Richard P. Havens, 1983

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Richard P. Havens, 1983
Studio album by
ReleasedDecember 7, 1968
Recorded1968; RKO Sound Studios, New York City
GenreFolk rock
LabelVerve
ProducerJohn Court, Richie Havens, Elliot Mazer, Mark Roth
Richie Havens chronology
Something Else Again
(1968)
Richard P. Havens, 1983
(1968)
Stonehenge
(1970)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic
[1]

Richard P. Havens, 1983 is a 1968 double album set by

Universal
label.

Background

Richard P. Havens, 1983 compiles a number of studio tracks with live material recorded for a concert in July 1968.[2] Musically, it displays Havens' multi-instrumental approach and demonstrates the influence of several genres, including folk rock, world music and folk blues. As critic Richie Unterberger described it in 2003's Eight Miles High, the album "worked towards a folk-rock-world-music fusion of sorts, though one grounded in the sort of bluesy folk [Havens]...and others had pioneered in the Village back in the early 60s."[3] Producer Elliott Mazer said that Havens' method of playing presented some difficulties to the many musicians who joined him, as "Richie was not very interested in learning the chords for the songs" but "made up his own".[3]

Described as a concept album,[4] this was Havens' first experience co-producing one of his albums.[5] Additional production on the album was provided by Mazer and Mark Roth, while John Court lent production to the song "Indian Rope Man."[2][6] For the cover, Roth photographed Havens in infrared.[4]

The album title is a reference to George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four; Havens meant to imply that "there was still time, brother, but not much."[7][8]

Music and reception

The album was commercially successful, reaching #80 on the

Allmusic summarizes, "As with many double albums, it perhaps could have used some pruning, although in general it was a worthy expansion of his sound as captured on record."[2]

The album includes several of the covers for which Havens is known, particularly the "imaginative covers" of

Beatles and Bob Dylan which Unterberger indicated "he was able to recast as his own".[3] However, while Rough Guide suggested that the album bears "witness to Havens' compelling ability as a live performer",[10] Unterberger discerned on this particular recording "an over reliance on Beatles covers" and felt "the live stuff on side four...seems like an afterthought to push the set to double-LP length."[2]

Singles released from the album include "Stop Pulling and Pushing Me", the B side of a cover of "

Phaze, among others.[12] It was also retooled and retitled as "African Herbsman", under which title it was performed by Bob Marley.[13]

Track listing

Except where otherwise noted, all tracks composed by Richie Havens.

Side One

  1. "Stop Pulling and Pushing Me" – 1:48
  2. "For Haven's Sake" – 7:01
  3. "Strawberry Fields Forever" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 3:37
  4. "What More Can I Say John?" – 4:38

Side Two

  1. "I Pity the Poor Immigrant" (Bob Dylan) – 3:09
  2. "Lady Madonna" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 1:57
  3. "Priests" (Leonard Cohen) – 5:15
  4. "Indian Rope Man" (Havens, Joe Price, Mark Roth) – 3:02
  5. "Cautiously" (Maurey Haydn) – 4:00

Side Three

  1. "Just Above My Hobby Horse's Head" (Havens, Mark Roth) – 2:58
  2. "She's Leaving Home" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 4:05
  3. "Putting out the Vibration, and Hoping It Comes Home" (Havens, Mark Roth) – 2:53
  4. "The Parable of Ramon" (live) (Havens, Mark Roth) – 7:56

Side Four

  1. "With a Little Help from My Friends" (live) (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 5:19
  2. "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" (live) (Donovan Leitch) – 4:55
  3. "Run, Shaker Life"/"Do You Feel Good?" (live) (arranged & adapted by Havens/Havens) – 4:04/4:52

Bonus CD Tracks (not appearing on the original double album)

  1. "Handsome Johnny" (
    Lou Gossett, Jr.
    , Havens) – 3:54
  2. "No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed" – 2:58

Personnel

Performance

Production

  • Warren Barnett –
    mastering
  • Bill Blachly –
    engineer
  • Carter Collins – conductor
  • John Court – producer
  • Richie Havens – arranger, producer
  • Wally Heider – engineer
  • Al Manger – engineer
  • Elliot Mazer – producer
  • Ian McFarlane – release preparation
  • Kevin Mueller – release preparation
  • Terry Reilly – liner notes
  • Mark Roth – producer, photography, cover design
  • Peter Shillito – concept, release preparation

Chart position

Chart Peak
U.S. Billboard Pop Albums 80[14]

Releases

The album was initially released on

Hip-O Select double CD titled Flyin' Bird: The Verve Forecast Years.[16]

year format label catalog #
1968 LP Verve Forecast FTS-3047-2
1970 LP MGM SE-4700-2
1990 CD Verve/PolyGram 835 212
2004 2CD Hip-O Select/Universal 986 240[17]
2008 CD Raven 274

References

  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^
    AllMusic
  3. ^ . Richard P. Havens, 1983.
  4. ^ .
  5. ^ "Richie Havens". GuilFest 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-13. That same year, Douglas International added instrumental tracks to his old demo and released the album - Richie Havens Record, which almost circumvented Havens´ first co-production; the double-album Richard P. Havens, 1983 (Verve, 1969), which gave his new fans a taste of his exciting live sound.
  6. ^ "Discography". Richie Havens official site. Archived from the original on 2008-07-29. Retrieved 2008-11-13.
  7. – via Google Books.
  8. ^ "Richard P Havens, 1983 - Record Collector Magazine".
  9. AllMusic
  10. ^ .
  11. .
  12. AllMusic
  13. .
  14. ^ "Billboard charts". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
  15. ISSN 0006-2510
    .
  16. AllMusic
  17. ^ In a compilation titled High-Flyin' Bird: The Verve Forecast Years. Rereleased in 2007, Hip-O Select/Universal 986 240

External links