Fretplay.com Richie Havens CD reviews Richie Havens guitar tabs Richie Havens CD reviews Richie Havens tabs The Classics


Richie Havens - The Classics Audio CD

A fair review of the Richie Havens "The Classics" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Richie Havens reviews here, or go back to the Richie Havens tabs.

Richie Havens Band: Richie Havens
Title: The Classics
Rating:
Release Date: 1995-09-01
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Eleanor Rigby 2: Just Like a Woman 3: Medley: Run Shaker Life/Do You Feel Good 4: Maggie's Farm 5: Somethin' Else Again 6: She's Leaving Home [*] 7: Klan 8: Strawberry Fields Forever 9: High Flyin' Bird 10: Handsome Johnny 11: With a Little Help from My Friends

Mostly the least challenging of Havens' early work . . .
The title song of Havens' album 'Something Else Again' is not the song he was thinking of because it isn't the song that opens that album, and is in fact one of Richie's lesser early efforts. The other reviewer got his wires a little crossed. The opener (doubtlessly the one he was thinking of) was in fact titled "No Experience Necessary, No Opportunity Needed", and it's one of Richie's very best, and one of my favorite songs of all time.

Too bad it's not here. Other great ones from that album, which was really his 2nd (after the debut 'Mixed Bag') were "The Klan", which has some of the best acoustic guitar strumming and most passionate singing I have ever heard, and the very moving, slow acoustic number "From the Prison". On a more hopeful and very inspired, beautiful note was the glorious anthem "New City". And "Inside of Him" and "Don't Listen to Me" are also very impassioned songs with very deep melodies and lyrics.

They seem to have included many of the less gutsy, less creative, less interesting songs on this compilation. "Run, Shaker Life" and "Maggie's Farm" are two more less than stellar numbers from 'Something Else Again'.

All in all the compilers took a very [bare bones] approach in assembling this CD. They took the easy way out . . . followed the road most traveled.

Though nine of the eleven tracks represented here are from his two first album releases, none of Richie's greatest work from these two was included here with the exception of "The Klan" and possibly "High Flyin' Bird" and his Woodstock anthem "Handsome Johnny". This is not to say that the compilation is a dead pig by the roadside, because Havens does a marvelous job covering Beatles and Dylan songs. But when the real gourmet offerings are left off the plate, no matter how well prepared are the meat and potatoes, there's still something sadly missing.

Pick up 'Mixed Bag', then search some of the other compilations to locate some of the other songs mentioned above, and you'll end up with a much fuller, more accurate representation of what the early Richie Havens was/is about.

All the best of luck to you.


Not as Marked
This is not a great collection and the recording of the tunes toward the albums' end is terrible. I bought this for Track #5, "Somethin' Else Again" which was the opening track of his first album way back when and I was very disgusted when track #5 WAS something else. Not a good recording of an otherwise fine artist! I'd like to see a real remake of Rickie Havens' first album, "Somethin' Else Again".


You can see a complete list of all Richie Havens discography, or go back to the Richie Havens tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

Search guitar tabs

#ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
[ Search tabs | Guitar tabs | Bass tabs |
Easy guitar tabs | Guitar solo tabs |
Acoustic guitar tabs | Guitar chords |
How to read guitar tabs ]
Forum topics
Music forums
- Bands and artists - Songwriting and lyrics - Tablature talk - Promote your band
Instrument forums
- Guitar basics - Gear & accessories - Bass guitar
Community
- The pit - Site Feedback - Reviews
[ User survey | About us | Privacy statement ]