Customer Reviews

Wishing Well

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Richie Havens' lastest release is quite possibly his finest to date. I can't praise it enough- its timing is impeccable and most welcome with the world in such a mad state! Nothing comforts like Richie when he wraps his voice around a song. This time out, he's rediscovered his own fine songwriting skills- much like his earlier albums, most of the tunes are self-penned. "Handouts In The Rain", The Well", "Alone Together" are Havens' own, and among the best on this album. Other gems include "Paradise", and the Pink Floyd song, "On The Turning Away". Havens also returns to simpler musical arrangements here. His amazing guitar work is once again in the forefront after having been buried in his last two studio albums. Earthy percussion, upright bass, bansuri bamboo flute, Turkish violin and some additional stunning guitar work by Chris Cunningham help round out this lovely collection of songs. Highly recommended!

As a long time fan , i look forward to each new cd as it becomes available...I had the good fortune to see Richie perform in my hometown a few months back (Oct 2002) , and got a chance to hear this music live , even before i bought the album....
Too bad most people don't get the opportunity to do this....
While it IS another fantastic trip through humanity , this cd
reinforces the fact that this man is larger than life on the stage...his presence , and his compassion are just as strong on this cd as his live performance , which is a feat in itself....
Strong songwriting , well arranged , and custom tailored to his voice , this cd STILL sends chills through me....
In these days of mass produced commercial muzak being blared by the airwaves , it's still a blessing to have a songwriter and musician of this calibre continue to have a one on one with his audience in a real , tangeable , and ethereal manner....
From the low droning notes to the high energy emotional battle against apathy , this might be one of his finest efforts i've had the priviledge to listen to.....
Please make it an experience for yourself , as well....
Regardless of musical style , or taste , this cd will appeal to everyone who truly loves music for what it is...and what it SHOULD be...

Richie Havens is a folk legend. If you ever get the chance to see him live, you will feel the same way. There is something special about this guy, and his cult fans know it. He never goes out of style. His concerts attract people from all ages and backgrounds. Havens' voice is still rich and powerful, and he still has the ability to crank out blazingly fast acoustics with his unique strumming style. The songs on this album aren't too fast, but they are powerful. This CD has a few excellent tunes. "Paradise" is really catchy, while "Handouts in the Rain", "Stardust and Passion", and "Alone Together" are chillout-type songs. After listening to this album, you get the feeling Havens will never lose it. He is an ageless wonder.

Well, what can I say about Richie Havens after all these years? For one, he is as good today as he ever was...and that is REAL GOOD. And for another, he is so satisfying to my sensibilities. I have met Richie several times at various gigs...even hung out with him back in '05 after a very hot set at the Towne Crier in Pawling NY. My long time buddy and lead vocalist, TR and I (along with the wives) talked it up for quite a long time after that gig. And that is typical of Richie. Man, he is truly a "people person". The guy is so damn likable it is astounding. Both "he" and "his music" have stood the test of time.

Now getting to the task at hand, and that is to review "Wishing Well". Firstly, it is very nice to see Richie eschewing the attempts to over-produce his recordings. His output from 1982 to around 2000 has suffered from a post-disco, post-new wave treatment, which I am sure, was not at the urging of Richie himself. "Wishing Well" harkens back to a simpler time. While it is not as solid as "Richard P. Havens, 1983", it is a step back in that direction. And by "back" I mean "back to the future" hopefully. Richie also utilizes a smaller back up band here. His perennial acoustic is back up front where it belongs. The songs he chose are standouts. I especially like "Paradise Is A Hard Place To Find" by someone named, "Mescall (?)". Others of note are "The Road To Calvary" by Havens and "You'll Never Know", also by Richie.

Richie does not really need a band or even a lone sideman to back him up. He is a one-man orchestra. His voice and guitar are seemless at times. He is so in tune with himself that beats and melodies pour off of him like beads of sweat. The man is a human metronome. This CD is a welcome return to the essence of Richie Havens.

I only wish that Richie would take his strong cover tunes from over the years ("Live At The Cellar Door" did not achieve the greatness that Richie is capable of) and re-record them now that he is in full-stride once again. Songs such as: LADY MADONNA, HERE COMES THE SUN, GOD BLESS THE CHILD, STRAWBERRY FIELDS, HIGH FLYING BIRD, etc etc...and the one that I suggested to him at the Towne Crier (a song that TR and I cover in Dreamland Choo Choo)...I am speaking of Curtis Mayfield's PEOPLE GET READY. This song is a natural choice for Richie.

Well, as you may have guessed, I like this record. It will have to hold us until Richie makes the next one...(The Grace of the Sun, not withstanding)and one that will get back to where Richie belongs...stamping great cover tunes with his unmistakable brand of art.
peace
Vince "Lucie" DeLucia, Nov. 2007

Not much more to add to the above "editorial Decription": Richie (at least in the studio) went back to his signature sound - or at least the sound that got me back in 1968 on Something Else Again, followed by Mixed Bag, and Stonehenge.

I've seen RH go "off the program" so to speak, put aside the guitar, and sing in a more romantic style, for example, on TV and on stage, andit was always interesting. But these cuts, especially the title tune, sound as if they could be outtakes (not suggestive of *quality*) on any of the three albums I mentioned above.

Richie's voice is instantly recognizable. I can hear whispering where crooning may have been used way back when - but he sounds great. Just great.

Let's not forget a unique strumming style and sound, as well. Is he in the Rock and Roll hall of Fame? Gotta google it. Something tells me Richie's not interested.

On this CD and I assume in other venues and mediums, this man is "something else"...again.

Up until recently, I only knew a little bit about Richie Havens. One day I borrowed this album from the public library and just loved it, so I purchased my own copy. I think it is a mix of folk and world music that really make something very unique and easy to listen to. Richie Havens is a huge talent and a very over loooked songwriter/musician. I like every song on this album.

i'm a big fan of his simple things album but this one is for hardcore folkies only