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Reviews
Willie Nelson's 4th of July Celebration (1979)
Willie Nelson's 4th of July Picnic 1974
As a member of the KPFT Pacifica Radio staff in 1974, I was on the front row at this event and marveled at the verisimilitude of the production, unstinting on nudity and general revelry that occurred. The video is available in 2 parts on YouTube, with part 2 the wilder section, especially the Cosmic Cowboy jam with everybody onstage. Amazing that Willie calms everybody down with Goodnight, Irene.
All performers are in good form, especially Doug Kershaw. This was pre-Austin Powers but he is wearing the skintight velvet suit that many artists (including fellow cosmic cowboy Doug Sahm) affected in the late 60's. Other veterans of the KPFT benefit in February of '74 included Ray Wylie Hubbard, Jerry Jeff Walker, Gary P. Nunn and the lost gonzo band, Michael Murphy himself and of course Willie, Waylon, and Leon Russell. Leon may just be drunk (most of us were) but there were some other substances involved. Cars burned, people od'ed, in fact action in the crowd rivaled the golden calf scene in the Ten Commandments.
The only shortcoming of the film is that some acts were overlooked, but the Midnight Special was only an hour long. My favorite was John Sebastian who appeared solo and was quite lyrical.
The picnics live on, this year's in another raceway with the relative luxury of grass, seating, food trucks, beer on tap, and ample restrooms. This film is an authentic depiction of the second picnic in all its bacchanalian glory.