did anyone get to the gig last night? Absolutely amazing, what a talent. Loved the version of "Freedom" at the end, if you get a chance definitely worth checking out.

Been lurking here for yonks but haven't posted before so "hello folks". You've prodded me out of my Lurkism habit Daragh! Wasn't that an unbelievable gig? First I'd seen of Richie Havens - what an incredible man. To be playing at that calibre with such energy at 65 is un-freakin'-believable. Wish I'd taken the time to get to know his own music beforehand but the classic songs he covered were transformed. Yeah, Freedom was stunning. Especially loved his take on Lives In The Balance. Been dusting down my Jackson Browne, Joni M & Dylan albums since then. I don't think I've ever heard anyone take other artists' songs and make them their own quite as well as he did! Amazing. Are you a long-standing enthusiast? Any idea what his older albums are like? Picked up Grace of the Sun and will order Wishing Well as soon as the purse strings ease a bit.

Hi, yeah what a gig, been listening a lot more to Dylan since then myself, really loved "just like a woman" (for whatever type of woman!) i've been a fan for a few years but haven't been able to afford/find a lot of his older stuff. I did get Mixed Bag which (as far as i know) is his first album, and its pretty damn good. I didn't like it at first, mainly because "handsome johnny" sounds so tame compared to his woodstock version, but its grown on me since then, really mellow, and with that voice its gotta be good. If you don't have it get the woodstock dvd, he opens the show and there are two great tracks on there, and id get that before Mixed Bag, just for the "historic" element, plus there are a tonne of other great performances. I got an interview with him, and that should be on here soon enough, he's some talker and most of it was very interesting, (great story about Jimi)