Iffy movie; nifty soundtrack. Curated by "musical supervisor" Joe Boyd, meaning right music used unobtrusively even when two bands - The Doors, Love - weren't in upstate New York vicinity at the time. Ever the budding eminence grise, Boyd either retains stock options in Elektra Records or betrays simple emotional attachment. Surely emotion is at play in Boyd's non-inclusion of Incredible String Band and instead touting the dire Melanie who unaccountably triumphs in slot ISB turn down against Boyd's better judgement. Y brawd digresses.
Movie is, in the main, a piece of shite notwithstanding some nice touches showing familiarity with original movie and, dare we say, history. Most obvious and tiresome is use of split screen. Knowing wink dialogue yields best surrender value - e.g. during negotiations on land use with Yasgur, old Max sucks on pipe and tells 'em to pay no mind to protests from neighbouring farmers. In particular we are warned not to "go dealing with the Browns" who live down the way.
Credible trip scene too (not on par with Easy Rider New Orleans cemetery - but then what is thank the lord?). Final points in soundtrack's favour: surprisingly on the money incidental music by Danny Elfman; no Alvin Lee.
01. Freedom - Richie Havens
02. Taking Woodstock Titles - Danny Elfman
03. Wooden Ships - Crosby, Stills & Nash
04. China Cat Sunflower (Live) - Grateful Dead
05. Maggie M'Gill - The Doors
06. Elliot's Place - Danny Elfman
07. Coming Into Los Angeles (Live) - Arlo Guthrie
08. I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag (Live) - Country Joe McDonald
09. Going Up The Country (Live) - Canned Heat
10. Try (Just A Little Bit Harder) (Live) - Janis Joplin
11. A Happening (Office #2) - Danny Elfman
12. The Red Telephone - Love
13. Beautiful People (Live) - Melanie
14. I Shall Be Released (Live) - The Band
15. Perspective Extended - Danny Elfman
16. One More Mile - The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
17. Volunteers - Jefferson Airplane
Postscript. Watching original movie engenders sympathy for psychonauts who moments earlier happily necked the brown ones only to then hear doom-laden stage announcement - think on.
Post postscriptum. Y brawd has access to authorially inscribed copy of Wavy Gravy's Hog Farm & Friends (with hand-drawn 'artwork' by Mr STP himself). Offers?
Oddi wrth y brawd
taking 'stock
1 comment:
So let's get this straight, "stay away from the Browns, ah said" was misrepresented from the stage as "stay away from the brown acid".
Right gotcha.
Seed drills, speed kills, down on Ysgur's Farm.
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