Wikipedia

Simple Things (Richie Havens album)

Simple Things is an album by the American folk musician Richie Havens, released in 1987.[2][3] The album, along with Richie Havens Sings the Beatles and Dylan, from the same year, marked a recording comeback for Havens.[4] Havens supported the album with a North American tour.[5]

Simple Things
Studio album by
Richie Havens
Released1987
GenreFolk
LabelRBI[1]
Richie Havens chronology
Common Ground
(1984) 		Simple Things
(1987) 		Richie Havens Sings the Beatles and Dylan
(1987)

The album peaked at No. 173 on the Billboard 200.[6] The title track and "Drivin'" were released as singles.[7]

Production

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Rather than relying on just his acoustic guitar, Havens employed electronic drums, horns, choirs, and synthesizers.[8][9] The album includes covers of songs written by Paul McCartney, John Martyn, and Vince Willis, among others.[10]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [11]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [12]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide     [13]
New Musical Express1/10[14]
The Philadelphia Inquirer    [15]

The Washington Post wrote that "the songs, while hardly exceptional, are certainly tuneful, and Havens delivers them with typical feeling and conviction."[8] The Sun Sentinel wrote: "Opening with an up-tempo ska number, Haven's rich, throaty vocal line reaches out of the tight studio mix to grab your attention."[16]

The Ottawa Citizen thought that "it is ... disconcerting to hear the slick uptown grooves on the opening track, 'Drivin''."[17] The Gazette noted the "very commercial '80s sound," but acknowledged that "Havens's voice is still an affecting instrument."[18]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Drivin'"4:17
2."Simple Things"4:07
3."Songwriter"4:00
4."Passin' By"4:22
5."Wake Up and Dream"3:50
6."I Don't Wanna Know"4:23
7."Shouldn't We All Be Having a Good Time"5:23
8."Arrow Through Me"4:23
9."Runner in the Night"5:35

References

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  1. ^ Popoff, Martin (September 8, 2009). Goldmine Record Album Price Guide. Penguin – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Richie Havens | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  3. ^ "You Say It's Your Birthday: Richie Havens". MTV News. Archived from the original on July 15, 2021.
  4. ^ Gray, Chris (April 22, 2013). "RIP Richie Havens: Bearded Folksinger Icon Dies Suddenly at 72". Houston Press.
  5. ^ Troup, Stuart (18 Jul 1987). "Richie Havens, Seeking His Place in the '80s". Part II. Newsday. p. 12.
  6. ^ "Richie Havens". Billboard.
  7. ^ Randall, Neil (3 Sep 1987). "Still Relevant". Waterloo Region Record. p. C11.
  8. ^ a b Joyce, Mike (22 Jan 1988). "Richie Havens: 2 Winners and a Slipped Disc". The Washington Post. p. N11.
  9. ^ Brower, W.A. (Jan 28, 1988). "Stay Tuned". The Washington Informer. No. 15. p. 21.
  10. ^ Quill, Greg (4 Sep 1987). "Shortcuts". Toronto Star. p. D12.
  11. ^ "Simple Things - Richie Havens | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  12. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 178.
  13. ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 531.
  14. ^ O'Neill, Jack (9 January 1988). "Richie Havens: Simple Things". New Musical Express. p. 24.
  15. ^ Tucker, Ken (30 Aug 1987). "Richie Havens Simple Things". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. F3.
  16. ^ Gomez, Alex (30 Aug 1987). "Greater Than Sum of Parts". Sun Sentinel. p. 3F.
  17. ^ Erskine, Evelyn (4 Sep 1987). "Rock". Ottawa Citizen. p. D5.
  18. ^ Lepage, Mark (26 Nov 1987). "Richie Havens – Simple Things (RBI)". The Gazette. p. H3.
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