Michael Wadleigh’s film captured the beauty and chaos of the three-day rock festival.
The three-day rock concert, which took place in August 1969, was actually a financial bust.
Then, the rain rolled in and turned it into a big mess.
Credit: Tucker Ransom/Getty Images, Photos International/Getty Images; Getty Images, Shutterstock (2)
But the power of filmmaking made it seem like paradise on Earth.
And who knows, to fans who actuallywerethere, maybe it was?
Wadleigh’sWoodstockhas been re-released a number of times in various forms.
Ahead, we rank all of the musical performances from the doc.
If the placement makes you upset, try not to get uptight, man.
It starts out great, but turns into a whole lot of noodling with nothing to say.
Lee isn’t too dynamic of a singer, either.
They fit somewhere in betweenDonny and MarieandThe Muppets.
It’s one of the film’s great moments.
It’s very good, but it isn’t perfect.
I do love how they emerge from darkness, on what was only the supergroup’s second gig.
(Bar trivia patrons, take note: It was co-written by actor Louis Gossett Jr.!)
It’s a perfect way to kick off the movie.
This section of his set has him blazing solo on free-form guitar.
Everyone fromPrinceto Eddie Van Halen toSonic Youthcribbed from this.
For pure instrumentation, this is one ofWoodstock’s highlights.
But there’s something special about how it fits in withWoodstock’s larger edit.
Down with money and down with pants!
(literally, they just shout the word), then we go into thisJames Brown-ish track with pseudo-Doorskeyboards.
It was also in protest of America’s involvement in Vietnam.
(He was incarcerated for refusing military induction, and ultimately served 15 months in prison.)
Each member of the group is shot in close-up as they caterwaul, harmonize, and groove.
About halfway through, it breaks down into a freestyle electric wail.
“The ‘FISH’ Cheer” is just a good bit of anti-authority cussing (maybe even proto-punk?
Joplin emerges from darkness, checking in with her audience.
“Are you staying stoned and have you got enough water and a place to sleep and everything?”
See, she cares!
Daltrey’s fringe white costume takes on an avian quality as the medley makes its powerful climax.
But, like a good camp counselor, he also implores everyone to clean up after themselves.
It’s a really sweet moment.
When Richie Havens took the stage as the first act, he was told to go long.
Nobody was there yet to go on after him.
And it sounded great.
This triggered a memory of “Motherless Child,” a spiritual that was popularized by folk revivalist Odetta.
He blended the two into a medley and created an anthem.
Isn’t the whole peace-and-love thing supposed to represent anendto such meaningless competition?
“Summertime Blues” The Who
Led Zeppelindidn’t play Woodstock, but they didn’t have to.
Eventheycouldn’t have been as heavy as the Who were here.
Yet, it’s a perfect vehicle for mayhem.
It’s the mighty Hendrix’s first appearance in the film and he issucha commanding presence.
At one moment during his fiery solo, he just stops strumming.
He’s still working the frets, though, and the sound is the same.
Is he…playing the guitar with his mind?
A sorcerer, truly.
At the end, he starts playing with his teeth, just to mess with you.
First, this song has a terrific, infectious melody.
Next, there are the visuals.
For some, “Coming Into Los Angeles” is marijuana’s national anthem.
(The Band was there, too, but they aren’t in the movie.)
Then, the biggest laugh of the entire film: “The New York State Throughway is closed.
Isn’t thatFAR OUT?!”
Look at this performance for what it is and you’ll recognize its brilliance.
It starts off like it might be trouble, with Joe Cocker mumbling.
Then, there’s the organ and guitar build on this emotional rearrangement of the somewhat doofyRingo-sungBeatlestune.
There looks like it’s no end of performers.
Just how many people areinthis group?
(The answer is six.)
The chaos adds to the spontaneity of the jam.
As Hendrix bends the notes and expands the melody, it mutates into the avant-garde.
At its most squealing, it is hardly recognizable.
They make perfect bookends.
There’s no better way to represent that than anewnational anthem.
