Hang on to a Dream: The Verve Recordings
Encyclopedia
Hang on to a Dream: The Verve Recordings is a compilation album by folk
artist Tim Hardin
, released in 1994. It includes all Hardin's studio recordings for the Verve
label as well as alternate takes, unreleased tracks, and demos.
The songs include all tracks from the albums Tim Hardin 1
, Tim Hardin 2
and most of Tim Hardin 4
, the latter a release of demos done by Hardin for Columbia
in 1964 which were ultimately rejected at that time.
's review referred to Hardin's "expressive, blues-inflected vocals and confessional songwriting..." In his review for No Depression, critic John Morthland wrote "The pain was palpable in nearly every word Tim Hardin sang, and the pleasure didn’t feel all that much better... That said, Hardin can be hard to take for long — junkie self-pity, which eventually gets tedious, was never far from even his greatest efforts — and two full discs (including demos) is likely too much of a good thing. But everybody should hear at least some Hardin..."
Production notes:
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
artist Tim Hardin
Tim Hardin
James Timothy "Tim" Hardin was an American folk musician and composer. He wrote the Top 40 hits "If I Were a Carpenter", covered by, among others, Joan Baez, Bobby Darin, Johnny Cash, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, and Robert Plant, and "Reason to Believe", covered by many, including Rod Stewart, as well...
, released in 1994. It includes all Hardin's studio recordings for the Verve
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
label as well as alternate takes, unreleased tracks, and demos.
The songs include all tracks from the albums Tim Hardin 1
Tim Hardin 1
Tim Hardin 1 is the debut album by folk artist Tim Hardin, released in 1966 on Verve Records.-History:Tim Hardin 1 contains one of his most well-known and frequently covered songs, "Reason to Believe" — most notably a hit by Rod Stewart in 1971. Some of the songs were demos that ended up on the...
, Tim Hardin 2
Tim Hardin 2
Tim Hardin 2 is the second album by folk artist Tim Hardin, released in 1967.-History:The original LP release has a long poem on the back cover by Hardin titled "A Question of Birth..."...
and most of Tim Hardin 4
Tim Hardin 4
Tim Hardin 4 is an album by folk artist Tim Hardin, released in 1969.These early audition recordings done for Columbia in 1964 were not issued until 1969. The songs are in a straight blues style. A similar release was done by Atco on This is Tim Hardin.-Reception:In his review for Allmusic, music...
, the latter a release of demos done by Hardin for Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in 1964 which were ultimately rejected at that time.
Reception
Writing for Allmusic, music critic Richie UnterbergerRichie Unterberger
Richie Unterberger is a US author and journalist whose focus is popular music and travel writing.-Life and writing:Having worked as a DJ at WXPN in Philadelphia, he started reviewing records for Op magazine in 1983...
's review referred to Hardin's "expressive, blues-inflected vocals and confessional songwriting..." In his review for No Depression, critic John Morthland wrote "The pain was palpable in nearly every word Tim Hardin sang, and the pleasure didn’t feel all that much better... That said, Hardin can be hard to take for long — junkie self-pity, which eventually gets tedious, was never far from even his greatest efforts — and two full discs (including demos) is likely too much of a good thing. But everybody should hear at least some Hardin..."
Disc one
- "Don't Make PromisesDon't Make Promises-Other versions:Bobby Darin included "Don't Make Promises," as well as four other Tim Hardin songs, on Darin's 1966 If I Were a Carpenter album. In 1967, the song was covered by Marianne Faithfull, Scott McKenzie, Rick Nelson, and Gary Lewis & the Playboys...
" – 2:23 - "Green Rocky Road" – 2:16
- "Smugglin' Man" – 1:54
- "How Long" – 4:33
- "While You're on Your Way" – 2:14
- "It'll Never Happen Again" – 2:34
- "Reason to BelieveReason to Believe"Reason to Believe" is a song written and first recorded by American folk singer Tim Hardin in 1965, which has since been recorded by a number of other artists, the most known of which is by Rod Stewart in 1971 and 1993...
" – 1:57 - "Never Too Far" – 2:12
- "Part of the Wind" – 2:15
- "Ain't Gonna Do Without" – 3:40
- "Misty RosesMisty Roses (song)Misty Roses is a popular song, written by Tim Hardin in 1966.It was one of Hardin's most-covered songs and originally appeared on his debut album Tim Hardin 1.-Recorded versions:*The Fifth Dimension*Cilla Black*Colin Blunstone*Sonny Bono...
