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Richie Havens — We Both Know
Album: Grace of the Sun
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 379









Released: 2004
Length: 3:28
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Comments (57)add comment
Sweet set.
Superior sounds, thank you DJ!

Patty Griffin
Bruce
Richie (a Mighty Spirit) 
I saw him live at the bob dylan anniversary concert - there were so many music luminaries, but Richie Havens was the person that I left talking about hands down.  wish I had seen more than one song live, but glad I got that one.  (it was covering dylan's Just like a woman, BTW ;-)
 jadewahoo wrote:
 cc_rider wrote:
Mr. Havens has a distinctive style, but it can tend to make his songs sound alike. But with a style like that, I do not mind one bit. First couple notes and I think 'Ahhh, Richie Havens'. Wonderful.
Dang, cc... I was about to post almost exactly the same sentiment and words! 
It is always good to hear Richie Havens. yeah.
 
Great minds, Jade. Great minds.
 kingart wrote:
One of the greatest and most passionate singer songwriters. This guy is 100%+ on every song. I once heard him perform on a WFUV (an NYC university radio) talk show, solo with that guitar, and it was stunning. He ROCKED. 

 
Cool Kingart!  Fordham's voice has been my favorite for decades (til I found RP), the voice of Mr. Havens is awesome and historic!  
One of the greatest and most passionate singer songwriters. This guy is 100%+ on every song. I once heard him perform on a WFUV (an NYC university radio) talk show, solo with that guitar, and it was stunning. He ROCKED. 
I absolutely LOVE this album. Every time I play it, or a song from it, somebody asks "Who is that?" While no particular song dominates, taken as a whole, this album just hits it perfectly.

I saw Richie shortly after this was released. He plays open tuning and used his thumb more than any guitar player I have ever seen. It is his unique style, and he owns it.

That man is on his own plane, and it is beautiful. 
 ThePoose wrote:
Much of the similarity in his sound comes from his frenetic guitar strumming. Richie: Try to fingerpick.
 
Would you tell Eric Clapton,Mark Knopfler or Santana to strum? Everybody's got their own groove, man. It's cool if you don't dig his style, that's fair, but telling a legend how he oughta play? Seriously?
Much of the similarity in his sound comes from his frenetic guitar strumming. Richie: Try to fingerpick.

 
cc_rider wrote:
Mr. Havens has a distinctive style, but it can tend to make his songs sound alike. But with a style like that, I do not mind one bit. First couple notes and I think 'Ahhh, Richie Havens'. Wonderful.
 

 cc_rider wrote:
Mr. Havens has a distinctive style, but it can tend to make his songs sound alike. But with a style like that, I do not mind one bit. First couple notes and I think 'Ahhh, Richie Havens'. Wonderful.
Dang, cc... I was about to post almost exactly the same sentiment and words! 
It is always good to hear Richie Havens. yeah.


Mr. Havens has a distinctive style, but it can tend to make his songs sound alike. But with a style like that, I do not mind one bit. First couple notes and I think 'Ahhh, Richie Havens'. Wonderful.
Who...?

I love the work he did with Steve Hackett
 tbaileymd wrote:
Had the pleasure of seeing Richie Havens about twenty years ago at a poorly-advertised gig at the Wayne County fairgrounds in Richmond, Indiana, with about fifteen other people in the audience.  He had us all gather round, unplugged the mic, and gave a nice show and then hung out for an hour or so just answering questions and sharing stories.
 
He is such an amazing guy and wonderful human being. Didn't he have a Cosby Show appearance about THAT 20 years ago.

I thought he must've been one of the heroes of the American POPsong . . . but boy was I wrong. I adore his music and it even makes me cry every now and then: touching the soul. A pure guy. 
Had the pleasure of seeing Richie Havens about twenty years ago at a poorly-advertised gig at the Wayne County fairgrounds in Richmond, Indiana, with about fifteen other people in the audience.  He had us all gather round, unplugged the mic, and gave a nice show and then hung out for an hour or so just answering questions and sharing stories.

 RedGuitar wrote:

Amazing was that "Freedom" was an improvisation.  He had played all the songs in the set, and was asked to continue.
Made it up on the spot!

 

{#Yes}

I think I read somewhere that he was remembering an old Negro spiritual that his mother or grandmother used to sing to him while on stage ("Motherless child") and just went with it.
Every time I hear him I think of La Bamba...and that Richie Valance...ridiculous eh
 slartibart_O wrote:
Do all his songs sound like Freedom? not complaining... It was one of my favorite tracks on my Woodstock double 8 track.

(Yes; I'm a 47 year old relic but it was my older brother's tape ok?)
 

