Tim Hardin performing at Woodstock in 1969

Tim Hardin performing at Woodstock in 1969

Tim Hardin once said “My songs aren’t personal. They sound it ‘cos it was me who revealed them, but it was my head that got the lightning shot through it.” It’s an eloquent way to describe the inspiration that guides truly great songwriters. James Timothy “Tim” Hardin (1941-1980) was a “musicians’ musician,” writing and performing songs that were deeply heartfelt and communicated soul to soul. It is sad that while he was alive, he never achieved the level of success as the many artists, classic and contemporay, whom he influenced—Johnny Cash, Rod Stewart, Scott Walker, Joan Baez, The Kingston Trio, Nico, Echo and the Bunnymen, Paul Weller, Leon Russell, Doc Watson, Robert Plant, Bob Seger, Marianne Faithfull…

There is now a new generation of musicians to carry Tim Hardin’s masterpieces into the future, bringing his vision back to life. Reason To Believe—The Songs of Tim Hardin is a celebration of Hardin’s music, performed by artists such as Smoke Fairies, Okkervil River, Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees), The Phoenix Foundation, Diagrams and Hannah Peel. On this special collection, Hardin’s classic folk tunes are lovingly resurrected with each band’s unique creativity, modern sounds and sensibilities. The album’s artwork is by Miles Johnson at Third Man Records, with liner notes by Rock’s Backpages music critic and author Barney Hoskyns.

“I’ve always been haunted by the devastating voice and beautiful songs of Tim Hardin. I can’t imagine anyone hearing him and not feeling the same.” — Mark Lanegan

The album is being released by Full Time Hobby, who perviously released Dream Brother: The Songs of Tim and Jeff Buckley. “So many people’s entry point to Tim has been through cover versions,” says Full Time Hobby co-owner Nigel Adams, responsible for the release. “It felt fitting to bring his songs up to date with contemporary artists approaching his music with the hope listeners would then go beyond the well known and dig into some of the wealth of songs he wrote and recorded.”

Tim Hardin at Woodstock, uploaded by jamiecoopertv

Reason To Believe—The Songs of Tim Hardin
digital release: 2/12 | CD release: 2/26 (Full Time Hobby)

1. The Phoenix Foundation – Don’t Make Promises You Can’t Keep
2. The Sand Band – Reason To Believe
3. Mark Lanegan – Red Balloon
4. Diagrams – Part Of The Wind
5. The Magnetic North – It’s Hard To Believe In Love For Long
6. Alela Diane – How Can We Hang On To A Dream
7. Snorri Helgason – Misty Roses
8. Sarabeth Tucek – If I Knew
9. Okkervil River – It’ll Never Happen Again
10. Smoke Fairies – If I Were A Carpenter
11. Gavin Clark – Shiloh Town
12. Hannah Peel – Lenny’s Tune
13. Pinkunoizu – I Can’t Slow Down

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