The Lola Shuffle - The "Woodstock 40th Anniversary" Edition

This weekend commemorates the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. Woodstock is now the age against which the attendees were rebelling.

What a weekend, huh? What a lineup - here are just some of them, the ones that I would have wanted to see:

• Melanie
• Arlo Guthrie
• Joan Baez
• John Sebastian
• Santana
• Grateful Dead
• Creedence Clearwater Revival
• Janis Joplin (!)
• Sly and the Family Stone
• The Who (they sang 25 songs starting at 4 a.m.)
• Jefferson Airplane
• Joe Cocker
• The Band
• Blood, Sweat and Tears
• Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
• Neil Young
• Jimi Hendrix

Except for the mud and the whole being outside thing - I would have loved to have been there. Since then we've had events like Live Aid and other multi performer events, but the aura of Woodstock was never recaptured. There have been attempts, but they've failed because the world is so different now. Things were far from perfect then, and the festival had it's dark side - but I think there was a level of sincerity and innocence that isn't as prevalent. I think those kids really believed in their hearts as well as in their LSD and pot infused brains that they were going to change the world - and to be honest they did in a lot of ways.

Despite the turmoil and problems of the era, IMO for one weekend in upstate New York it was a magical moment. Sadly, we may need to wait 100 years like Brigadoon, or perhaps wait for "when the moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter aligns with Mars and peace guides the planet" before the zeitgeist produces another Woodstock moment.

OK Lola, give us a Woodstock worthy shuffle - who knows we may get a ghost of rock festivals past...

1. Crazy - Willie Nelson (Don't start Dixie!)
2. I Wanna Be Your Lover - Prince
3. I'm in You - Peter Frampton
4. I Only Want To Be With You - Dusty Springfield
5. God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
6. Un Poquito De Tu Amor - Desi Arnaz
7. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) - Green Day
8. Pinball Wizard - The Who (WOO HOO - Woodstock sighting!)
9. Mercy - Duffy
10. Crazy Little thing Called Love - Queen

So this weekend, stay cool, have a glass or two of Mateus or Lancers - maybe listen to a little Hendrix, some Joplin or some Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Send out good vibes so that some day we will again know the pleasures of peace, love and rock and roll.

But keep out of the mud and most importantly stay away from the brown acid.