Richie Havens - "Alarm Clock" (1971) - Stormy Forest
Hello Friends,
Richie Havens-- aka the crazy looking black guy with the big stompin' feet that opened the Woodstock music festival-- died this week at age 72.
A folk singer from Brooklyn, NY who emerged in the Greenwich Village 1960's folk revival movement, Richie Havens with his deep, distinctive voice and mad man open strumming style of guitar playing, carved out a nice little niche for himself with fans of soulful folk music. However, he was most famous for his opening act improvisations at the 1969 Woodstock music festival.
Legend has it that Richie Havens was scheduled to open the festival with a short opening set. However, due to traffic tie-ups and general disorganization, promoters told Havens to stretch his set out so the audience wouldn't have to sit too long between performers. Havens then improvised a foot-stompin' tune based on the old spiritual, "Motherless Child" which became one of the festival's most memorable moments and helped put Havens on the map!
Released post-Woodstock, Alarm Clock remains one of the most successful LP's of Havens's five decade career. Released on his own record label, Stormy Forest, the album consists mostly of Haven guitar-based originals like "To Give Your Love Away", "Younger Men Grow Older", "Girls Don't Run Away", "Some Will Wait" and the title track. Lots of songs about the passage of time which seemed an appropriate listen after the hearing the news of his passing. The album will be most remembered for his soulful cover of George Harrison's hit, "Here Comes the Sun" (video after the jump.)
RIP Richie Havens!
RATING: 4 Younger Men Grow Older Everyday out of 5
Legend has it that Richie Havens was scheduled to open the festival with a short opening set. However, due to traffic tie-ups and general disorganization, promoters told Havens to stretch his set out so the audience wouldn't have to sit too long between performers. Havens then improvised a foot-stompin' tune based on the old spiritual, "Motherless Child" which became one of the festival's most memorable moments and helped put Havens on the map!
Released post-Woodstock, Alarm Clock remains one of the most successful LP's of Havens's five decade career. Released on his own record label, Stormy Forest, the album consists mostly of Haven guitar-based originals like "To Give Your Love Away", "Younger Men Grow Older", "Girls Don't Run Away", "Some Will Wait" and the title track. Lots of songs about the passage of time which seemed an appropriate listen after the hearing the news of his passing. The album will be most remembered for his soulful cover of George Harrison's hit, "Here Comes the Sun" (video after the jump.)
RIP Richie Havens!
RATING: 4 Younger Men Grow Older Everyday out of 5
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