New York, NY (Top40 Charts) This summer will be the 50th anniversary of Woodstock, the defining event of a generation and one of the most iconic moments in popular music history. Despite its enduring cultural significance, no one has ever attempted to document the historic festival as it unfolded in real time. That is precisely what producers Andy Zax and Steve Woolard have done with a new 38-disc, 432-track boxed set that includes a near complete reconstruction of Woodstock across nearly 36 hours, with every artist performance from the festival included in chronological order. The collection boasts 267 previously unreleased audio tracks, totaling nearly 20 hours.
Limited to 1,969 individually numbered copies, WOODSTOCK - BACK TO THE GARDEN - THE DEFINITIVE 50TH ANNIVERSARY ARCHIVE comes in a screen-printed plywood box with canvas insert inspired by the Woodstock stage set up, designed by Grammy®-winning graphic designer Masaki Koike. The set also includes a Blu-ray copy of the Woodstock film, a replica of the original program, a guitar strap, two Woodstock posters, a reprint of a diary written by an attendee during the festival, two 8x10 prints from legendary rock photographer Henry Diltz, and essays by Zax, acclaimed music scribe
Jesse Jarnow, and trailblazing rock critic
Ellen Sander. Also included is a copy of Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace &
Music (Reel Art Press), a comprehensive new hardbound book about the event written by Michael Lang, one of the festival's co-creators. The collection will be available on August 2 for $799.98. Pre-orders are available now at www.rhino.com/woodstock50, bundled with four exclusive 18x15 lithographs by Dale Saltzman, based on banners that were onsite at the original festival.
Rhino also will release two other collections earlier in the summer on June 28. WOODSTOCK - BACK TO THE GARDEN - 50TH ANNIVERSARY EXPERIENCE features 162 tracks across 10 CDs and is the first Woodstock collection to feature live recordings of every performer at the festival ($149.98). WOODSTOCK - BACK TO THE GARDEN - 50TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION includes 42 tracks and will be available as a both 3-CD ($34.98) and 5-LP ($129.98) sets. The 10-disc version will also be available via digital download.
Between August 15-18, 1969, more than 400,000 people converged on Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm in upstate New York for Woodstock. Thirty-two acts performed including some of the most popular and influential musicians of the era such as Joan Baez, The Band, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Sly and the Family Stone, and The Who.
The concert spawned Michael Wadleigh's Oscar®-winning documentary as well as a pair of soundtrack albums. Together, the film and records have created a popular mythology surrounding Woodstock, one that only paints a partial picture of what actually happened. BACK TO THE GARDEN, producer Andy Zax writes in the liner notes, is intended to let people hear the festival as it really happened.
"Wadleigh's film tells a story of Woodstock, but it doesn't tell the story...This 50th anniversary archive — which presents nearly all of the audio from the festival in something approximating real time — tells a different kind of story. If Wadleigh's film is a kind of psychedelic Busby
Berkeley musical, Back To The Garden is an audio-verité documentary…All of the mythology of Woodstock is here in this box; or at least, everything that would eventually create that mythology. The reality is here, too. And neither invalidates the other."
The time-consuming challenge of reconstructing the concert audio began with locating the more than 60 multi-track reels recorded by Eddie Kramer and Lee Osborne, as well as the 100 or so soundboard reels recorded by the onstage crew. Sorting through those tapes - some of which had been edited, mislabeled or lost - and then reassembling them properly was a process that, in some cases, took years to complete.
Zax says he, sound producer Brian Kehew and mastering engineer Dave Schultz avoided interfering with the tapes as much as possible in order to preserve their authenticity. "It's not surprising that other producers' first reaction to these tapes over the years has been 'uh-oh,' immediately followed by 'we've gotta find a way to fix this.' I'm not unsympathetic to that approach, but if there's a single overriding lesson that Brian Kehew and I have learned since we began working with the Woodstock tapes in 2005, it's this: you can't fix them… That's less grim than it seems, because once you've accepted the idea that there is no way to make these recordings sound slick, you realize that these tapes are the sonic equivalent of heirloom tomatoes — slightly imperfect, but delicious."
In some cases, however, they needed to take advantage of new technology to perform much-needed restorations that would not have been possible just a few years ago. Zax says: "The only surviving recording of Ravi Shankar's Woodstock performance…is a mono reel with less than optimal sound. But the breakthrough de-mixing process developed by
James Clarke at Abbey Road Studios allowed us to isolate and extract the parts played by each instrument and then create a new stereo mix. Similarly, recent improvements in polyphonic tuning have allowed us to repair previously unfixable horn parts in the Blood, Sweat &
Tears performance, allowing it, for the first time, to be heard as originally intended."
But the Woodstock audio isn't solely about music: it's also about the people who were there. Fortunately, the microphones were left on throughout the festival, capturing everything from stagehands discussing lunch and audience members shouting requests for baseball scores, to Max Yasgur's uplifting address to the audience gathered on his farm.