This song does sound like Freedom, but Richie does some other covers that are noteworthy and do not sound like Freedom. Particularly, off of his album "Mixed Bag" I enjoy his cover of Dylan's "Just Like a Woman" and the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby".
 Otomi wrote:

Funny you should say that. I just clicked in to say that I thought Freedom was the most powerful song on the soundtrack album. Still do. This is technically more complex but Freedom (just as I typed the last word Richie sang the word "Freedom") had more raw power.
 
Amazing was that "Freedom" was an improvisation.  He had played all the songs in the set, and was asked to continue.
Made it up on the spot!

{#Notworthy}
Thanks for this, RP!  We don't hear enough of Richie Havens.
 wally42 wrote:
He still a very captivating and vibrant performer.
  Well-spoken, too. Weekend Edition did a nice interview with him a few weeks back.
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98123038

 slartibart_O wrote:
Do all his songs sound like Freedom? not complaining... It was one of my favorite tracks on my Woodstock double 8 track. (Yes; I'm a 47 year old relic but it was my older brother's tape ok?)
 
Yup, pretty much. It's what he does, but he does it well.

 Pyro wrote:
This is a vast improvement IMHO, over the Freedom cut from Woodstock.
 
Funny you should say that. I just clicked in to say that I thought Freedom was the most powerful song on the soundtrack album. Still do. This is technically more complex but Freedom (just as I typed the last word Richie sang the word "Freedom") had more raw power.
This is a vast improvement IMHO, over the Freedom cut from Woodstock.
I saw him last summer and it was electrifying. He still a very captivating and vibrant performer.
Do all his songs sound like Freedom? not complaining... It was one of my favorite tracks on my Woodstock double 8 track. (Yes; I'm a 47 year old relic but it was my older brother's tape ok?)
My mother-in-law cant listen to Richie Havens... she says he sounds like he has no teeth (he doesn't I think). She claims all she can hear when he is singing is his gums. Makes me laugh every time. I like him.
LOVE him...his playing and singing and phrasing are raw and emotional and charged...and I'm 34.
Superb!
Mugro wrote:
I am 37 and love Richie Havens.
I'm 38 and didn't pay attention to him.
Wow!
man he hits those strings hard !
radiojunkie wrote:
I'm often surprised here. I was certain I'd find the usual suspects ranting about "why are you playing another hippie Woodstock relic nobody under 70 would listen to" etc. etc. etc. So glad they didn't show up! Good to hear an unfamiliar tune from Richie for a change.
I am 37 and love Richie Havens.
Well picked this one!
kazuma wrote:
I'll gladly admit to not having properly appreciated this guy in the past and I'm happy to hear him on RP.
Well said. My feelings exactly.
It's the Hav-meister! Folk it up, dudebro!
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Havens this year at the Joni Mitchell tribute at Carnegie Hall. He is a consummate gentleman and a sincerely nice man. His cover of Joni's "Woodstock" (on this same CD) is excellent.
It sounds like he has cotton stuffed in his cheeks. Good energy though.
can this guy play the guitar. Well if he can why don't he start?
I'm diggin it
lostindetroit wrote:
I must admit to not being exposed to Richie Havens, I think this is the first time I've heard him. Good stuff, love the guitar work.
I'll gladly admit to not having properly appreciated this guy in the past and I'm happy to hear him on RP.
Thanks for playing Richie Havens... as a guitarist in a proggy/math rock band... I'm often mocked for considering him one of my favorite guitar players. I think SNL did a skit mocking his thumb-over-the-neck technique of chording. Fair enough. He's still great.
I must admit to not being exposed to Richie Havens, I think this is the first time I've heard him. Good stuff, love the guitar work.
Pleasant surprise to hear this here. Hope more can be added to the playlist.
why are you playing another hippie Woodstock relic nobody under 70 would listen to? radiojunkie wrote:
I'm often surprised here. I was certain I'd find the usual suspects ranting about "why are you playing another hippie Woodstock relic nobody under 70 would listen to" etc. etc. etc. So glad they didn't show up! Good to hear an unfamiliar tune from Richie for a change.
I'm often surprised here. I was certain I'd find the usual suspects ranting about "why are you playing another hippie Woodstock relic nobody under 70 would listen to" etc. etc. etc. So glad they didn't show up! Good to hear an unfamiliar tune from Richie for a change.
reminds me a bit of Richard Thompson. which is far from a bad thing.
More Richie Havens!!!
I saw Havens in Oahu, 1972, (shell amphitheater?) and it was amazing. He is a great artist. He broke about 4 strings by the time he was done. This was before stage hands stood in the wings ready with other tuned-and-ready guitars to do a quick-switch. Fun times!
MORE, more, MORE.....
rulebritannia wrote:
With such remarkable talent it's surprising that Havens is rarely elevated to the pantheaon of the 20th century greats..........
Bad habits slowed the poor boy down. Too bad, cause he is truly one of the most original American voices. More Havens!!
With such remarkable talent it's surprising that Havens is rarely elevated to the pantheaon of the 20th century greats..........
thanks for playing a long time favorite---!!