The other day I was here at the library looking for something "different" to check out on DVD. I went to the "music books" section,where they also have DVD's & VHS tapes.
I found first of all a DVD chroicleing the Beatles first visit to the U.S. (which I'll talk about another time),"Woodstock" and one called Festival Express".
In "F.Ex." a group of well known and up and coming musical acts tour Canada from East to West on train that has that title painted on the side. They do three shows over a week's time from 6/28/70 to July 4th in Toronto,Seskatoon and Ontario.
It also takes an intimate look at these artists socializing and jamming on the train itself.
Among these acts are,Grateful Dead,The Band (take a load off Fanny!),New Riders Of The Purple Sage,Buddy Guy,Ian & Sylvia and Janis Joplin!!! There's others too but the names escape me. Imagine..seeing Joplin as herself and not the "icon". :D
The footage had been locked away in the producer's home for decades and were finally brought to light again 2 years ago and made into this excellent DVD. All the bands & singers are great but the highlight is The Joplin performances of "Cry Baby","Tell Mama" and two other rare gems (I forgot to bring the DVD with me!

)
Her final performance at the end of the 90min. filmtakes place on July 4th,1970...exactly 3 months to the day before she passed away! So this really is a rarity! I definetley reccomend buying it,because I sure will the minute I find it and have the money too.
In some extra songs not put in the 90min part,there is a guy named Tom Rush who does a song called,"Child's Song" about a grown boy who leaves home. I just wept at that one!

The other extra songs are great too and there are interviews with some that were there.
Is anyone here from Canada that's ols enough to recall this event? It's a great find for me.

Boy,the things that went on when I was a baby!

(Wish I'd been there...for the music.
[ October 16, 2005, 19:28: Message edited by: Borderstone ]