Audio CD review:
Richie Havens - Mixed Bag

Richie Havens - Mixed Bag

Band: Richie Havens Title: Mixed Bag Rating: Release Date: 1990-10-25 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: High Flyin' Bird - Richie Havens, Wheeler, Billy Edd 2: I Can't Make It Anymore - Richie Havens, Lightfoot, Gordon 3: Morning, Morning - Richie Havens, Kupferberg 4: Adam - Richie Havens, Havens, Richie 5: Follow - Richie Havens, Merrick, Jerry 6: Three Day Eternity - Richie Havens, Havens, Richie 7: Sandy - Richie Havens, Cousineau, Jean Pie 8: Handsome Johnny - Richie Havens, Havens, Richie 9: San Francisco Bay Blues - Richie Havens, Fuller, Jesse 10: Just Like a Woman - Richie Havens, Dylan, Bob 11: Eleanor Rigby - Richie Havens, Lennon, John

He's Better Live Although this is true for most of his live performances, the one I compare this to is his Woodstock performance. Don't get me wrong, I love Richie Havens, but when you contrast this with the live performances, they always seem to sound more inspired. I'm a Woodstock collector, so I got his entire recorded performance there, and it is sublime. All of the songs have the guitar in a much more prominent position, without the extra backup musicians. All it is is Richie's voice, his guitar, a lead guitar (he plays the lines when they are there) and congas. It's much more raw and powerful. Look for that performance as well as almost any of his live stuff. Memory Lane I've loaded all of my old faves from the 70's on it, and realized I no longer had any Richie Havens. I finally got an Ipod for Christmas and now understand the hype. I've always loved his gravelly voice and remembered many of his songs. So I treated myself to this great CD and can honestly say it brings a smile every time I take a walk with my Ipod and Richie. The 70's were a great time to be in college, and this music just brings it home. Nobody sings "San Francisco Bay" like this man. He Stoned Me! The club wasn't really open but the door was so we made our way down the steps and witnessed Mr. One day in early '65 I was strolling through the Village with my high school girlfriend and we heard this amazing sound coming from a basement cafe. Havens rehearsing on a stool in the center of an unlit stage. He was unaccompanied except for his own guitar, which was de-tuned so he could do his (now) signature strum using mostly his thumb. I think he was singing a Beatles tune when we arrived and we stayed put through several originals, unable to move or even whisper lest we break the spell. It was a year before the release of his first LP and I actually found out who Richie Havens was, but the spell was never broken. Richie Havens is the greatest solo folk performer of his generation and although most of his own material remains obscure, no one else has ever interpreted Beatles or Dylan songs with such energy or passion. Mixed Bag is an excellent introduction and don't pass on a chance to see the man live, because he's still out there working!. One of best albums of all time Richie's best. I love this album. I first saw him 40 years ago playing a Washington Square Park. Saw him stumping for John Lindsey for President in Florida in '71. Seeing him again this May. Special Musician. The whole album has wonderful tunes. A True Classic His talent and equal modesty won me over and I've been a fan ever since. I bought Mixed Bag back in 1967 after seeing Richie Havens on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. I wore the poor LP out and replaced it in the mid-70s. Over the years and moves I lost track of the LP and the cassette I dubbed it on. Oh Joy! I found the cassette in a box with about 150 others. Now I am converting this great album to CD and giving it a top spot on my iPod Playlists. My favorite song remains Morning, Morning but all the songs are strong and can stand the test of time. You can see a complete list of all Richie Havens discography, or go back to the Richie Havens tabs