Cuts to the Chase (Richie Havens album)

1994 studio album by Richie Havens

Cuts to the Chase

Studio album by

Richie Havens

Released| 1994
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]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [17]
Calgary Herald| C[11]
Chicago Tribune| [18]
MusicHound Folk: The Essential Album Guide| [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[edit]

No.| Title| Length

|
|

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[edit]

1. ^ Takiff, Jonathan (5 June 1994). "Summer's beginning heralds arrival of new discs". Orange County Register. Knight Ridder. p. F27.
2. ^ Bledsoe, Wayne (17 July 1994). "Music News". Knoxville News Sentinel. p. 2.
3. ^ "'Married' visit brings Havens new audience". The Philadelphia Tribune. 7 Apr 1995. p. 9E.
4. ^ Bird, Rick (23 June 1994). "Havens hasn't forgotten the message of Woodstock". The Cincinnati Post. p. 1.2.
5. ^ Sell, Jill (19 Aug 1994). "Music Legends Take Stage at Valley Festival". Friday. The Plain Dealer. p. 3.
6. ^ a b Larcen, Donna (11 Aug 1994). "Cuts to the Chase Richie Havens". Calendar. Hartford Courant. p. 4.
7. ^ Denselow, Robin (18 Feb 1995). "Mud-caked survivor". The Guardian. p. 28.
8. ^ Weatherford, Mike (14 Apr 1995). "Politically active folk singer Richie Havens...". Las Vegas Review-Journal. p. 2E.
9. ^ a b Zucco, Tom (12 Aug 1994). "Prime 'Cuts'". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 13.
10. ^ Geisel, Ellen (Sep 1996). "Richie Havens: Seeker of Change". Dirty Linen.
11. ^ a b c d Muretich, James (17 July 1994). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. E2.
12. ^ a b Morse, Steve (16 June 1994). "Richie Havens Cuts to the Chase". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 19.
13. ^ Harris, Paul (19 Sep 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 (10 Dec 1995). "Havens' message evolves with the times". Datebook. Telegram & Gazette. p. 8.
16. ^ Honey, Charles (14 Aug 1994). "Havens still on road, still a child of Woodstock". The Grand Rapids Press. p. G1.
17. ^ a b "Cuts to the Chase Review by Ron Wynn". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
18. ^ Van Matre, Lynn (4 Aug 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. 23 Sep 1994.

* v
* t
* e

Richie Havens

Studio albums|

* Mixed Bag (1966)
* Something Else Again (1968)
* Electric Havens (1968)
* Richie Havens' Record (1968)
* Richard P. Havens, 1983 (1969)
* Stonehenge (1969)
* Alarm Clock (1970)
* The Great Blind Degree (1971)
* Portfolio (1973)
* Mixed Bag II (1974)
* The End of the Beginning (1976)
* Mirage (1977)
* Connections (Riche Havens album) (1980)
* Common Ground (1983)
* Simple Things (1987)
* Sings Beatles and Dylan (Old & New, Together & Apart) (1987)
* Now (1991)
* Cuts to the Chase (1994)
* Wishing Well (2002)
* Grace of the Sun (2004)
* Nobody Left to Crown (2008)

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