Performer Notes

Adapter: Richie Havens.
Audio Mixers: Eddie Kramer; Vic Anesini; Brian Kehew.
Photographers: Jim Marshall ; Jason Laur‚; Raeanne Rubenstein; Henry Diltz; Elliott Landy.
Arrangers: Raeanne Rubenstein; Jimi Hendrix.
In a year filled with them, Rhino offers its own homage to Woodstock's 40th anniversary by rolling out this lavish six-CD box set. Perhaps the most significant aspect of this set is that it contains tracks by almost every single artist who appeared on the Woodstock stage in their proper sequence. We also hear from artists such as Sweetwater, Tim Hardin, Johnny Winter, Mountain, Ravi Shankar, Quill, the Incredible String Band, the Grateful Dead, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Joe Cocker, and Blood, Sweat & Tears, and, of course, stage announcements by Chip Monck, John Morris, and Wavy Gravy.
The producers researched the original set lists exhaustively and present them here along with the music and their choices. The sound, which was done by Eddie Kramer, is as good as it can possibly get. The book is a monster, loaded with photos and featuring Bud Scoppa's wonderfully researched and presented liner essay, whose chapters account for each day, act by act.
Ultimately, however, it all comes down to the music. While we only get "Dark Star" by the Dead, we get (a bit) more music from the Who. The three tracks by CCR are all monsters, and hearing the five tracks by Crosby, Stills & Nash and then Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young all in correct sequence between BS&T and the Butterfield Blues Band is a treat.

Professional Reviews

Entertainment Weekly (p.59) - "[With a] trove of unreleased material, some of it -- three tunes from folkie Bert Sommer, the Grateful Dead's beatific 'Dark Star' -- truly breathtaking." -- Grade: B

Dirty Linen (p.48) - "You get it all: Some of the best bands of the 60s, the rantings of Abbie Hoffman, the rain chants, the announcements...outlining all of the fun..."

Record Collector (magazine) (p.92) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "The first real previously-unheard gems come when Tim Hardin wrenches a fragile 'Hang On To A Dream' from his doomed soul, before a rousing 'Sing A Simple Song Of Freedom'..."

Uncut (magazine) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Space is awarded to Quill, Sweetwater and Mountain, recognising perhaps that this was an even as much about the little guys as it was the stars."