Richie Havens - The Great Blind Degree (1971)

Richie Havens' career benefited enormously from his appearance at the Woodstock festival in 1969 and his subsequent featured role in the movie and album made from the concert in 1970. His first album after that exposure, "Alarm Clock", made the Top 30 and produced a Top 20 single in "Here Comes the Sun." These recordings were Havens' commercial high-water mark, but by this time he had become an international touring success. By the end of the '70s, he had abandoned recording and turned entirely to live work. Havens came back to records with a flurry of releases in 1987: a new album, "Simple Things"; an album of Bob Dylan and Beatles covers; and a compilation. In 1991, Havens signed his first major-label deal in 15 years when he moved to Sony Music and released "Now". "Nobody Left to Crown" was issued by Verve Forecast in 2008. Havens died of a heart attack at his home in Jersey City, New Jersey in April 2013; he was 72 years old.

A key strength of Havens, despite having emerged from the 1960s Greenwich Village folk scene, is that his oeuvre -- covers and all -- transcends the broadside tradition of forebears like Woody Guthrie and Phil Ochs to arrive at something infinitely more personal and soulful.

Tracklist:

What About Me 6:11

Fire & Rain 6:23

Tommy 1:28

In These Flames 3:52

Think About The Children 4:20

Fathers & Sons 6:45

Teach Your Children 3:45

What Have We Done 4:26

Richie Havens - The Great Blind Degree (1971)

(192 kbps, cover art included)