The most memorable performances at Woodstock

The Dead's performance on Saturday evening was hardly memorable for the sound. Rather, it was more so for the fact that the band members were playing while trying not to be electrocuted from the flooded stage. Technical problems marred the set, but there were some highlights — kind of like the seemingly endless version of "Turn On Your Love Light." Looking back now, maybe it was better than we thought.

One of the more unique, yet totally apropos, performances of Woodstock came courtesy of the Indian musician. Shankar, who made his first appearance in the United States two years earlier at the Monterey Pop Festival, delivered a spiritually infused three-song set in the rain that lasted a little more than a half-hour.   

The founder of The Lovin' Spoonful was not even slated to play at Woodstock. He was helping back stage, stoned out of his mind, as claimed. Sebastian was asked by famed stage manager and announcer Chip Monck to play a little acoustic number while the stage was being tended to on Saturday afternoon. The performance was short and sweet, but how it all played out is truly memorable. 

Winter's midnight set Sunday-Monday is often overlooked because the show was slated to be over by then and the crowd was starting to head out. That did not stop Winter from putting on a blistering, blues-rocking showcase, with his brother, Edgar, helping out, too. Highlights included “Leland Mississippi Blues," “Mean Mistreater” and “Mean Town Blues.”

The son of the legendary Woody Guthrie hit the ground running by starting his late Friday night set with the memorable "Coming into Los Angeles." By most accounts, Guthrie was pretty high during this gig, though he was hardly not the only one. Anyway, he sounded good and offered one of the more underappreciated sets of the festival. 

Country Joe actually played twice over the weekend: on Saturday as a solo artist and, following a massive storm, with his band early Sunday evening. He played his popular anti-war anthem of the time "The 'Fish' Cheer/I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag," also known as the Vietnam Song. It remains one of the most memorable overall moments of the weekend.

Last act on the first day of the festival, Baez, who was pregnant at the time, started her set about 1 a.m. on Saturday. The folk songstress was perfect for the scene, and those still awake were treated to a stellar set by the politically-charged Baez. Such classics as "Joe Hill," “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," and "We Shall Overcome" provided Woodstock's most political and socially conscience moment of the weekend. 

Joplin played the overnight hours of Saturday-Sunday, and her performance doesn't always get as much recognition as some of her other memorable efforts. Then again, the setting and overall experience of the festival was unlike anything performers and fans had been through or expected. Joplin was solid that night but often considered not to the level of the other big names at Woodstock. 

On Saturday, Aug. 16, the group played its first show in Chicago. About roughly 3 a.m. Monday, it opened the Woodstock set with the memorable "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes." The rest was history. Now, we listed Neil Young, but he barely played with the rest during their acoustics set and came on for the electric portion of the show but reportedly did not want to be filmed. It did not really matter, as David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash were the stars.

Technical and sound problems plagued the band's set for most of its time on stage, leading to at least one song — "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" — having to be started a couple of times. Despite all the issues, the British blues rockers' effort is considered the one that put them on the map, highlighted by Alvin Lee's presence on "I'm Going Home."

This is another band that earned an even wider appeal than it previously enjoyed by playing Woodstock. One of the tightest sets delivered at the event, Canned Heat did not disappoint while playing hits such as “Going Up the Country" and "On the Road Again" at dusk on Saturday evening to a spirited crowd. 

One of the many great things about the Woodstock weekend was how many careers were essentially launched there. Havens was certainly one of them. Hardly a household name when he took the stage to open the festival at a little after 5 p.m. on Friday, the folk singer delivered a captivating set that kicked off the weekend with a rousing start. His closing number, "Freedom," was one of the weekend's lasting moments.

Going in, nobody thought The Band was worthy of a top-10-like performance at Woodstock. However, Bob Dylan's former band pulled it off, even though some forget just how good these local — indirectly — boys were. The way the crowd was clapping and stomping along to "The Weight" on Sunday night was truly something special.

If there was one rock band made to play Woodstock, it was the Airplane and its psychedelic sound. The group was political but also a harder, poppier version of the Grateful Dead and could bring the house down with its live show. The Saturday night headliners took the stage in the daylight of Sunday morning as Grace Slick and Marty Balin packed a punch on hits "Somebody to Love" and "Volunteers" despite looking stoned, sleepy or both.

CCR played late Saturday night — actually it was Sunday by the time the fun started. The band went after the Grateful Dead's often-delayed performance, but those who kept at it through the night were treated to a stellar stretch of rock 'n' roll John Fogerty and Co. Opening with "Born on the Bayou" and driven through classics like "Bad Moon Rising" and "Proud Mary" to the finale of "Suzy Q," Creedance was at its Hall of Fame best.

Carlos Santana is one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Back on the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 16, 1969, not many knew of the curly-haired axe aficionado and his soon-to-be-famous band (that included future Journey members Gregg Rolie and Neal Schon, the latter whom after this appearance). Woodstock truly got a taste of Santana's Latin-fueled rock greatness via “Soul Sacrifice.”

The British vocalist was the first performer scheduled for Sunday's final day of music. He hit the stage about 2 p.m., and by 3:30 p.m. had come through with one of the most memorable live performances in music history. Cocker had been around but wasn't a star by any means. That essentially changed, especially after his soulful take on the Beatles' “With a Little Help from My Friends."

Thanks to the weather and other delays for various reasons, The Who did not start its originally scheduled Saturday night set until about 5 a.m. on Sunday. It made for one helluva an early breakfast of music, however. The band played its rock opera "Tommy," highlighted by a remarkable version of "See Me, Feel Me." A short but gritty "My Generation" and a fun take on "Summertime Blues" also stood out, and we didn't even mention the famed Abbie Hoffman incident in the middle of it all.

One of the greatest rock moments of all time came at Woodstock in the middle of the night Saturday-Sunday. With a packed stage, these pioneers of funk-rock, Sly and Co., delivered a high-energy performance complete with plenty of soul and one that was totally impressive, considering it was happening between 3:30 and 4:30 in the morning. "I Want To Take You Higher" was the undisputed gem of the outing.

According to those in the know, or who to claim to know, Hendrix's legendary Monday morning set played out to roughly 40,000 fans still mulling around the mud-laden field and trying to get used to the daylight. What they witnessed is considered to be one of the greatest musical moments of all time. He played for around two hours, and his set included the hits — "Foxy Lady," Purple Haze" and the closer "Hey Joe." Of course, his version of the "Star Spangled Banner," well...