Cuts to the Chase

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Cuts to the Chase
Cuts to the Chase (Richie Havens album).jpg
Studio album by
Richie Havens
Released1994
Genre Folk, rock
Label Forward
Richie Havens chronology
Résumé: The Best of Richie Havens
(1993)		Cuts to the Chase
(1994)		Classics
(1995)

Cuts to the Chase is an album by the American musician Richie Havens, released in 1994. [1] [2] It was distributed by Rhino Records. [3]

Contents

Havens intended to support the album by playing the Bethel '94 Woodstock reunion. [4] After it was canceled, Havens played shows with, among others, Pete Seeger and Don McLean, in addition to touring the United Kingdom. [5] [6] [7] "Old Love" was a minor radio hit. [8]

Production

Havens added more rock elements to his folk sound. [9] The album contains two parts. [10] The first seven songs are listed under "The Declaration"; the remaining six fall under "Independence". [11] "Old Love" is a cover of the Eric Clapton song. [12] "Comin' Back to Me" is a version of the Jefferson Airplane song; Havens had wanted to record it for decades. [13] "They Dance Alone" was written by Sting. [14] "Darkness, Darkness" was composed by Jesse Colin Young. [15] The only Havens-penned song on the album, "Young Boy", encourages urban young people to advocate for change. [16] Billy Perry played guitar on the album. [17]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [17]
Calgary Herald C [11]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [18]
MusicHound Folk: The Essential Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [19]

The Hartford Courant wrote that Havens's "guitar playing is enthusiastic and powerful and his lyric presentation often gives new shades of meanings to familiar songs." [6] The Boston Globe concluded that "this is a fine new album that restores luster to his career and proves his voice is still among the most stately, dignified vehicles in the field." [12] The Calgary Herald opined: "While the occasional song rises above the haze of decades passed ... Havens—even when backed by a band—remains, alas, more of a relic rather than a singer relevant to today." [11]

The Chicago Tribune stated that "Havens' heartfelt, distinctive vocal style and forceful guitar playing serve him well throughout." [11] The St. Petersburg Times deemed the album "a complex, compelling work that breaks away from the traditional, folk-heavy Havens." [9] The Christian Science Monitor called Cuts to the Chase "his best work in years," praising the "deep, sandpaper voice [and] propulsive guitar strumming." [20]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Lives in the Balance" 
2."They Dance Alone" 
3."My Father's Shoes" 
4."Darkness, Darkness" 
5."The Hawk" 
6."Young Boy" 
7."The Times They Are a-Changin'" 
8."Fade to Blue" 
9."Intro/Old Love" 
10."How the Nights Can Fly" 
11."Comin' Back to Me" 
12."Don't Pass It Up" 
13."At a Glance" 

References

  1. ↑ Takiff, Jonathan (June 5, 1994). "Summer's beginning heralds arrival of new discs". Orange County Register. Knight Ridder. p. F27.
  2. ↑ Bledsoe, Wayne (July 17, 1994). "Music News". Knoxville News Sentinel. p. 2.
  3. ↑ "'Married' visit brings Havens new audience". The Philadelphia Tribune. April 7, 1995. p. 9E.
  4. ↑ Bird, Rick (June 23, 1994). "Havens hasn't forgotten the message of Woodstock". The Cincinnati Post. p. 1.2.
  5. ↑ Sell, Jill (August 19, 1994). "Music Legends Take Stage at Valley Festival". Friday. The Plain Dealer. p. 3.
  6. 1 2 Larcen, Donna (August 11, 1994). "Cuts to the Chase Richie Havens". Calendar. Hartford Courant. p. 4.
  7. ↑ Denselow, Robin (February 18, 1995). "Mud-caked survivor". The Guardian. p. 28.
  8. ↑ Weatherford, Mike (April 14, 1995). "Politically active folk singer Richie Havens...". Las Vegas Review-Journal. p. 2E.
  9. 1 2 Zucco, Tom (August 12, 1994). "Prime 'Cuts'". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 13.
  10. ↑ Geisel, Ellen (September 1996). "Richie Havens: Seeker of Change". Dirty Linen.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Muretich, James (July 17, 1994). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. E2.
  12. 1 2 Morse, Steve (June 16, 1994). "Richie Havens Cuts to the Chase". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 19.
  13. ↑ Harris, Paul (September 19, 1996). "Woodstock Roots". Get Out. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 13.
  14. ↑ The Rough Guide to Rock (2nd ed.). Rough Guides. 1999. p. 449.
  15. ↑ McLennan, Scott (December 10, 1995). "Havens' message evolves with the times". Datebook. Telegram & Gazette. p. 8.
  16. ↑ Honey, Charles (August 14, 1994). "Havens still on road, still a child of Woodstock". The Grand Rapids Press. p. G1.
  17. 1 2 "Cuts to the Chase Review by Ron Wynn". AllMusic. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  18. ↑ Van Matre, Lynn (August 4, 1994). "Richie Havens Cuts to the Chase". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 8.
  19. ↑ MusicHound Folk: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 352.
  20. ↑ "Folk". Music. The Christian Science Monitor. September 23, 1994.
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