Thursday, June 5, 2025

San Francisco Bay Blues - Richie Havens

San Francisco Bay Blues - Richie Havens
2:30
Mixed Bag, 1966
Written by Jesse Fuller, 1954

It is my opinion that nobody, save Bob Dylan perhaps, takes on a song like Richie Havens.  His takes on "Ol' 55" and "Here Comes the Sun," among others, ought to be up there with the definitive takes.  This song I know from the live version Eric Clapton released on his Unplugged album.  This version, from Havens' debut album, is (in comparison to Clapton's sprightly take) a low, slow lament, better fitting the song: "She said goodbye, and she made me cry / I want to lay down and die."

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