You can also hear the cavalcade of stage announcements made by stage manager John Morris and lighting director Chip Monck, who were drafted as emcees for the festival because no one hired one. On all three of these new anniversary collections, you can hear them between songs making announcements about everything from lost keys to warnings about "flat blue acid." The final disc in the 38-disc box serves as an appendix and contains ancillary recordings and a few bits of audio whose placement within the sequence could not be confirmed.
As the cliché goes: If you can remember the 1960s, you weren't there. BACK TO THE GARDEN provides a way for people who weren't there to remember them. And for anyone who was there, perhaps this will jog their memory.
WOODSTOCK- BACK TO THE GARDEN - THE DEFINITIVE 50TH ANNIVERSARY ARCHIVE
Includes Full Performances by the Following Artists (In Chronological Order)
Richie Havens
Sweetwater
Bert Sommer
Tim Hardin
Ravi Shankar
Melanie
Arlo Guthrie
Joan Baez
Quill
Country Joe McDonald
Santana
John B. Sebastian
The Keef Hartley Band
The Incredible String Band
Canned Heat
Mountain
Grateful Dead
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Janis Joplin
Sly & The Family Stone
The Who
Jefferson Airplane
Joe Cocker
Country Joe & The Fish
Ten Years After
The Band
Johnny Winter
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Crosby,
Stills & Nash
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
The Butterfield Blues Band
Sha Na Na
Jimi Hendrix
WOODSTOCK - BACK TO THE GARDEN - 50TH ANNIVERSARY EXPERIENCE 10 -CD Track Listing
Disc One
Richie Havens
Hello!
"From The Prison>Get Together>From The Prison"
"High Flying Bird"
"With A
Little Help From My Friends"
"Handsome Johnny"
"
Freedom"
It seems there are a few cars blocking the road - John Morris
Sweetwater
"Look Out"
"Day Song"
"Two Worlds"
Bert Sommer
"Jennifer"
"And When It's Over"
"
America"
"
Smile"
Let's see how bright it can be - John Morris
Tim Hardin
"How Can We Hang On To A Dream"
"If I Were A Carpenter"
"
Reason To Believe"
"Misty Roses"
We're a pretty big city right now- John Morris
Disc Two
Somebody, somewhere is giving out some flat blue acid - John Morris
Ravi Shankar
"Raga Manj Kmahaj"
Melanie
"Momma Momma"
"
Beautiful People"
"Mr. Tambourine Man"
"Birthday Of The Sun"
It's a free concert from now on - John Morris
Arlo Guthrie
"Coming Into Los Angeles"
Lotta freaks!
"Wheel Of Fortune"
"Walking Down The Line"
"Every Hand In The Land"
Let's just make the festival, not the other stuff - John Morris
Joan Baez
"The Last Thing On My Mind"
"I Shall Be Released"
He already had a very, very good hunger strike going
"Joe Hill"
"Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man" - featuring Jeffrey Shurtleff
That brings us fairly close to the dawn - John Morris
I guess the reason we're here is music - John Morris
Quill
"They Live The Life"
"That's How I Eat"
Disc Three
Can those of you in the back hear well? - Chip Monck
Country Joe McDonald
"Janis"
"Donovan's Reef"
"The "Fish" Cheer/I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag"
Those wishing to be lost, those wishing to be found - Chip Monck
Santana
"Savor"
"Jingo"
"Persuasion"
"Soul Sacrifice"
An exciting set is understandable - Chip Monck
John B. Sebastian
"How Have You Been"
"Rainbows All Over Your Blues"
"I Had A Dream"
"Darling Be Home Soon"
The Keef Hartley Band
Halfbreed Medley: "Sinning For You>Leaving Trunk>Just To Cry>Sinning For You"
Bring Jerry's nitroglycerin pills to the Indian Pavilion - Chip Monck
Disc Four
Go to Mr. Lang's office right away - Chip Monck
The Incredible String Band
"Invocation"
"
The Letter"
"Gather 'Round"
"When You Find Out Who You Are"
If things aren't going well for you or whatever - Chip Monck & Hugh Romney
Canned Heat
"Going Up The Country"
"Woodstock Boogie"
Can we have a little juice on this other microphone, please? - Bob Hite & Chip Monck
"On The Road Again"
It's your own trip - Chip Monck
Disc Five
We'll take care of that right away - Chip Monck
Mountain
"Theme For An Imaginary Western"
"Long Red"
"Who Am I But You And The Sun (For Yasgur's Farm)"
"Southbound Train"
Open your eyes wide - Chip Monck & Joshua White
So many people have been able to participate in such a debacle - Ken Babbs
Grateful Dead
"Mama Tried"
It's a sinister plot! - Ken Babbs, Country Joe McDonald, et al
"
Dark Star"
"High Time"
You're carrying Janis's wah-wah pedals - John Morris
Creedence Clearwater Revival
"Green River"
"Bad Moon Rising"
"
I Put A Spell On You"
It's going to be a very long evening - Chip Monck
Disc Six
Janis Joplin
"To Love Somebody"
"Kozmic Blues"
