News

Taking Woodstock Soundtrack Released

• 5th Nov 2009

New Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain) comedy ‘Taking Woodstock’, released on November 13th, vividly captures the unique spirit of the legendary Woodstock music festival and now the film’s much-talked about soundtrack looks set to take music fans of all ages back to the summer of 69.

It’s 1969, and Elliot Tiber, a down-on-his-luck interior designer in Greenwich Village, NY, has to move back upstate to help his parents run their dilapidated Catskills motel, the El Monaco. The bank is about to foreclose; his father wants to burn the place down, but hasn’t paid the insurance; and Elliot is still figuring how to come out to his parents. When Elliot hears that a neighbouring town has pulled the permit on a hippie music festival, he calls the producers, thinking he could drum up some much needed business for the motel. Three weeks later, half a million people are on their way to his neighbour’s farm in White Lake, NY, and Elliot finds himself swept up in a generation-defining experience that would change his life, and American culture, forever.

IN CINEMAS NOVEMBER 13TH

Whether you can remember tracks by such seminal Sixties acts as The Grateful Dead, Crosby, Stills and Nash and Jefferson Airplane like it was yesterday or you are discovering their music for the first time, the Taking Woodstock soundtrack provides a sonic time capsule that powerfully evokes the spirit of a time that has passed into musical folklore. It is also a release that marks the 40th anniversary of the iconic event.

Richie Havens who opened the event 40 years ago has recorded a new version of Freedom specially for the film and other highlights include the anti-war anthem by County Joe McDonald I-Feel-Like I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag, and live performances from other Woodstock performers including Arlo Guthrie (Coming Into Los Angeles), The Band (I Shall Be Released) and Melanie (Beautiful People).

So get ready to turn on, tune in and drop out to what is set to be the Soundtrack sensation of the summer – and don’t worry if you can’t remember the 60’s. The Taking Woodstock soundtrack will fill in all the musical gaps!

‘Taking Woodstock’ Soundtrack listing

1. “Freedom (2009)” – Richie Havens
2. ”Opening” *
3. “Wooden Ships” – Crosby, Stills & Nash
4. “China Cat Sunflower” (Live) – Grateful Dead
5. “Maggie M'Gill” – The Doors
6. Elliot's Place*
7. “Coming Into Los Angeles” (Live) – Arlo Guthrie
8. “I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag” (Live) – Country Joe McDonald
9. “Going Up The Country” (Live) – Canned Heat
10. “Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)” (Live) – Janis Joplin
11. A Happening (Office #2)*
12. “The Red Telephone” – Love
13. “Beautiful People” (Live) – Melanie
14. “I Shall Be Released” (Live) – The Band
15. “Perspective” *
16. “One More Mile” – The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
17. “Volunteers” – Jefferson Airplane

* Score written and produced by Danny Elfman