A concert for the ages gets the Criterion treatment.
Fifty years ago, one of of the seminal events that made the Sixties “The Sixties” took place: The Monterey International Pop Music Festival. D.A. Pennebaker’s document of the event is now out on Blu-ray from Criterion.
While Woodstock would overshadow it a couple of years later, this three-day affair in the summer of 1967 showcased some of the greatest musicians of the entire era. It’s like a Time-Life Greatest Hits collection, curated by history.
Organized by John Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas and others, this festival is known for being the U.S. premiere for The Who, Ravi Shankar, and Jimi Hendrix, along with introducing Otis Redding and Janis Joplin to the mainstream.
Monterey Pop is Pennebaker’s attempt to capture this massive amount of music and people, coming out the same year as his Bob Dylan follow-along, Don’t Look Back. With over 30 acts spread over three days, editing is key here, and the variety shines through.
Hendrix makes the most of his unveiling. The energy coming off the stage, not to mention the literal fire emanating from his guitar, made this a performance to remember in a tragically short career. He is juxtaposed by Simon and Garfunkel, all sweaters and soft voices, giving the crowd something completely different, but classic in its own way.
Seeing Grace Slick from Jefferson Airplane in her prime is a revelation. While she would eventually “build this city with rock and roll,” 1967 Slick is a true presence. Likewise, Joplin can’t be denied on stage. The end of her set sees her skipping away, a bundle of joy in a package of dynamite.
The final scene is set to an 18-minute Shankar solo as cameras roam around the Monterey County Fairgrounds. As with the rest of the film, close ups and small groups are favored to sweeping shots of the crowd. We do occasionally see the audience, seated in folding chairs of all things. The setting and attendees are consistently a major component of the presentation.
A second disc provides over two hours of outtakes, many of which could have easily made the main cut. Fans of these bands will love the extra material.
Five decades later, the hippie ethos and over-the-top fashion sense of the era have faded, but the music of the Sixties is as powerful as ever. Monterey Pop captures a singular moment in time, giving audiences of today a glimpse into just how amazing this time truly was.
The Package
- New 16-bit 4K digital restoration, supervised by director D. A. Pennebaker, with uncompressed stereo soundtrack on the Blu-ray
- Alternate soundtrack featuring a 5.1 surround mix by recording engineer Eddie Kramer, presented in DTS-HD Master Audio on the Blu-ray
- Two hours of performances not included in Monterey Pop, from the Association, Big Brother and the Holding Company, the Blues Project, Buffalo Springfield, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, the Byrds, Country Joe and the Fish, the Electric Flag, the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Al Kooper, the Mamas and the Papas, the Steve Miller Blues Band, Moby Grape, Laura Nyro, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Simon and Garfunkel, Tiny Tim, and the Who (Blu-ray only)
- Audio commentary from 2002 featuring Pennebaker and festival producer Lou Adler
- New and archival interviews with Adler and Pennebaker
- Chiefs (1968), a short film by Richard Leacock, which played alongside Monterey Pop in theaters
- Audio interviews with festival producer John Phillips, festival publicist Derek Taylor, and performers Cass Elliot and David Crosby
- Photo-essay by Elaine Mayes
- Festival program
- Trailers and radio spots
- PLUS: A booklet of essays by critics Michael Chaiken & Armond White