"
Piece Of My Heart"
Music's for grooving, man
"Ball And Chain"
Just in case you should get any ideas about leaving - Chip Monck
Sly & The Family Stone
Medley: "Everyday People>Dance To The Music>Music Lover>I Want To Take You Higher"
Are you supposed to be up there rapping? No, man. - Abbie Hoffman & stagehand
The Who
"
I Can't Explain"
"Pinball Wizard"
I can dig it - Abbie Hoffman & Pete Townshend
"
We're Not Gonna Take It"
"Shakin' All Over"
"
My Generation"
Welcome this new day - Chip Monck
Disc Seven
Jefferson Airplane
"The Other Side Of This Life"
"
Somebody To Love"
Let's play it out of tune -
Grace Slick
"3/5 Of A Mile In 10 Seconds"
"Won't You Try/Saturday Afternoon"
We got a whole lot of orange and it was fine -
Grace Slick
"Plastic Fantastic Lover"
"Volunteers"
If you're too tired to chew, pass it on - Hugh Romney
The roads are fairly clear now - John Morris
This is the largest group of people ever assembled in one place - Max Yasgur
Joe Cocker
"Dear Landlord"
"Feelin' Alright"
"Let's Go Get Stoned"
"Hitchcock Railway"
"With A
Little Help From My Friends"
Isn't the rain beautiful? - John Morris, Barry Melton, rainstorm & audience
Disc Eight
Country Joe & The Fish
"Rock And Soul Music"
"Love"
"Silver And Gold"
"Rock And Soul Music" (Reprise)
Ten Years After
"
Help Me"
"
I'm Going Home"
Come down and say hello to us - Chip Monck
The Band
"Chest Fever"
"Tears Of Rage"
"This Wheel's On Fire"
"I Shall Be Released"
"The Weight"
We've just had a slight change in running order - Chip Monck
Disc Nine
It's really a drag - Chip Monck
Johnny Winter
"Leland Mississippi Blues"
"Mean Town Blues"
"Johnny B. Goode"
It just doesn't seem to be necessary - Chip Monck
Blood, Sweat & Tears
"More And More"
"Spinning Wheel"
"Smiling Phases"
"You've Made Me So Very Happy"
Crosby,
Stills & Nash
Tell 'em who we are, man
"Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"
"
Blackbird"
"Marrakesh Express"
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
"Sea Of Madness"
"Wooden Ships"
Bummer!
"49 Bye-Byes"
Disc Ten
The Butterfield Blues Band
"No Amount Of Loving"
"Love March"
"
Everything's Gonna Be Alright"
Sha Na Na
Test - Chip Monck & Sha Na Na
"Get A Job"
"
Come Go With Me"
"
Silhouettes"
"At The Hop"
"Duke Of Earl"
"Get A Job" (Reprise)
Thank you for making all this possible - Chip Monck
Jimi Hendrix
"Hear My
Train A Comin'"
"Izabella"
"The Star Spangled Banner>Purple Haze"
Good wishes, good day, and a good life - Chip Monck
WOODSTOCK - BACK TO THE GARDEN - 50TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION
3-CD Track Listing (5-LP Version Also Available)
Disc One
"Handsome Johnny" - Richie Havens
"Freedom (Motherless Child)" - Richie Havens
Everybody's ground getting comfortable? - John Morris
"
Reason To Believe" - Tim Hardin
It's deadly serious, man - John Morris
"Coming Into Los Angeles" - Arlo Guthrie
Lotta Freaks! - Arlo Guthrie
"Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man" - Joan Baez With Jeffrey Shurtleff
Please come down - Chip Monck
"The "Fish" Cheer/I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag" - Country Joe McDonald
"Jingo" - Santana
"Soul Sacrifice" - Santana
Helen Savage, please call your father - Chip Monck
"Darling Be Home Soon" - John B. Sebastian
It's not poison! - Hugh Romney
"Going Up The Country" - Canned Heat
"On The Road Again" - Canned Heat
Disc Two
Country common sense! - Chip Monck, Country Joe Mcdonald, Ken Babbs
"
Dark Star" - Grateful Dead
We've got the keys to your house - John Morris
"Bad Moon Rising" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
"
I Put A Spell On You" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
"Kozmic Blues" - Janis Joplin
"
Piece Of My Heart" - Janis Joplin
Medley: "Dance To The Music>Music Lover>I Want To Take You Higher" - Sly & The Family Stone
"
We're Not Gonna Take It" - The Who
"
My Generation" - The Who
"
Somebody To Love" - Jefferson Airplane
"Volunteers" - Jefferson Airplane
We must be in heaven, man! - Hugh Romney
Disc Three
I think you people have proven something to the world - Max Yasgur
"With A
Little Help From My Friends" - Joe Cocker
Looks like we're gonna get a little bit of rain - John Morris
"
I'm Going Home" - Ten Years After
"The Weight" - The Band
"Spinning Wheel" - Blood, Sweat & Tears
"Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" - Crosby,
Stills & Nash
"Sea Of Madness" - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
"Wooden Ships" - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
"Love March" - The Butterfield Blues Band
"At The Hop" - Sha Na Na
It's been a delight seeing you - Chip Monck
