Woodstock: The Lost Performances

I finally got my hands on this out of print gem. I prefer this full screen version as it seems like you see a lot more during the 68 min. What's great is the cutaway footage of the crowd (most are not in the movie) and a lot of nudie shots during Canned Heat Going Up The Country. Melanie really belts out Birthday of the Sun. Janis Joplin Work Me Lord is in color and they added different angle camera shots in B&W. The only footage that looks like it's the same as Woodstock Diary is Arlo Guthrie, Tim Hardin, Blood, Sweat and Tears. The Paul Butterfield Drifting Blues footage is very dark and on Diary it's looks good. The audio is stereo and sounds great. I can rec this to DVD but why Warner Bros never released it on DVD is beyond me.

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The Band: The Weight Joe Cocker: Let's Get Stoned Canned Heat: Going Up The Country Paul Butterfield: Drifting Blues Arlo Guthrie: Walking Down the Line Blood, Sweat and Tears: More and More Country Joe McDonald: Rockin" Around the World John Sabastion: Darling Be Home Soon Sly and the Family Stone: Love City Tim Hardin: If I Where a Carpenter Melanie: Birthday of the Sun Joan Baez: We Shall Overcome Crosby, Stills, Nash: Marrakesh Express and Blackbird Janis Joplin: Work Me Lord Richie Havens: Strawberry Fields Forever

Not much of a plot or storyline...or even that much of a documentary. Just a collection of musical numbers that didn't make it into the final cut of the original "Woodstock" documentary. This collection includes unused footage from the "rain chant" sequence, and alternative footage of Janis Joplin's powerful performance of "Work Me, Lord" (parts of which are shown in black and white videotape). Why the editors saw fit to roll the credits over Ritchie Havens singing "Strawberry Fields Forever" and not include the entire song (unless that was all that existed of the performance) goes beyond me.

Still, for those who want to see what didn't make the final cut, this is a must. Note that some of the footage wasn't carefully stored, and there is noticeable wear in some parts.