I was seeking an escape and decided to go "Retro" with this classic.

It is a fine musical piece and an inspirational portrayal of the human race.

Okay it is important not to be too nostalgic but there was some great acts there however I guess the sound quality was pretty rubbish back then as public address systems had not evolved to where they are now.

The human aspect was a true eye opener, 400,000 gatehered to have a good time and to stick 2 fingers up at society (Vietnam was deemed more socialy acceptable than smoking weed and shagging out of wedlock).

In the light of the site being classed as a disaster area everyone just seemed to enjoy themselves club together and help one another out.

The local authorities and the army came together to feed and give medical aid as required.

The chap cleaning the toilets out casually mentioned "One of my sons is here and the other is in Nam"

A technical masterpiece it was The logistics of covering such an event were monumental.

You have to remember it was shot on film and you have to pity the crew lugging all that heavy gear around the site.

I liked the ballance of crowd interaction and music in the film.

The editing and final mix was great however 3 1/2 hours would be a long time to be in a cinema seat.

I have seen this film some 6 times and this film never fails to inspire me.

Sorry to waffle on a bit but if you have just seen somthing that shows all is not bad with the world then it gets a big "Thumbs up" from me.

I was working in Union New Jersey and staying with an Aunt on Manhattan (right across the street from the UN.

I remember the advertisements (posters mostly) going up for an "Aquarian Festival" in a tiny upstate NY town called Woodstock.

I Even said to my Aunt maybe we should go listen. It would be different and fun.

Then early on what was to be the first day (a Friday I think) TV news stations and radio carried stories about the traffic jam and police asking people to stay away. My Aunt was all "I told you so" and "Aren't you glad we didn't?" ... grumble.

Such are the vagaries of fortune.

The festival itself had many great performances and some real spectacularly awful.

Jimi Hendrix's National Anthem was the greatest thing on guitar ever recorded to that date.

Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young never played together before and if you listen to their set you can tell. Back at the University all the music majors would play it to howls of laughter.

I discovered Richie Havens.

I still listen to Joan Baez.

And when I want to shock, I play Country Joe and the Fish.

My best friend's older half brother and his friends got back one night from out there at 3AM (from what I heard), and muddied up, ruining the pool of water in the backyard that we had been using to swim in, so no more swimming there. I guess his mother had made them get cleaned up before they enter the house but then she did make them breakfast since they were half starved, from what I understand. Also muddy clothes and a couple of tents were in yard.