Dick Cavett always did his best to play to both sides of the cultural divide on the set of his popular late-night show, ensuring that the revolution would be televised while keeping an ironic distance from the freaks, all glib asides and condescending questions meant to titillate the "square johns at home," as he calls his viewing audience, who needed to believe that David Crosby and Sly Stone were idiots all hopped up on "the dope."

It's uncomfortable viewing in places, not least of which is Cavett's train wreck of an interview with Sly Stone; the host mercilessly ridicules his guest, who even in his clearly altered state can tell he's being played for laughs. But Cavett doesn't seem to mean the singer any harm. It's just his style and, partly, his responsibility to ABC. It's as though he was told he could offer the counterculture a mainstream forum if he played it as another episode of "Kids and Hippies Say The Darnedest Things."

But in exchange for being condescended to, the kids won access to their heroes, who turned in some pretty amazing performances. Several of the best of those performances are gathered here, on this 3-DVD collection ($39.98, Shout! Factory). Janis Joplin gets the royal treatment -- one full DVD of "Cavett Show" performances, including such highlights as "Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)" and "To Love Somebody." Other highlights range from George Harrison leading an all-star cast through "Bangla Desh" to Sly and the Family Stone grinning their way through the funky euphoria of "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)," Stevie Wonder on "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" and David Bowie unveiling a bold new "conventional" look while singing "Young Americans" and "1984."

The collection begins on Aug. 19, 1969, with the Jefferson Airplane, Joni Mitchell, Stephen Stills and David Crosby on their way back home from Woodstock. Stills shows off his mud-stained jeans, the Airplane slips the f-word past the censors, Cavett tries to break the ice with "Do your parents all know where you are?" and a ravenous Grace Slick keeps staring at Cavett like she wants to bag a square.