Keeping with my current 1960s trend, this time I’m checkin out some music by Tim Hardin, which is generally more folk music than other types according to what I can find on the internet. I didn’t know Hardin even existed until I added this album to my queue the other night, but I’m pretty intrigued at a glance. This particular album is Hardin’s first released album, which came about after a bit of a rough start early in his career getting signed and dropped from Capitol Records after recording what is now unreleased music for them. I’m pretty stoked to give this one a listen, so with that said I’m going to jump on into the music.
“Don’t Make Promises” starts out really gently with a folksy underbelly with Hardin singing very pleasantly to you. Oh wow, the soft orchestral strings from the left side of the soundscape bring a really nice sweetness to the track. There are a lot of subtle elements in this track that seem to gently drift up from the background as the tune seems to progress a bit faster and a little more intensely as it continues. Really nice folksy singer/songwriter tune to start the album with.
“Green Rocky Road” starts out with some really tasty bluesy elements from underneath with the swishy harmonica and the deep, earthy bass gently moving the tune along. I really dig this one. The electric guitar happens so naturally and creates a super pleasant soundscape with the gentle additions and accentuations it makes. Oh wow, Hardin really goes in on one quick vocal line and the song gets even more flavorful. Really great tune.
Oh wow, “Smugglin Man” is like a folksy classic rock and roll tune of sorts. The jangling acoustic guitar combined with the bluesy vocal performance and piano is really awesome. The bass guitar and drums really keep this tune driving forward with no stop in sight. The electric guitar has that great early rock and roll twang to it. Really sweet tune.
“How Long” has a really tasty, bluesy meandering feel to it. The guitar feels muddied to some degree, almost like it’s wading through murky waters, but still continues on. The harmonica really adds a great bluesy layer to the song as well. The drums are really clear in the mix too, almost giving this tune a bit of bluesy grit that might normally be supplied the guitar. Oh wow, those vocals really howl nicely for a moment. The instrumentation in this one honestly reminds me a bit of Tim Buckley. The drums have both a great swing and a great backbeat – I’m really digging them. Great tune.
“While You’re On Your Way” has a very delicate acoustic guitar at the onset alongside some gentle chimes/keys. I really dig the way way this tune gently chugs along with the simple percussion track. This seems like a really pleasant folksy singer/songwriter tune.
“It’ll Never Happen Again” has some really nice, nearly jazz-club like piano at the beginning. The orchestral strings really play very nicely alongside the piano in this really sweet melancholic piece. The playing is super tasty in this one on all accounts. The vocal performance form Hardin sounds quite personal. Really nice tune.
“Reason To Believe” has some incredibly tasty folk guitar at the beginning that really has some great descending lines and honestly reminds me a little bit of some acoustic Jerry Garcia. The sweetness of the polished orchestral strings really provides a great contrast with with the earthy folksiness of the other instrumentation, with Hardin seemingly walking the line between with his vocals. Really nice tune.
“Never Too Far” starts out in an almost club-like folk rock tune – easygoing, but still has a little bit of grit to that folksy styling. I really dig the guitar in this one – there’s a really nice rawness to its sound. The organs on the opposite side of the soundscape almost bring a dream-like bubbly sound to the foray that sort of makes this tune feel almost relaxing. Really great tune.
“Part of the Wind” has a really nice jazz-club bluesy taste to the airy swing of the drums, the bluesy piano, and the earthy cello-like sound of the bass. On the opposite side of the soundscape, the organs/keys play some dream-like chimes that seem to catch Hardin’s vocals in a land between once again. I really dig this tune.
“Ain’t Gonna Do Without” has a really workingman’s feel with this rollicking folksy blues rock tune that gets driven forward by successive blows from the harmonica and the backbeat. Meanwhile the guitar and piano seem to rollick around in a really bluesy mini jam. Holy smokes, this harmonica solo is awesome – it really squeals into the soundscape. Oh wow, I really dig this one. Hardin seems to make loose allusions to Little Richard’s “Long Tall Sally” in the lyrics. I really dig the mixture of classic rock and roll origins with a certain folk rock style in this tune. Great tune.
“Misty Roses” has a super pleasant jazz-club-like sound again with the gentle playing from the acoustic guitar, the dream-like keys, the gentle plucky bass from underneath, and the really smooth airy swing from the drums, all tied with a really pleasant vocal performance from Hardin as he seemingly sings to you through the music. Really nice tune.
“How Can We Hang On To a Dream” starts out with some really nice bright, nearly bluesy piano lines before the drums come on with a really pleasant swing. The descending melodic line from the piano is seemingly echoed by the sweet orchestral strings. Holy smokes, this piano is super tasty. I really dig this tune – it sounds like it could be personal based on the vocal performance from Hardin. Really pleasant tune to end this album with.
This was a super nice listening experience. I always want to check more out of the days of folk revival and especially early folk rock, and this album is no exception. Hardin hits some great flavors from a number of folk rock related genres, almost with a gentle club-like setting at times, and hits on a number of elements that sort of seem to be an early basis for the singer/songwriter genre as I understand it. If you dig the early days of folk rock, you might want to consider checking out this album. If you do decide to give this one a listen, I do sincerely hope that you enjoy the experience at least as much as I did.
-A