Amchitka took place only one year after Woodstock. If the Woodstock tells a story of a worry-free decade of sex, drugs and rock n’roll, then what story does Amchitka tell? The 60’s were gone, and the world was facing a decade of Nixon, Vietnam and nuclear bombs. Do you think Amchitka marked the end of innocence more so than Altamont?
I think that on the music map Altamont to Amchitka marks a transition to a more introspective, self awareness from Altamont’s “loss of innocence” tag. That transition was embodied by the three musicians on the stage that night. Phil Ochs, in the tradition of the great protest singers in folk and blues, angry and tired, his career slowly setting, and James and Joni, their stars rising, saying chill, breath for a moment, the examined life is preferable. Out of this period of social unrest came the environmental movement having learned a lot from its historical/organizational roots and ready to move forward.

Read the full interview:

It’s a lightheartedness that you don’t always associate with Mitchell, which helps to make this recording something special. More than just an exercise in nostalgia or an archival curio, Amchitka stands as a marvelous snapshot of three talented singer-songwriters performing strong sets at a significant (for varying reasons) moment in their careers.

Read the full review.

And just in case you had any doubts about the authenticity of things (there were no “take twos”), the tape runs out during the show-closing sing-along of “The Circle Game,” leaving you to marvel at the power of song – and the memory of a time when it seemed a lot easier to make things happen.

Buy it for the cause; buy it for the music; buy it for both. Amchitka – the 1970 Concert That Launched Greenpeace is one of those time capsules that everyone should have.

Read the full review

“Greenpeace is beautiful and you are beautiful because you are here” – Irving Stowe

The acoustic performances by Mitchell, Taylor and Ochs are documented on this two-CD set, which amounts to a priceless document of a time when sensitive singer-songwriters ruled the pop world. Greenpeace is distributing the album itself to benefit its ongoing environmental work.

Read the full review

Remember when the world was young and we were young in it. When things were changing for the better, when old ways were destined to go, before we grew up and had families and houses and jobs, there were concerts where we celebrated life and our youth. This is one most of us missed.

When music has become a commodity, ever changing without end and without reality this CD can make your heart warm again.

Read the full review

Before there was ever Live Aid or Band Aid or Farm Aid, even before George Harrison’s Concert for Bangladesh, there was the concert that launched Greenpeace.

The Amchitka concert CDs are an aural time capsule. To listen in is to eavesdrop on a special moment 39 years in the past when Phil and James and Joni were impassioned by a cause (and, in the latter pair’s case, by love).

On headphones, it sounds as if you’re sitting just offstage. You can even hear audience cries for favourite songs.

Read the full review

Tune in, turn on, and drop what you’re doing. You’ve got to hear this.

Timmins said he is still struck by what he calls the “pristine simplicity” of the concert. “It’s one player, sitting in front of 10,000 people, with two microphones,” he said. “They played in a more intimate way then in an arena than people play today in cafes.”

Read the whole story

Amchitka: the 1970 concert that launched Greenpeace captures Mitchell and Taylor and in all their youthful, creative glory. And—holy patchouli!—they duet on a version of Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man.” I’m quivering in my Birkenstocks!

In all seriousness, though, this is a welcome double-disc dosage of seminal folk-rock from now-classic stars trying to make a political difference during their musical prime.

Read the rest of the review

The album was released this week, and it’s been great to see the positive reviews pour in.  A lot of people I talk to are just blown away by the sound quality of this “forgotten” recording.  Aside from the amazing mastering and restoration by Peter J. Moore, we can thank the late Irving Stowe for that. During the concert he spied a tape recorder under the stage, and found out that the sound engineer was recording the show.  With permission from the artists, he obtained a copy of the recording for personal use.  This recording became part of the Stowe family collection, brought out on special occasions.  The sound engineer had captured the concert on a high-quality tube Revox tape recorder, and the recording was kept at the Stowe home on pristine reel-to-reel until 2003.  Irving’s son, Bob Stowe, decided to transfer the tape to CD that year as a present for his family.  He lovingly made a “CD prototype” complete with artist photos, liner notes and a mini-history of the concert.  The Stowes were so impressed with the final package that they approached Greenpeace to look into getting permissions to release the music – an archival snapshot of a pivotal time.

The core of the 1970/71 "Don't Make A Wave Committee", which later formed Greenpeace: Jim Bohlen, Paul Cote and Irving Stowe.

What was a labour of love for the Stowe family (all of whom pitched in) became a labour of love for me, and for Greenpeace, as we began work on this project.  We’re really happy with the result, and really inspired by the dedication of the many people who worked on making our dream a reality. Please check out the acknowledgements (in the CD booklet) for their names. There was not one naysayer in the bunch and no push back at all. Everyone from the artists to their management and even the record company execs and publishers seem to know the value of this project intuitively and encouraged us with great enthusiasm to move ahead. Recognizing the fundraising potential for Greenpeace, many worked for nothing and gave us gratis deals and generous discounts. For me personally, seeing this sort of recognition and respect for Greenpeace and the work we’ve being doing since those early days has been really uplifting. Makes ya want to pay it forward!

It’s a wonderful CD, totally of its time yet timeless. Joni Mitchell is in top form, blending the rock and roll standard Bonie Maronie into Big Yellow Taxi. Phil Ochs is full of fire on his protest anthem I Ain’t Marching Anymore. Unannounced guest James Taylor does a heartfelt version of Fire and Rain.

One of the highlights of the CD is the introduction by the late Irving Stowe, one of the founders of Greenpeace.

“Brothers and sisters in green peace,” he announces. “Green peace is beautiful! And you are beautiful, because you are here tonight! You came here because you are not on a death trip! You believe in life, you believe in peace, and you want them now!”

It’s tres 60s, simultaneously kind of hilarious but quite moving — a 55-year-old lawyer and Ban The Bomb activist announcing the birth of the environmental movement.

Read the full review