Woodstock 70's Playlist #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday, and that means Music!  Welcome to another edition of Music Moves Me, brought to you by these fine bloggers:

Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers? 

We are bloggers who blog about music each Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please!)   First, there is XmasDolly.  Her co-hosts are: Stacy of Stacy Uncorked, Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, and me. 

Each month we have a guest conductor. Today, we again welcome - ME!

My theme for today is "Because it was so much fun last time we did it, how about we build a playlist of one decade?"

When I created the themes for August, I did not dream that my spouse and I would visit the site of the iconic Woodstock concert in the town of Bethel, New York, held August 15-18, 1969.  We have passed within perhaps 10 miles of the site so many times over the last 30 plus years.  In mid June, we finally decided to take the two hour trip and actually see it.

And we're in the middle of the 52nd anniversary today.  So let's take a little detour before the music, shall we, and see a little of the Woodstock festival site? (I also invite you to come back tomorrow, when I blog about an unplanned meeting with an eyewitness (sort of) to Woodstock.

The land.  It's beautiful rural country.  After all, this was once a dairy farm, the largest in Sullivan County, New York, owned by one Max Yasgur.

Where the musicians played, August 15-18, 1969.

The museum on the site, which is devoted to the history of the festival, and temporary exhibits related to the 1960's and early 1970's. Concerts are still held (paused for COVID-19, but back now) on the site several times each summer.

Why was the event called Woodstock when it wasn't held in Woodstock?  Well, they were driven out of the original site because "hippies" weren't wanted there, and, as you can see, there was no love lost between those folks and the organizers of the festival.  But the name remained the same because this was almost a last minute scramble.  Literally, they found a new site a month before the festival took place.

 Actually, it was a miracle the festival took place at all. 

(Incidentally, in case you are wondering, you will see the word "kill" in many place names in the area. It means "body of water" in Dutch.)

Sign by an exhibit in the museum

This modern sign, though, is just a little..let's hope it is past history soon.

Interested in all the songs played at Woodstock?  Here's a list of artists and songs. 

I might be shorting myself, in a way, with my theme for today.  For some of these groups, their best music was in the 1960's.  I had decided on another 1970's playlist.

But I don't want to do a Woodstock playlist - I did that last year.  So what I decided to do is build a 1970's playlist, but include artists/groups who performed at Woodstock.  So, it's like taking these people and looking into their future.  Shall we begin?

Some say that Woodstock never would have happened without Creedence Clearwater Revival, as they were the first major group to sign on.  So, a couple of 70's hits from them starts us off.

Some consider Fortunate Son, from 1970, as their best song.  Contrary to some popular opinion, this song is not a paean to draft dodgers. 

Also from 1970, Have You Ever Seen the Rain" is one of my personal favorites.  I may have had this on my blog before.  I don't care.

Then, there was Santana. 

An instrumental from Carlos Santana - 1971's Samba Pa Ti.

Also from 1970, Oye Como Va.

Next, there is Melanie Safka.  My spouse can't stand her.  I like her.  What can I say?  I admit, her voice is a bit "different".   I'm choosing "What Have They Done to My Song, Ma" from 1970.  It starts kind of fun, and then...I so love when she switches to French.

Arlo Guthrie comes next, and I must include his cover of "City of New Orleans", a 1972 hit, because I love it so. I chose a later live performance where he explains how he came to first hear the song.

Next up, The Who.  Their setlist at Woodstock was mainly their album Tommy, and that album is not my favorite of theirs.  So, a couple from The Who in the 1970's.  First, from 1971, Behind Blue Eyes.

Then, from 1971, Baba O'Riley.  Oh, that beginning...I just love it.

Blood, Sweat and Tears was one of the few Woodstock bands I saw in person, and I say "Long live horn bands!"  Here, from 1970, two songs.  The first, Hi-De-Ho, was co-written by Carole King.

And their big hit, also from 1970, Lucretia Macevil.

 

Last but not least, for my Woodstock but 1970's Playlist:  the Grateful Dead and Sugar Magnolia, from 1970.

And that is a wrap!

Join me again, same time, same place, next week, for more music (and maybe, more peace and joy, too.)