This collection contains performances by five of the many bands that appeared at the original Woodstock Music Festival in 1969.
Whether listeners feel that this set is another rip-off by the record companies to cash-in on the music/nostalgia from/for that era is something each person will have to decide for themselves. Giving the record company a break,they did package this set nicely.
By now most people already own if not the original albums or CDs,the latest versions which have "bonus" tracks appended to them,some from Woodstock. So having the original albums once again doesn't really matter.
The worst offender in this collection is the SANTANA set-which contains one unreleased track. Likewise the Janis Joplin set,which contains three unreleased songs. So purchasing these sets doesn't make a lot of sense unless you're a collector,or for some reason you don't own any of this music.
The set by JEFFERSON AIRPLANE contains seven unreleased tracks (including an introduction),most of which is good,powerful music. This live set is one of the highlights of the festival. The seven tracks,some very long, are worth owning for most listeners simply because its good music,with a lot of great guitar work,along with a great rhythm section,and some great vocals.
The SLY and the FAMILY STONE package contains six unreleased songs. Listeners will have to decide for themselves if all the new tracks are to their liking-some are better than others. But it is nice to have the performances in one package.
The Johnny Winter set,as far as unreleased music,is probably the best of the lot. There are seven unreleased tracks here,which include his brother,Edgar,along with Winter's rhythm section of bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer "Uncle" John Turner. Winter's guitar is simply scorching here all through his entire set.
Now,the packaging and "extras". If you purchase the box set,the individual packages are housed in a substantial cardboard box-nothing flimsy,with what is described below. If bought separately,each group's albums come in a fairly substantial cardboard slip-case. Overall the graphics on these packages are nicely done-nothing shoddy looking,just straight forward information about the band and track listings,with color photographs. Inside,each album is in a nice cardboard sleeve,one of which is a recreation of the original album graphics. The sleeve holding the live tracks have color photographs of the band at Woodstock. Inside that is a paper sleeve with track information and a short paragraph about that band at Woodstock.
Each set has a poster included,which is nice to have but certainly not essential,of the band playing live. The box set also contains a recreation of the Woodstock poster advertising the event. Its to bad that the posters have to be folded so many times in order to fit in the box. Again,not essential but nice to have for nostalgia's sake.
As I said at the top of this review-listeners will have to decide for themselves if purchasing the box set,or individual packages makes sense. Collectors may want the box set,while most people will,maybe,be satisfied with the individual sets.
Getting away from the money-making aspect of it all-listeners will have to agree that this music is indeed great,if not important. Listening to it all again still makes the pulse race,and that is a sure sign of good music.
