(1969) Remembering Woodstock: Day Two
Saturday August 16, 1969
1200 PM: QUILL setlist - They Live the Life- Thats How I Eat- Driftin' Blues- Waiting For You
Quill's management was Woodstock promoter Michael Lang, so his band got the gig. The week prior they were busy entertaining the stage crew & festival workers. Also as a good will gesture, Woodstock ventures had them play local prisons, mental hospitals & half way houses to appease the locals. Quill handed out percussion instruments to the audience & played a good set. They didn't make the film because the audio & video was malfunctioning during their songs.
120 PM: COUNTRY JOE McDONALD set list- Janis-Donovan's Reef- Heartaches by the Number- Ring of Fire- Tennessee Stud- Rocking' All Around the World- Flying High- I've Seen A Rocket- Fish Cheer / Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die Rag
520 PM: SANTANA- Waiting- You Just Don't Care- Savor- Jingo- Persuasion- Soul Sacrifice- Fried Neckbones & Some Home Fries
At the time Santana were still unknown to most. They came from the San Francisco music scene & were regulars at Bill Grahm's Filmore's. Grahm got them a spot at Woodstock, they blew the crowd away & propelled into stardom. Soul Sacrifice with Santana's solo & 20 year old drummer Michael Shrieve's long drum solo is a high point of the film.
Carlos Santana had just turned only 22 years old. He is seen grimacing during his set because he was tripping on mescaline at the time. Jerry Garcia told him they were going on before the Dead, probably around midnight, so he figured he'd be coming down by then. One thing led to another & they said, 'You're on!"
330 PM: JOHN SEBASTIAN set list- How Have You Been- Rainbows All Over Your Blues- I Had A Dream- Darling Be Home Soon- Younger Generation
John Sebastian was a big star at the time, coming off a great bunch of hits as the lead singer of The Lovin Spoonful with songs like Summer in the City- Day Dream- Do You Believe In Magic- You Didn't Have to be So Nice & Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind.
445 PM: The KEEF HARTLEY BAND- Spanish Fly- Believe In You- Rock Me Baby- Leavin' Trunk-Halfbreed- Just To Cry- Sinnin' For You
600 PM: The INCREDIBLE STRING BAND- Sleepers Awaken- The Letter- This Moment is Different- When You Find Out Who You Are
730 PM: CANNED HEAT setlist- A Change Is Gonna Come- Leaving This Town- The Bear Talks- Going Up Country- I'm Her Man- Lets Work Together- Too Many Drivers at the Wheel- I Know My Baby- Woodstock Boogie- On The Road Again
Canned Heat were a blues/rock band from L.A. led by Big Bob the Bear Hite. They were popular with two hits out at the time, their Going Up the Country was a perfect backdrop to the festival. It appears in the film as the crowd makes their way.
900 PM: MOUNTAIN setlist- Blood of the Sun- Call It Stormy Monday- Theme from an Imaginary Western- Long Red- For Yasgur's Farm- Beside the Sea- Waiting To Take You Away- Dreams of Milk & Honey- Southbound Train
1030 PM The GRATEFUL DEAD setlist- St. Stephen- Mamma Tried- Dark Star- High Time- Turn On Your Lovelight
The Dead's performance had never been released until 2009, finally. They considered it one of their worst gigs. They were stoned, and ran late due to technical problems & delays.
1230AM- CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL setlist- Born ON A Bayou- Green River- Ninety Nine & a Half- Commotion- Bad Moon Rising- Proud Mary- I Put a Spell On You- Night Time Is the Right Time- Keep On Chooglin'-Suzy Q
CCR were one of the biggest acts in the country at the time, top ten albums, top ten hits including two number one hits.
The Berkley California based band were the first band signed for the event & did a fantastic show. But they never made the film or the album because of contract issues that have always plagued the group.
200 AM: JANIS JOPLIN (w/the Kosmic Blues Band) set list- Raise Your Hand-As Good As You've Been To This World- To Love Somebody- Summertime- Try (A Little Bit Harder)- Kosmic Blues- I Cant Turn You Loose- Work Me Lord- Piece of My Heart- Ball & Chain
Janis was no longer with Big Brother & the Holding Co. she was just feeling her way in front of the new Kosmic Blues Band. The hard drinking was starting to take a toll on her, the long delays & partying of the day didn't help. Her performances were not in the original film or on the album but they are now available on later releases.
