Essential Classic Hard 1963-80

Tim Hardin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 19, 2000)
• Original Release Date: June 20, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Raven [Australia]
• ASIN: B00004TDOD
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #194,964 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. You Got To Have More Than One Woman

2. Danville Dame

3. I Can't Slow Down

4. Airmobile

5. How Can We Hang On To A Dream?

6. Reason To Believe

7. Misty Roses

8. Don't Make Promises

9. It'll Never Happen Again

10. If I Were A Carpenter

11. Lady Came From Baltimore

12. Red Balloon

13. Black Sheep Boy

14. Tribute To Hank Williams

15. Smugglin' Man (Live)

16. Simple Song Of Freedom

17. Everything Good Become More True

18. Once Touched By Flame

19. Love Hymn

20. Southern Butterfly

See all 27 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

27 track Australian retrospective for the late folksinger/songwriter whose songs have been covered to great success by Rod Stewart, 'Reason To Believe', Bobby Darin, 'If I Were A Carpenter' and Scott Walker, 'Lady Came From Baltimore' to name a few. This is the only collection to cover his entire career, from 1963 to his untimely death in 1980. 27 original recordings, including his versions of the songs already mentioned along with 'How Can We Hang On To A Dream', 'Misty Roses' and many more. Includes deluxe 12 page booklet with detailed liner notes and rare photos. Standard jewel case. 2000 release.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Underrated singer and composer, June 6, 2004

By 

Pieter "Toypom" (Johannesburg) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Essential Classic Hard 1963-80 (Audio CD)

Although an influential personality on the 1960s folk circuit, Hardin had little success as a recording artist. He's better known as a songwriter since other artists had hits with many of his compositions. In 1962 he recorded This Is Tim Hardin, which established his style: folk with a strong jazz and blues influence. A term like smoky folk comes to mind, a bit like the UK artist Nick Drake.

His third album, the classic Tim Hardin II included the powerful and evocative track Reason To Believe that, as double A Side with Maggie May, toped the British and American charts for Rod Stewart in 1971. The folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary also recorded this song. The other classic on the album, If I Were A Carpenter, was a top ten hit for Bobby Darin. Incidentally Hardin's only hit single was a Darin composition Sing A Simple Song Of Freedom (1969).

Carpenter was revived by The Four Tops in 1968 and by Johnny Cash and June Carter in 1970. Other artists who had hits with Hardin's songs include Johnny Mathis (Misty Roses), Scott Walker (Black Sheep Boy) and The Nice (Hang On To A Dream).

On December 29, 1980, during the recording sessions of his final work, he died of an overdose. Hardin was 39 years old and had survived his one-time contemporaries Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix by a decade.

Besides the aforementioned songs, my other favorite includes the beautiful Red Balloon. My only complaint with this compilation is that it omits Hardin's exquisite interpretation of Leonard Cohen's Bird On A Wire.

There is great beauty in Hardin's subtle but expressive vocal style. Like Nick Drake, he remains an obscure singer-songwriter with roots in the 1960s, who is well worth investigating if you like authentic, moving music.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful introduction, February 10, 2001

By 

Elizabeth Broadhurst "Liz B" (NSW, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Essential Classic Hard 1963-80 (Audio CD)

This album is a beautiful introduction to an amazing singer/songwriter. I had never heard the man sing before, but was familiar with many of his songs. This album takes you from his earliest recordings to a last live performance which makes it a great collection for a newcomer to Tim Hardin's talents. The string additions to a couple of the songs are a bit annoying but basically it's a beautiful album. I am now a dedicated Tim Hardin fan and this album will help me to select from his others.

5.0 out of 5 stars Tim Hardin classic retrospective, November 2, 2010

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Essential Classic Hard 1963-80 (Audio CD)

This CD is a comprehensive collection of his songs spanning his career. Great for someone wanting to sample his work before buying specific albums. Recommended for new converts to Tim and fans wanting most of his great songs on the one disc.