CD Review

Of all the grand performances at Woodstock, the obscure, ad-lib festival opener set by Richie Havens has become one of the most poignant. His scheduled twenty-minute timeslot eventually turned into a three-hour marathon set as festival organizers asked him to kill time while an absent Santana was tracked down. With his entire catalogue exhausted, Haven’s belted out an impromptu refrain of the word “Freedom” while tearing his guitar to shreds with a battered pick. Thanks to the classic Woodstock documentary, the song has been captured forever, taking on new heights to become more than just a simple mantra, but a definable marker in American history. Though aside from that one take of that song done over thirty-five years ago, Havens is a perfect “where are they now” artist. Grace Of The Sun, his latest release, looks to bring his name back to the forefront, or at least into present times.

Those feverous riffs and thunderous strumming are still his signature sound, and brought alive again in “Way Down Deep” and “We Both Know.” Each song rises into an acoustic explosion countered by his compassionate, grainy vocals. That 60’s social commentary is also still prevalent, as he addresses contemporary issues with inspirational hope. The sad state of the war is depicted in “Red Flowers,” and “Pulling Up The Stone” is a modern tale of “come on people now, we can work it out” idealism. It may be a bit outdated, and a tough pill to swallow down a jaded throat, but it makes you glad not everyone is so dreary and pessimistic. And to take you all the way back to peace, love and music, Haven’s throws in covers of “All Along The Watchtower” and even Joni Mitchell’s “Woodstock,” made famous by Crosby, Stills, Nash &Young. How's that for coming full circle?