The Woodstock Experience
RCA/Legacy
Yes, it’s been 40 years. This is one of five releases in a series from Legacy that pairs studio albums from 1969 with the artist’s previously unissued complete Woodstock performance. The other limited-edition, individually numbered, two-CD sets are by Janis Joplin, Santana, Sly & the Family Stone and Johnny Winter.
“Volunteers,” the studio component of the Airplane’s “Woodstock Experience” that followed the festival by just a few months, was the apex of the band’s career: It opens and closes with two of their most essential songs; does a nice rotation that lets Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, Marty Balin and Jorma Kaukonen all do lead vocals on at least one song; shifts gears effortlessly between psych rock, blues, acid rock and country; and features one of Jerry Garcia’s rare guest appearances on pedal steel. Nicky Hopkins (piano) and Stephen Stills (Hammond organ!) also help out.
Completing the “Experience” is JA’s legendary Woodstock set, which even in bootleg form has never been available in its entirety. In fact, prior to this package, the most determined Internet researcher would have been hard-pressed to locate an accurate setlist. Hopkins augments the lineup for all 13 songs.
The fast-tempo take on Fred Neil’s folk-blues number “The Other Side of this Life” (originally on the live “Bless Its Pointed Little Head”) is the crown jewel, heretofore only available in an underground version that cuts out early — probably having been taken from the director’s cut of “Woodstock.”
Other standouts from the Woodstock portion include the 20-minute “Wooden Ships,” a Kantner/Crosby/Stills composition that in its studio version on “Volunteers” bested Crosby, Stills & Nash’s on their debut; a couple of traditional songs sung by Kaukonen that later surfaced on spin-off band Hot Tuna’s acoustic self-titled first album and electric sophomore album, “Uncles Sam Blues” and “Come Back Baby,” respectively; and the two “Pooneil” songs: “The Ballad of You & Me & Pooneil” (from 1967’s “After Bathing at Baxter’s”) and “The House at Pooneil Corners” (from 1968’s “Crown of Creation”) — Pooneil being Kantner’s fusion of Winnie the Pooh and Fred Neil.
Kudos to Eddie Kramer and Lee Osborne for their original eight-track Woodstock recordings, Legacy for getting them out of the vault, Brian Kehew for the mixing and Vic Anesini for the mastering.
Tracks
Disc 1:
VOLUNTEERS
1. We Can Be Together
2. Good Shepherd
3. The Farm
4. Hey Frederick
5. Turn My Life Down
6. Wooden Ships
7. Eskimo Blue Day
8. A Song For All Seasons
9. Meadowlands
10. Volunteers
WOODSTOCK PERFORMANCE – PART ONE
11. Introduction *
12. The Other Side Of This Life *
13. Somebody To Love
14. 3/5 Of A Mile In 10 Seconds *
15. Won’t You Try / Saturday Afternoon
16. Eskimo Blue Day
Disc 2:
WOODSTOCK PERFORMANCE – PART TWO
1. Plastic Fantastic Lover
2. Wooden Ships *
3. Uncle Sam Blues
4. Volunteers
5. The Ballad Of You & Me & Pooneil *
6. Come Back Baby *
7. White Rabbit
8. The House At Pooneil Corners *
*previously unissued
Total time: 2:24:02
External links
artist’s website
amazon.com
iTunes Store
