WOODSTOCK REALITY CHECK

A vintage photostat that reveals the comparative drawing power of the acts on the Woodstock 1969 talent lineup by listing the amount of money each received has been floating around the Net in recent days, and it appears to be legit. No big shock that Hendrix was on top with $18k, a nice payday in terms of 1969 dollars, but it may seem strange in retrospect that the all but forgotten Blood, Sweat and Tears was next at $15k. Even more strangely, Creedence, one of the biggest bands on the planet at the time, got just over half of Jimi’s payment, while The Who drew $6,250, CSNY $5k and Joe Cocker a piddling $1,375. For Santana, Woodstock served as a huge career springboard, and the list, which has them at $750, indicates how little known the band was at the time of the fest.

In related news, Jeff Jampol has promised Janis Joplin he can get her guarantee up at least as high as Creedence.