Woodstock Album

Eddie Kramer’s career spans four decades. He was classically trained an accomplished musician, sound engineer and music producer before he recorded Woodstock. His exhibit, The Other Side of the Glass, was presented at the opening of the newest Morrison Hotel Gallery in the Flower Hill Promenade. The legendary Kramer shared stories of Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Traffic and the Beatles inside the London studio and from Woodstock stage. High above the quagmire helicopters shuttled performers back and forth. Below the stage, where rats (he emphasized New York sized) ran to and fro. They slept for two hours, like parents to a new born, awake and alert and eager to capture their baby’s firsts for days on end. The best was sent out into the world with fingers crossed, not knowing their fate. It was a daunting task, with wonderfully raw results. Kramer said “It’s a miracle Woodstock was recorded at all.” Kramer recorded onsite with limited equipment (only 12 outputs and 8 inputs for techies) and under primitive conditions.


Three days of peace and love and drugs and hope cumulated with the visionary Jimi Hendrix, who hit all the right chords. I listened to his rendition of The Star Spangled Banner with my heart clutched and head bowed. Lest we forget, our beloved brother, who died too soon, heroes of Woodstock nation and war heroes, who weren’t welcome or never came home a long time gone.

Many parents forbade their children to go off to Woodstock. Mine wouldn’t even allow the next best thing. The double album set, because of one word, was buried in their basement for forty years. Mr. Kramer was astonished to see one vinyl still wrapped in the protective cellophane survived without a scratch. In his cool paternal voice, “You must not play it”. He honored me with his autograph, where the cellophane lifted from the edge. I believe he is comfortable there. Individuals are born genius, but it is the collaborative effort that pushes musician’s personalities and their instruments to the edge of their craft.

Music is not a solitary sport, whether an audience of two or full stadium the feedback produces something never possible in separate rooms. The coming together at Woodstock was a magical moment in history. Come to The Morrison Hotel Galleries to experience fine art photography as famous as the photographers and musicians who produce them. The newest location:

Morrison Hotel Galleries
2670 Via De LA Valle
Del Mar, CA 92104 tel. 858 350-3777.


1969 NASA put a man on the moon, yet taped over the Apollo’s original transmission video; I did it to my cousins wedding video, just too embarrassed to admit it. Kramer recorded onsite from the stage with limited equipment (only 12 inputs and 8 outputs for techies) and under primitive conditions” It’s a miracle Woodstock event was recorded at all,” recalls Kramer.



The newest release includes never seen before footage, includes Hendrix’s stand out performances of Star Spangled Banner, among heroes of Woodstock , many who left us too soon. As well as some 2nd generation musicians, who came back to replay instruments not picked up by the mike, an improvement to the sound quality. I relived the event, in the comfort of my own family room on a 57 inch HD screen with surround sound with the blu-ray release of Woodstock with my reluctant teenager, for almost four hours, mesmerized.

I wasn’t offended by the four letter word, but the three letter word I was reluctant to use, was ART, referring to auto destructive kind. Peter Townshend, a student of Gustav Metzger. Townshend smashed his Les Paul; Gibson SG, guitar on the Woodstock stage, another first in rock to do so. Incidently the broken instrument was also kept in a basement for forty years. I wonder what it sold for at auction in London?



http://www.morrisonhotelgallery.com/default.aspx


Taylor Guitar offers free tours of their El Cajon factory, where the past and present meet. Computer laths and lasers combined with human hands turn lumber yards of wood into a works of art and music for generations to enjoy. The saddest note came when our tour guide told us Les Paul, who invented multi track recording and developed the electric guitar that adorns his name died. A light passed over an agitated elderly gentleman face upon mention of his name and he remembered his wife’s name. Mary Ford and Les Paul are together in peace again and making music.




http://www.taylorguitars.com/