Hot on the heels of the leaked “Inglourious Basterds” soundtrack list, we’ve got our hot little hands on the Cannes production notes for Ang Lee’s “Taking Woodstock,” another film where the soundtrack will play a huge role*, and as must be the case with a Woodstock movie, probably the biggest role of all in this ensemble comedy. The film is scored by Danny Elfman, and of course, per this soundtrack listing, we’ve got tracks from 60s heavyweights The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, The Doors, Crosby, Stills & Nash, folk legend Arlo Guthrie, The Band, and Steve Winwood. There are also some choice cuts from Joan Baez, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Tim Hardin, Country Joe and the Fish, Sweetwater Group, Canned Heat, Ultimate Spinach, and Fraternity of Men whose song “Don’t Bogart Me” is featured in a classic scene from “Easy Rider .”
The soundtrack also features three tracks from folk singer Richie Havens, who opened the Woodstock festival: “Handsome Johnny”, “High Flyin’ Bird”, and a new recording of “Freedom”. There’s also a rendition of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra and a Ravi Shankar track included on the soundtrack, so maybe there’s a band of Hare Krishnas that stop by the motel owned by Demetri Martin’s character in the movie? The notes didn’t tell us anything about that, but didn’t everyone hang out with Hare Krishnas in the 60s (I know my dad claims he did, and I’ve been singing that mantra since I was a wee lassie- KW)? There’s also a Judy Garland version of the standard “No Love, No Nothin,” perhaps a nod to the older generation embodied in the film by the characters played by Imelda Staunton, Henry Goodman, and Eugene Levy’s dairy farmer character who provided the setting for the iconic fest.
Another interesting tidbit we gleaned from the production notes: Ang Lee met writer Elliot Tiber, whose book the film is based upon (Demetri Martin plays Tiber in the film), on the 2007 publicity tour for “Lust, Caution” when they were both booked on the same San Francisco talk show. Lee wanted to a do a comedy, and this seemed the perfect material, especially when viewed with Lee’s 1973-set film “The Ice Storm,” which Lee calls, “the hangover of 1969, then ‘Taking Woodstock’ is the beautiful night before and the last moments of innocence”. Lee also says that, “After making several tragic movies in a row, I was looking to do a comedy – and one without cynicism. It’s also a story of liberation, honesty, and tolerance – and of a ‘naïve spirit’ that we cannot and must not lose.” It remains to be seen how we at The Playlist will feel about Lee’s first foray into comedy, though others haven’t had great things to say about it . Until then, here’s the soundtrack listing and some clips to whet your appetite. Break out your love beads and lava lamps, flower children!
[Editors note: we just saw “Taking Woodstock” yesterday, a review forthcoming, but suffice to say it wasn’t fantastic, however, it was also not the disaster we expected. Another note, the music isn’t as integral as one would think. A lot of the more famous songs listed are heard in the background as you can hear the strains of the Woodstock concert being played miles away; the amplification is so great. The only really memorable, more in your face songs were from The Band, The Doors and one other band we can’t place at the moment, maybe the Sweetwater Group? Mostly front and center throughout is Danny Elfman’s strummy-guitar centric score which isn’t bad considering we’re not huge fans of his usually same-sounding work]
“Taking Woodstock” stars Demetri Martin, Henry Goodman, Imelda Staunton, Emile Hirsch, Liev Schreiber, Jonathan Groff, Eugene Levy, Dan Fogler, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Paul Dano and Mamie Gummer. It premiered at Cannes yesterday (May 16th) and opens in the U.S. in limited release on August 14th
“Taking Woodstock” full soundtrack credits.
How Could We Know- Lori Mark
Stoned On The Range- Don Pugilisi
Wispy Paisley Skies- Fraternity of Men
No Love, No Nothin’- Judy Garland (can’t find a clip of this, but your consolation prize for playing is this Marlene Dietrich version)
Maggie M’Gill- The Doors
No Escape- The Seeds
Motherless Child- Sweetwater Group
One More Mile- The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Do Wah Diddy Diddy- Hairy Pretzel (Manfred Mann version, come on, doesn’t everyone know this song?)
Wooden Ships- Crosby, Stills & Nash
Flutes, Bongos & Limbos- El Monaco Bar Band
The Flute and Bongo Sizzle- El Monaco Bar Band
Hare Krishna Maha Mantra- International Society for Krishna Consciousness Boston Devotees
Handsome Johnny- Richie Havens
China Cat Sunflower- The Grateful Dead
High Flyin’ Bird- Richie Havens
Beautiful People- Melanie
Coming into Los Angeles- Arlo Guthrie
America- written by Paul Simon, performed by Ken Strange, Jeff Paris, Bob Hackl
If I Were a Carpenter- Tim Hardin
Red Telephone- Love
Mind Flowers- Ultimate Spinach
Sweet Sir Galahad- Joan Baez
Raga Manj Khamaj- Ravi Shankar
I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ To Die Rag- Country Joe and The Fish
I Shall Be Released- written by Bob Dylan, performed by The Band
Going Up the Country- Canned Heat
Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)- Janis Joplin
Essen- written by Lee Tully and S. Demay
Can’t Find My Way Home- Steve Winwood
Volunteers- Jefferson Airplane
Freedom (2009)- Richie Havens (1969 version)
Yeah, let’s call ourself a Woodstock film and not feature any Jimi Hendrix…that’ll be cool.
