Alan Haven - Rice Paper Mountain Scat In The Dark

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Review by Theo Pleizier

Album Review: Rice Paper Mountain Scat In The Dark by Alan Haven Alright, let’s talk about Rice Paper Mountain Scat In The Dark, a hidden gem from 1972 that feels like stepping into a time capsule of UK pop vibes. Released on CBS and produced by Mike Smith and Tony Rivers, this album doesn’t scream for attention—but it doesn’t need to. It’s got this understated charm that sneaks up on you when you least expect it. Now, I’ve gotta shout out two tracks here because they’re the ones that stuck with me long after the needle lifted off the record. First up is “Nevah.” Man, this song has this breezy, almost floaty quality to it, like lying in a hammock on a lazy Sunday afternoon. The melody wraps around you, warm and inviting, while Alan’s vocals feel laid-back but full of soul. You don’t hear lyrics like these every day—they’re not trying too hard, just honest and kinda comforting. Honestly, I found myself humming it hours later without even realizing it. Then there’s the title track, “Rice-Paper Mountain (Scat In The Dark).” This one flips the vibe entirely. It’s playful, quirky, and dripping with personality. The scat sections are pure fun—like someone just said, “Hey, let’s throw caution to the wind and see what happens!” And guess what? It works. There’s something infectious about how loose and creative it feels. If you’re looking for a track that’ll make you smile without needing to overthink it, this is your jam. What I love most about this album is how unpretentious it is. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel or blow you away with flashy production tricks. Instead, it’s content being itself—an easygoing slice of early ‘70s pop goodness. Listening to it feels like catching up with an old friend who tells great stories but never brags. Here’s the thing though: albums like Rice Paper Mountain Scat In The Dark remind us that music doesn’t always have to be groundbreaking to matter. Sometimes, it’s enough to simply exist in its own little world and invite listeners along for the ride. Oh, and fun fact—I swear this album pairs perfectly with a cup of tea and a rainy day. Don’t ask me why; it just does. So yeah, if you stumble across this record at a flea market or buried deep in some streaming service catalog, give it a spin. You might just find yourself falling for its quiet magic, same as I did. And hey, isn’t that what discovering music is all about?

Download Alan Haven - Rice Paper Mountain Scat In The Dark
Artist: Alan Haven
Album: Rice Paper Mountain Scat In The Dark

Table of Contents

Download

Filename: alan-haven-rice-paper-mountain-scat-in-the-dark.zip
  • MP3 size: 12 mb
  • FLAC size: 72.8 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
Nevah2:58
Rice-Paper Mountain (Scat In The Dark)3:00

Video

Alan Haven - Rice Paper Mountain (Scat In The Dark)

Images

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Catalog Numbers

CBS S 8286

Labels

CBS

Listen online

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  • écouter en ligne
  • kuunnella verkossa
  • lyssna på nätet
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Formats

  • Vinyl
  • 7"
  • 45 RPM

Credits

RoleCredit
ProducerMike Smith , Tony Rivers

Barcodes

  • Matrix / Runout (Runout (Stamped) Side A): CBS S 8286 A1
  • Matrix / Runout (Runout (Stamped) Side B): CBS S 8286 B1

About Alan Haven

Alan Haven (Born 1 April 1935, died 12 Jan 2016), Prestwich, Lancashire, United Kingdom) was an English, self taught, jazz organist. He married Miss World, Lesley Langley in the 60's. Alan Haven enjoyed success with John Barry on the soundtracks to 1960s film classics including The Knack, Goldfinger, From Russia with Love and critical acclaim for his performances and recordings with jazz drumming supremo Tony Crombie. He further scored a surprise single hit with his recording of Image. In 1969 and 1971 Haven recorded two albums for CBS, a mix of originals by Haven with his arrangements of covers. All benefiting from the distinctive Haven Lowrey Heritage keyboard sounds which he had been developing throughout the 1960s. Haven For Sale featured jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson and direction from Keith Mansfield. St. Elmos Fire saw Haven experiment more with the keyboards and its effects, also producing and including more originals than before. Both these LPs were released on a short-lived CD in 2010.

Real Name

    • Alan Haven

Name Vars

  • A. Haven
  • Haven
  • Jazz Organist Alan Haven
  • The Incomparable Alan Haven

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: The album *Rice Paper Mountain Scat In The Dark* by Alan Haven, released in 1972, has a kinda funky backstory. It’s a pop gem from the UK, produced by Mike Smith and Tony Rivers. One of its tracks, “Rice-Paper Mountain (Scat In The Dark),” sounds like it could’ve been the soundtrack to some groovy late-night hangout back in the day. CBS released it, and even though it might not be a household name now, it’s got that quirky charm that makes you wonder why it didn’t get more attention.