Customer Reviews

Woodstock: Lost Performances [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Any video of outtakes from the hundreds of miles of film taken at the 1969 Woodstock festival is definitely worth owning. Despite the flaws, WOODSTOCK: THE LOST PERFORMANCES has enough footage unreleased to satisfy those like myself who crave any and every pice of Woodstock audio/video that is available.
First the bad stuff: The video starts with a completely awful and useless introduction that should have never been made. The footage needs no narration so why have that moron say anything?

Some of the performances are poorly edited: The Band's "The Weight" is severely cut, so is Paul Butterfield's "Drifting Blues." The final performance, a delightful version of "Strawberry Fields" by Richie Havens is interrupted by the final credits rolling over the screen, and then a fade out while he's still singing (absolutely criminal). I wish they could have added some more outtakes such as Mountain, Johnny Winter, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jefferson Airplane...etc. There's so much more footage they could have put on, who knows where to start? Luckily, we can see more of Sly & The Family Stone, John Sebastian, Country Joe, Arlo Guthrie, Canned Heat, Joe Cocker...
All the performances are great, I hope more are released soon.

John Sebastian, Ritchie Havens, Paul Butterfield, Melanie, Tim Harnden, Janis, and Sly...just the tip of why anyone who loves music-live music-must own this. These performances captured me one after another. There's defenitally a certain level of intimacy that a viewer can't get from "Woodstock, the Movie". This turned me on to performers I thought were just "o.k." and it is the best Crosby, Stills, and Nash performance I've ever seen or heard. If the opening credits weren't so cheesy, this would be a solid 5 stars.

I admit it. I was NOT at Woodstock. I had to work that weekend. (Also, I was a Midwestern, urban kid who knew little if any of the bands who'd played there!)

Still, it's become a fairy tale for me--despite its weaknesses which could be the subject of another commentary. It SHOULDN'T have worked, but did.

So this is a must for those who've endeared Woodstock.

The performances aren't as flashy as The Who or Ten Years After. I quite liked Paul Butterfield, but, then, I like well-done blues. Even Blood Sweat and Tears was a worthwhile performance. And Tim Hardin really moved me.

The Janis Joplin portion of the tape might be disappointing to real Joplin fans. I suppose some of the color tape didn't show up that good, so they alternated between color and black and white. I little disCONCERTing, but I'll survive it.

The little high-speed commentary was cute at best, but that's okay. It added a little texture to what may have seemed more boring if it were JUST music.

The tape's weakness is that I've listened to it just a couple of times and the audio is out of whack. So I hope this comes out in DVD to add to the other interesting Woodstock tidbits I've collected.

Hmm...maybe a longer one, with Johnny Winter and others might be even better!

Should be noted : this is a two part video release.

Total running time is 168 Minutes:

I just got part one only, contains performances by:

Richie Havens , Joan Baez , The Who & Joe Cocker- simply fades to
black at the end of tape ( 68 mins)-

Only indication on the packageing that it's part one is the sel #11762 A

I'm assuming part 2 contains: Sly & the family Stone, Janis Joplin ,
Crosby Stills & Nash , John Sebastian , Arlo Guthrie , Country Joe
McDonald , Paul Butterfield & Canned heat ????

Be careful & Please update this product detail sheet

From the start of this the viewer can see why the pwerfomances were either cut or not used at all - nothing wrong with the material, or the band performances, but the closeups reveal reveal either natural weariness: either the stars drove, or helicoptered in, or some kind of combination involving under-the-counter "enhancers".

Canned Heat's *live* version of GOING UP THE COUNTRY is nowhere near as good as the studio version used on the original film's opening - though I must admit I thought the studio version had been cut live at Woodstock!

Arlo Guthrie presents a good Dylan tune, WALKING DOWN THE LINE, actually in the Woody Guthrie style, but he can't seem to get the crowd interested.

Tim Harden makes an agreeable noise on IF I WERE A CARPENTER, but it's about three minutesv too long - with one million spectators he still seems to lose touch with them, while keeping himself mesmerized. Still, it's a great chance to catch this legendary singer-songwriter at this stage in his career.

Joe Cocker does alright with LET'S GO GET STONED, but those closeups are too much - his unorthodox style is better appreciated on a head-to-toe distance shot - he never learned to keep his tongue inside his mouth - well, whatever works. He sold a few records. Thankfully, his song was NOT used over the opening credits.

Paul Butterfield's DRIFTING BLUES will not make you switch from Charles Bown's original - true, frathouse mediocrity - maybe it came over good upstate?

Sly and the Family Stone is a welcome inclusion, full of forward-thinking funk and pop. Some danceable 4/4 to take us from the cerebral to the physical, for a few minutes.

Richie Havens tune is one of the most interesting: it appears that it was the very first song done at the Festival and his voice is loud and clear - cool that the VHS producers used it as a finale tune.

Now to the proverbial, worth-the-price-of admission: Janis Joplin! One of the greatest pieces of performance footage I have ever seen! WORK ME LORD. I can only imagine it was a *contractual* disagreement which kept it from WOODSTOCK, the film.

this video contained several performances that I missed at Woodstock. The video was in great condition.