Verve Forecast
2008
Nobody Left To Crown
About This Album
Havens became an international star in 1969, when he opened the Woodstock Festival with a set that was three hours long and culminated with "Freedom," a song he improvised on the spot based on the traditional salve song "Motherless Children." Havens has been on the road ever since, known for his unique driving acoustic guitar style, soulful gravel-throated vocals,and freewheeling set lists. He's written plenty of his own songs over the years, but is best known for his interpretations of other songwriters. On Nobody Left to Crown, his 30th album of new material, Havens interprets the Who, Peter, Paul & Mary,and Jackson Browne, but the majority of the tunes are his own, and they stand proudly alongside the covers. "The Key" opens things up with a meditation on the healing power of love. It's a gentle folk-rock tune with a hint of samba in the rhythm, and Havens' smooth timeless vocals offering solace to both his lover and the world. "Say It Isn't So" speaks about the troubles of the world with the disbelief of a child facing death for the first time. A cello adds its poignant voice to Havens' heartbreaking vocal. The title track is the kind of driving, rhythmic tune Havens is so good at, a look at the clay feet of our leaders delivered with ironic humor instead of anger.
Track List (try tracks 1,3,9 and 13)

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