An incredible performer, Janis could have been better at Woodstock and wasn't as good as she was at the 1967 Monterrey Pop Festival. A year later she was found dead making Woodstock a legendary performance.
330 AM: SLY & THE FAMILY STONE- My Lady- Sing A Simple Song- You Can Make It If Your Try- Everyday People- Dance To the Music- Music Lover- I Want To Take You Higher- Love City- Stand!
Already a popular band with their hits this performance made gave them even more exposure. Although Sly had been known to be difficult to work with & had a bad reputation with large crowds. But on this night he & the band shined with what they said was the performance of their life. He woke people out of their sleeping bags at almost four in the morning with an electric set of psychedelic funk.
500 AM: THE WHO setlist- Heaven & Hell-I Can't Explain- (Tommy in its entirety) It's A Boy-1921- Amazing Journey- Sparks- Eyesite to the Blind- Christmas- Tommy Can You Hear Me- Acid Queen- Pinball Wizard- Do You Think It's Alright- Fiddle About- There's A Dr. I Found- 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
The Who were atop the world with their success of the recently released Rock-opera Tommy. They were to be the second to last act of Saturday night but didn't get on stage until 500am Sunday. It was daybreak when they finished.
Ten songs into the set, activist Abbie Hoffman jumped on stage and started ranting about an arrested friend. Pete Townshend hit him in the head with his guitar. Abbie was thrown into the crowd and slithered away, not to be seen again any where near the stage.
The Airplane were at the height of their fame at this point in time, they had hit songs, hit albums & psychedelic icons.
They were already veterans of all the Festivals & the leaders of the San Francisco Haight
Ashbury sound. The Airplane were the headliners for Saturday night but due to the delays, they didn't get on stage until day break Sunday morning, officially ending a super Day Two.
Grace Slick woke anyone who wasn't up with "Good Morning People, You have seen the heavy groups, now you'll see morning maniac music, yea, believe me, Its the new Dawn" how prophetic.
Quill's management was Woodstock promoter Michael Lang, so his band got the gig. The week prior they were busy entertaining the stage crew & festival workers. Also as a good will gesture, Woodstock ventures had them play local prisons, mental hospitals & half way houses to appease the locals. Quill handed out percussion instruments to the audience & played a good set. They didn't make the film because the audio & video was malfunctioning during their songs.
Country Joe, was Janis Joplin's boyfriend at the time & although scheduled to play a set with his band the Fish on Sunday, agreed to play an acoustic set this afternoon because non of the scheduled acts had arrived yet.
He screamed out his classic Fish Cheer-which during live performances became the F-U-C-% CHEER". "Gimmie an F- Gimmie a U- Gimmie a C- *** What's that Spell?" and the crowd responded. McDonald had composed th change at a New York Central Park concert the previous year. Most of the NY area crowd were familiar with it. His anti war Feel Like I'm Fixin' got a standing ovation & huge sing along response as can be seen in the film.
At the time Santana were still unknown to most. They came from the San Francisco music scene & were regulars at Bill Grahm's Filmore's. Grahm got them a spot at Woodstock, they blew the crowd away & propelled into stardom. Soul Sacrifice with Santana's solo & 20 year old drummer Michael Shrieve's long drum solo is a high point of the film.
Carlos Santana had just turned only 22 years old. He is seen grimacing during his set because he was tripping on mescaline at the time. Jerry Garcia told him they were going on before the Dead, probably around midnight, so he figured he'd be coming down by then. One thing led to another & they said, 'You're on!"
330 PM: JOHN SEBASTIAN set list- How Have You Been- Rainbows All Over Your Blues- I Had A Dream- Darling Be Home Soon- Younger GenerationJohn Sebastian was a big star at the time, coming off a great bunch of hits as the lead singer of The Lovin Spoonful with songs like Summer in the City- Day Dream- Do You Believe In Magic- You Didn't Have to be So Nice & Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind.
Sebastian a former Greenwich Village resident, lived nearby in the town of Woodstock and came to the festival as a fan; he didn't even have his guitar with him. He was urged backstage to buy more time because of rain delays & sound problems. He did a phenomenal acoustic set that made its way into the film & album only adding to his legacy. Sebastian was tripping on acid during his performance because he didn't expect to play.
This was an English band, and in 1962 Drummer Keef Hartley made history by replacing Ringo Starr in Rory Storm & the Hurricanes when he moved on to join the Beatles.
