Forty years ago tomorrow, the original Woodstock Music & Art Fair kicked off with Richie Havens' acoustic-guitar. The song was called "Freedom."
Not even a week prior, the Manson Family had carried out the Tate-LaBianca murders.
A few months earlier, in January 1969, "The Mama Cass Television Program" made its TV debut.
The show, hosted by Mama Cass Elliot, was a pilot for a planned series that would never unfold.
However, this one-time airing featured some groovy vibes that only the charming Elliot could convey.
For those of you who missed it or were too young to remember, "The Mama Cass Television Program" is coming to DVD (Infinity Entertainment Group, $14.98).
Opening with her hit version of "Dream a Little Dream," Elliot — born Ellen Naomi Cohen — sets the tone for this delightful and funny program featuring guests Buddy Hackett, Martin Landau and Barbara Bain.
Musical guests include John Sebastian, Joni Mitchell and Mary Travers, the latter, of course, from Peter, Paul & Mary.
Hackett's endearing and (TV-clean) humor is quite touching in his funny and poignant skits with Elliot.
And it's a hoot to see Landau and Bain, stars of the spy drama "Mission: Impossible," ham it up.
Of course the music is an essential component of the 65-minute show. Elliot, of the Mamas & the Papas, calls up Sebastian, Mitchell and Travers to perform a few hits.
Sebastian sings "She's a Lady" and duets with Cass on "Darlin' Companion."
Mitchell plays a reverent acoustic version of "Both Sides Now," while Travers sings "And When I Die." All three women team and harmonize beautifully on a rousing version of Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released."
In addition, Elliot sings solo on "Dancing in the Street," "The River of Life" and "I Can Dream, Can't I?"
She also dips into the Mamas & the Papas catalog with "California Dreamin' " and "Monday, Monday."
"The Mama Cass Television Program" DVD comes complete with the original and nostalgic 1969 commercials.
The extras include Elliot singing "I Dig Rock & Roll Music" with Sammy Davis Jr., and a recently conducted interview with Sebastian, who remembers Elliot from her gig with The Big Three in Greenwich Village to her joining the Mamas & the Papas.
The interview comes complete with rare photos of Elliot and her respective groups.
All in all the DVD is a nice slice of nostalgia and music from a tumultuous time.
e-mail: scott@desnews.com