Or better yet (as the pre-review pointed out), not make the music really intregal to the film at all. Awesome.
A lot of that soundtrack seems a bit too safe. But Red Telephone is an awesome addition.
this movie is about the person who made woodstock possible, not the music. people need to stop complaining about it.
the doors weren't at woodstock!! hello, hello, we have a situation here.
Returned from this very, very good movie to your site to check the music. It turns out, as you note, that the music is pretty standard. But, as heard in the snippets in the movie, it is powerfully evocative. I'd say it was more about the music than anyone has noted. But not about sit-down, bow-down before the music greats that concert-going is today. But about bits of music here and there, wafting over-amplified and distorted across a field or a pond, heard from a passing-by am radio, filtered through a mind-altered state. Music that in snippets was a talisman. How many people at or around Woodstock knew the performers as anything other than ants before the movie came out years later?
Can anyone tell me what song is played when Elliot is inside the van tripping with the two hippies BEFORE the Ultimate Spinach Mind Flowers song?
Just an fyi, Can't Find My Way Home is by Blind Faith which did feat. Stevie Winwood as well as Clapton, Baker, and Grech. Cirkusfolk obviously didn't get it, well put balkanization!
Can't Find My Way Home-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUW1SGF7bR8
"this movie is about the person who made woodstock possible, not the music. people need to stop complaining about it."
was woodstock not a result of an infatuation with music and the arts ?
to bring people together in "3 days of peace and music" ?
so sir, bull-fucking-shit to your comment.
the organisers did not create woodstock just to have a historical occurance, the music brings us all together.
jimi lives on <3
If you wanna see the music watch the original movie. i think this film took a tasteful approach by not having actors playing the bands and musicians – which wouldve been disasterous. i think this film kinda fills in the behind the scenes gaps of woodstock and allows you to appreciate it on a more intimate level..
oh and "bull-fucking-shit to your comment" ?????? you would've been really popular at woodstock, hanging shit on anyone with a different opinion to you.. you're what is wrong with the world now mate
The song in the van scene is Love's "The red telephone" off the forever changes album.
i think your all whats wrong with the world. so much negativity? and for what? just enjoy the music 🙂
peace&love
cirkusfolk:
Shut your fucking mouth! You weren't there. You're just an under appreciative punk that didn't get what they wanted!
I was there. This is a great movie.
I know some of these people.
Shut your fucking mouth. You'll never experience anything like this.
@cirkusfolk: it was called Taking Woodstock, as in the process required to prepare and assemble the concert. Keeping that in mind, don't be shocked when they don't show you an interpretation of the concert, Woodstock has been remastered on DVD for that purpose. (:
90% of you are a bunch of sooks, its about Elliot Tiber who bought woodstock to Bethel after it got a ban from happening in Wallkill, not the music or the bands or any other f!@#in thing but him and his home town. so stop ya bitchin and enjoy the story.
What's with the negativity from some of you? Don't begin to believe you know what Woodstock was about when you have no idea. It isn't about the music. The music brings us together but it's the love, peace, and unity that is the main part of the festival, and all festivals like it. This movie does a beautiful job of displaying that. Sadly, I'm too young to have gone to the wonderous Woodstock…. but, I attend Astral Harvest, Entheos, Shambhala, Burning Man, Motion Notion, Inshala, Bass Coast…. mostly the west coast canadian festivals and a couple in the states. It's about togetherness. The music is fantastic but by no means what the festivals are TRUELY about. This movie brings tears of joy to my eyes. I love the van scene, where they just welcome him in as though he is their brother.
It's all about loving all those, and not judging. Simply, do not harm one another, 🙂
Hold love in your heats for one another, and everyone. The world could be such a utopia if everyone followed such an ideal. 🙂 We are all brothers and sisters, family.
I love you all. Peace and love my brothers and sisters! <3! Sending love to you all!!!
to frostymug :the song played when Elliot is inside the van is : "the red telephone" performed by LOVE.
answer of question of frostymug:
Can anyone tell me what song is played when Elliot is inside the van tripping with the two hippies BEFORE the Ultimate Spinach Mind Flowers song?
—->Red Telephone by Love