"Is that Freedom Rock, man?"

Being that today is the 40th Anniversary of the weekend of the Woodstock Music Festival (technically Sha Na Na and Hendrix played on a Monday morning) and that, coincidentally, I have spent the last few night rocking out to the Blu-Ray extended directors cut (with 18 extra musical performances), I figured I would continue this over-the-top nostalgia we collectively have going this weekend.

Why not start it off with easily the greatest performance of the whole festival (at least of the film): Santana's Soul Sacrifice. Great version of this song, and even greater when you throw in the context that, at the time, Santana was an unknown SF band that hadn't even recorded their first album. Bill Graham pulled some string to get them on the bill. 19-year-old drummer Michael Shrieve's drum solo is just mind blowing. Then factor in the admission that the whole band was very high on acid during this performance. Turn it up, Man!

Not in the Woodstock film, but finally available in the new Blu-Ray release is the performance of heavy rockers Mountain. This was just their 3rd gig, and they were clearly the heaviest band in the place. The sound in this clip isn't the best, but the distorted bass is just killer. 

I also thought it would be a good time to celebrate the Woodstock of my generation. No, I'm not talking about Woodstock 94 and I'm especially not talking about Woodstock 99, I'm talking about those awesome commercials for Freedom Rock!

Even after all these years I still intuitively know where each song snippet cuts into another and their order. To this day I still expect to hear The Byrds "Turn Turn Turn" mash into Skynyrd's "If I leave hear tomorrow..." whenever I hear it. I didn't actually listen to any of these songs into I really started rocking in my twenties (I was just 9 or 10 when Freedom Rock first dropped in 1987).

I recently scored a scratched up copy of the 2nd disc of Freedom Rock form the Junk Store and I have to say it really isn't a very good compilation at all. Zager & Evans? James Taylor? Malanie? These people don't rock. The commercial is much, much better than the actual product.

Anyhow, I have fallen in love with heavy 60s and 70s rock (and even some of the lighter stuff) and am currently working on a 4-disc, 5 hour custom super Freedom Rock Platinum Edition with all kinds of rarities to go with the hits. It is going to be amazing (maybe I'll post the track listing) and I can burn you a copy for just $24.95 plus $3 shipping and handling.

In the meanwhile, let's all throw up the peace fingers and have a skinny dip in honor of all the smart bands that, because the couldn't get paid enough or didn't want to deal with the hassle of getting there, declined playing at Woodstock:

• The Doors (Morrison was paranoid that he would be assassinated at a large outdoor venue).
• Led Zeppelin (didn't want to be "just another band" in the show).
• Jethro Tull (didn't want "to spend their weekend in a field of unwashed hippies). I actually sympathize with this one a bit.
• Bob Dylan (not enough money, hated his fans).
• The Byrds (angry about their hit song constantly being associated with Lynyrd Skynyrd).
• Moody Blues (despite being on the original poster, decided to play Paris instead).
• Iron Butterfly (got lost on the way).
• Joni Mitchell (was afraid the traffic would make her late for her appearance on the Dick Cavett Show).
• Procal Harum (didn't want to play on a hog farm).
• Moby Grape (wasn't invited).
• Cream (band had already broken up).
• Mind (no member of the band had been born yet).