Stonehenge
Richie Havens · 1970
34 min · 10 tracks · folk rock
A soulful blend of folk-rock and introspective lyricism, underscored by Havens' passionate vocal delivery and intricate guitar work.
Top tracks — play these first
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It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue — This track highlights Havens' ability to infuse emotional gravitas into a beloved Dylan classic, transforming it with his unique vocal style and arrangement.
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Open Our Eyes — The opening track sets the tone for the album with its urgent call for awareness and change, showcasing Havens' passionate delivery and lyrical depth.
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Shouldn’t All the World Be Dancing — Closing the album with a lengthy exploration of joy and unity, this song encapsulates the spirit of celebration and communal experience that defines much of Havens' work.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and passionate performances but lacks a fully cohesive flow.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a strong, rhythmic track that sets a mid-tempo pace, which is maintained through the first four songs before shifting to more introspective themes.
- Havens employs intricate fingerpicking on guitar throughout, often layering his vocals with harmonies that enhance the emotional weight of the lyrics.
- Several tracks feature abrupt transitions in dynamics, such as moving from soft verses to powerful choruses, creating a sense of urgency and engagement.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- introspective moments of connection
- playful energy for gatherings
- quick emotional bursts of joy
Maybe skip if you
- long immersive journeys required
- need for slow-paced tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1970, Stonehenge was Richie Havens' fifth studio album, coming shortly after his breakthrough performance at Woodstock in 1969. This album followed his previous release, the critically acclaimed 'Richard P. Havens, 1983', and showcased his continued evolution as a musician committed to social and personal themes.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Tim Hardin· John Sebastian· Nick Drake
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Prayer
The lyrics shift from personal reflection to a broader plea for hope and connection resonates deeply throughout the song.
This transition amplifies the spiritual undertones present in Havens' writing, revealing a collective yearning that transcends individual experiences.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Open Our Eyes 2:54
- 2 Minstrel From Gaul 3:35
- 3 It Could Be the First Day 2:21
- 4 Ring Around the Moon 2:06
- 5 It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue 4:59
- 6 There’s a Hole in the Future 2:04
- 7 I Started a Joke 2:56
- 8 Prayer 2:56
- 9 Tiny Little Blues 2:07
- 10 Shouldn’t All the World Be Dancing 8:04
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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