545 PM: MAX YASGUR's Speech
Due to play Friday after Shankar but the rain meant they could only do an acoustic set. They got Saturdays bill after Santana & before Canned Heat, not good for the English folk band.
730 PM: CANNED HEAT setlist- A Change Is Gonna Come- Leaving This Town- The Bear Talks- Going Up Country- I'm Her Man- Lets Work Together- Too Many Drivers at the Wheel- I Know My Baby- Woodstock Boogie- On The Road Again
In the Directors cut & 40th anniversary versions of the film, the band is seen playing live at dusk. Tragedy & drugs plagued the band after Woodstock.
Felix Pappalardi had produced three Cream albums and formed a trio Heavy Rock band of his own when he found Long Islands big man Leslie West. Mountain had only played three live shows as a band before Woodstock. Corky Lang was a roadie that night & he became the bands drummer a year later.
The Dead's performance had never been released until 2009, finally. They considered it one of their worst gigs. They were stoned, and ran late due to technical problems & delays.
Their heavy equipment was too large for the stage and it was feared it may collapse during the set. Technical difficulties from the rains flooding was causing electrical shocks on the instruments and mics. Bob Weir was shocked & flung off the ground, after that everyone was paranoid about getting electrocuted.
During the set they kept getting delayed, they had long pauses between songs and the sound never got fully repaired. It added to the festivals chaos. They were received pretty well, being so popular at the time & their 45 minute version of Lovelight was deemed fantastic.
Fogerty claims the crowd were asleep and or stoned from what he could see. Bodies all laid out covered in mud. He said he noticed a guy in the crowd with a lighter saying "We're with ya john" & he played the rest of the set just for him.
Janis was no longer with Big Brother & the Holding Co. she was just feeling her way in front of the new Kosmic Blues Band. The hard drinking was starting to take a toll on her, the long delays & partying of the day didn't help. Her performances were not in the original film or on the album but they are now available on later releases.
An incredible performer, Janis could have been better at Woodstock and wasn't as good as she was at the 1967 Monterrey Pop Festival. A year later she was found dead making Woodstock a legendary performance.
330 AM: SLY & THE FAMILY STONE- My Lady- Sing A Simple Song- You Can Make It If Your Try- Everyday People- Dance To the Music- Music Lover- I Want To Take You Higher- Love City- Stand!Already a popular band with their hits this performance made gave them even more exposure. Although Sly had been known to be difficult to work with & had a bad reputation with large crowds. But on this night he & the band shined with what they said was the performance of their life. He woke people out of their sleeping bags at almost four in the morning with an electric set of psychedelic funk.
500 AM: THE WHO setlist- Heaven & Hell-I Can't Explain- (Tommy in its entirety) It's A Boy-1921- Amazing Journey- Sparks- Eyesite to the Blind- Christmas- Tommy Can You Hear Me- Acid Queen- Pinball Wizard- Do You Think It's Alright- Fiddle About- There's A Dr. I Found- 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 EyeThe Who were atop the world with their success of the recently released Rock-opera Tommy. They were to be the second to last act of Saturday night but didn't get on stage until 500am Sunday. It was daybreak when they finished.
Pete Townshend hated playing the event, he called it a bunch of tripping hippies in mud walking around thinking the world was going to be different, which he said wasn't going to happen.
Roger Daltry loved Woodstock. He said it was one of the best gigs the Who ever played.
The Who were amazing, totally on top of their game as seen in the film & heard on the album. Along with the success of Tommy, Woodstock put them into super stardom in America.
Dawn begins to break in the distance skies as Pete smashes his guitar and throws it into the audience. Quite a souvenir for some happy concert goers.
700AM: JEFFERSON AIRPLANE set list- The Other Side of This Life- Somebody To Love- 3/5 of a Mile in Ten Seconds- Won't You Try Saturday Afternoon- Eskimo Blue Day- Plastic Fantastic Lover- Wooden Ships- Incle Sam Blues- Volunteers- The Ballad of You, Me & Pooneil- Come Back Baby- White Rabbit- The House at Pooneil Corners
Ashbury sound. The Airplane were the headliners for Saturday night but due to the delays, they didn't get on stage until day break Sunday morning, officially ending a super Day Two.
Grace Slick woke anyone who wasn't up with "Good Morning People, You have seen the heavy groups, now you'll see morning maniac music, yea, believe me, Its the new Dawn" how prophetic.
The Airplane set was great, maybe a little tired since they were up all night backstage partying as well. Looking back it was their last high point before a slow decline of a great band.
