While festival openers The Association got things going with the skiffling pop delight “Along Comes Mary,” songs that became staples of the ’60s generation like Buffalo Springfield ’s “For What It’s Worth” sound somewhat ragged.

Eric Burdon and the Animals ‘ “San Francisco Nights” and the Farfisa blare of Country Joe and the Fish ’s “Section 43″ were truly high points for most of the crowd, many of whom were tripping face on Monterey Purple - the special strand of LSD that Owsley Stanley had made for the event. Tens of thousands of hits were handed out for free to both the audience and the performers.

Big Brother and Holding Company with Janis Joplin , who was only 24 at the time, more than wowed everybody with “Down On Me” and “Ball and Chain,” where a white girl from Port Arthur, Texas picked up the torch from Bessie Smith.