Richard P. Havens, 1983

Background

Richard P. Havens, 1983 compiles a number of studio tracks with live material recorded for a concert in July 1968. 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." 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".

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

Music and reception

The album was commercially successful, reaching #80 on the Billboard "Pop Albums" chart, and critically well received. 2004's Rip It Up: The Black Experience in Rock'n'Roll indicates that this album, along with Havens' Mixed Bag and Alarm Clock, "should be considered staples of the rock canon." The Rough Guide to Rock praises it as "an excellent mix of originals and covers, with a darker, brooding feel." In a more modest assessment, Unterberger's review in 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."

Notable songs on the album include "Handsome Johnny", which is among Havens' best known songs. Havens and actor Lou Gossett, Jr. had written the tune for 1967's Mixed Bag, and it would become a standard by the time he notably updated it during his 1969 performance at Woodstock.

The album also 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". However, while Rough Guide suggested that the album bears "witness to Havens' compelling ability as a live performer", 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."

Singles released from the album include "Stop Pulling and Pushing Me", the B side of a cover of "Rocky Raccoon", in July 1969, and "Indian Rope Man", which was released twice in May 1969: as an "A" side with "Just Above My Hobby Horses Head" and a "B" side with Beatles' cover "Lady Madonna." "Indian Rope Man" has proved enduring, with multiple covers by Brian Auger, Julie Driscoll and Phaze, among others. It was also retooled and retitled as "African Herbsman", under which title it was performed by Bob Marley.

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 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

Performance

Production

Releases

The album was initially released on vinyl in 1969 on Verve Forecast Records. It was re-released as a compact disk in 1990 on Polygram. In 2004, Richard P. Havens, 1983 was combined with two other Havens albums on a Hip-O Select double CD titled Flyin' Bird: The Verve Forecast Years.