about having a few thousand kids listen to music in the fresh air for a few days? Though the local folks for the most part wanted nothing to do with a bunch of hippies coming anywhere near their peaceful environs, no one imagined the size of the crowd or the ultimate notoriety of what was about to. It was like an invasion, a caravan if you will, of unfamiliar outsiders, whose differences frightened these simple people. In the end, it was, as Max Yasgur would tell the crowd on his farm, “three days of fun and music, and nothing but fun and music” that rocked the world. Literally and figuratively.
What could be so bad about having a few thousand kids listen to music in the fresh air for a few days? Though the local folks for the most part wanted nothing to do with a bunch of hippies coming anywhere near their peaceful environs, no one imagined the size of the crowd or the ultimate notoriety of what was about to. It was like an invasion, a caravan if you will, of unfamiliar outsiders, whose differences frightened these simple people. In the end, it was, as Max Yasgur would tell the crowd on his farm, “three days of fun and music, and nothing but fun and music” that rocked the world. Literally and figuratively.
I did not make it to Woodstock. I really wanted to go, but I was not of
driving age and my parents would not let me.
Especially now that I have fewer days to look forward to than the number
I have already seen, I cannot blame them.
I did see the movie the moment it came out because I was not willing to wait for it to come out on Netflix. And I played the album many times on my cheapo turntable which I sometimes foolishly set
up on my suburban back lawn (Surprisingly, that album still plays almost
perfectly). Since then,
I have been a bit obsessed with what many have called “three days that defined
a generation.”
The Woodstock Music and Art Festival began on this day 50
years ago. The line-up of musicians was
and is legendary, if not unequaled. From
Richie Havens to Ravi Shankar, from Janis to Jimi, The Who, Santana, Sly &
the Family Stone, Joe Cocker, Joan Baez, Creedence, the Dead, CSNY, Country Joe
and many others.
Here are a few of my (many) favorite performances. I'll probably throw a few more choice tunes on here over the next couple days.
Here are a few of my (many) favorite performances. I'll probably throw a few more choice tunes on here over the next couple days.
Richie Havens – Freedom
The Ultimate Star Spangled Banner
It is said, “If you can remember Woodstock, you weren’t
there.”
I. Mangrey reminiscing.
I remember Woodstock.
SPECIAL BONUS TRACK
SPECIAL BONUS TRACK
Country Joe & The Fish
😀😀😀😀😀
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