Mixed Bag & Something Els

Raven presents a splendid Double CD by renowned New York folk-rock singer / song writer RICHIE HAVENS, combining his first (Mixed Bag, 1967) and second (Something Else Again, 1968) albums recorded for MGM's folk label Verve Forecast. Born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, NY, Havens moved to Greenwich Village in 1961 just as the folk boom began to explode. His contemporaries included the likes of Fred Neil, Bob Dylan and Dave Van Ronk. Prior to his crowd-stirring performance at the Woodstock festival in 1969, these recordings saw Havens establishing his reputation as one of the most distinctive performers of the era. With his unusual open-E guitar tuning, unmistakable thumb-chorded strumming and distinctive smoky voice, much of the music features an organic and melancholy vibe. In combining inspirational self-penned songs such as the strident anti-war song 'Handsome Johnny', 'No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed' and 'Somethin' Else Again' and traditional tunes ('Run, Shaker Life') with exuberant covers of material by Billy Ed Wheeler ('High Flyin' Bird'), Tuli Kupferberg ('Morning, Morning'), Dylan ('Just Like a Woman', 'Maggie's Farm') and Lennon / McCartney ('Eleanor Rigby') Havens affirms his intuitive connection with the song writers' craft. Havens continues to tour and record. With superb quality audio, color booklet and detailed liner notes this is a must for fans of earthy and literate folk-rock.