" – 1:57 - "How Can We Hang on to a Dream" – 2:01
- "If I Were a Carpenter" – 2:40
- "Red Balloon" – 2:32
- "Black Sheep Boy" – 1:53
- "The Lady Came from Baltimore" – 1:48
- "Baby Close Its Eyes" – 1:51
- "You Upset the Grace of Living When You Lie" – 1:45
- "Speak Like a Child" – 3:13
- "See Where You Are and Get Out" – 1:10
- "It's Hard to Believe in Love for Long" – 2:15
- "Tribute to Hank Williams" – 3:08
- "While You're on Your Way" (alternate take) – 2:34
- "It'll Never Happen Again" (alternate take) – 2:06
Disc two
- "Airmobile" – 2:19
- "Whiskey, Whiskey" – 5:39
- "Seventh SonThe Seventh Son (song)"The Seventh Son", also recorded as "Seventh Son", is a song written by Willie Dixon. It was released as a single by Willie Mabon on Chess Records in 1955...
" (Willie DixonWillie DixonWilliam James "Willie" Dixon was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. A Grammy Award winner who was proficient on both the Upright bass and the guitar, as well as his own singing voice, Dixon is arguably best known as one of the most prolific songwriters...
) – 2:05 - "Danville Dame" – 2:46
- "House of the Rising SunThe House of the Rising Sun"The House of the Rising Sun" is a folk song from the United States. Also called "House of the Rising Sun" or occasionally "Rising Sun Blues", it tells of a life gone wrong in New Orleans...
" (Traditional) – 3:39 - "Bo Diddley McDaniel 2:52
- "I Can't Slow Down" – 2:28
- "Hello Baby" – 5:20
- "Rolling StoneRollin' Stone"Rollin' Stone" is a blues song recorded by Muddy Waters in 1950. It is Waters' interpretation of "Catfish Blues", a traditional blues that dates back to 1920s Mississippi...
" (Muddy WatersMuddy WatersMcKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
) – 2:38 - "You Got a Reputation" – 2:26
- "Keep Your Hands off Her" (Traditional) – 3:00
- "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and OutNobody Knows You When You're Down And Out"Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" is a blues standard, written by Jimmy Cox in 1923. Its lyric, told from the point of view of a one-time millionaire during the Prohibition era, reflects on the fleeting nature of material wealth and the friendships that come and go with it.-Recording...
" (Jimmy CoxJimmy CoxJimmy Cox was an American songwriter famous for his Depression-era hit "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out"....
) – 4:03 - "(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie ManHoochie Coochie Man"Hoochie Coochie Man" is a blues standard written by Willie Dixon and first performed by Muddy Waters in 1954 . The song was a major hit upon its release, reaching #8 on Billboard magazine's Black Singles chart...
" (Dixon) – 5:02 - "So Glad You're Mine" (Arthur CrudupArthur CrudupArthur "Big Boy" Crudup was an American Delta blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known outside blues circles for writing songs such as "That's All Right" , "My Baby Left Me" and "So Glad You're Mine", later covered by Elvis Presley and dozens of other artists.-Career:Arthur Crudup...
) – 4:02 - "You Can't Judge a Book" (Dixon) – 3:13
- "She Ain't Home" – 2:17
- "You Say You Love Me" – 2:10
- "How Time Flies" – 3:45
- "You Can Ruin a Man" – 2:31
- "If I Knew" – 2:41
- "She's up to Something New" – 4:04
- "Who'll Be the Man" (Traditional) – 2:01
- "First Love Song" – 3:54
Personnel
- Tim HardinTim HardinJames Timothy "Tim" Hardin was an American folk musician and composer. He wrote the Top 40 hits "If I Were a Carpenter", covered by, among others, Joan Baez, Bobby Darin, Johnny Cash, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, and Robert Plant, and "Reason to Believe", covered by many, including Rod Stewart, as well...
– vocals, guitar, piano - Gary BurtonGary BurtonGary Burton is an American jazz vibraphonist.A true original on the vibraphone, Burton developed a pianistic style of four-mallet technique as an alternative to the usual two-mallets. This approach caused Burton to be heralded as an innovator and his sound and technique are widely imitated...
– vibraphone - Bob Bushnell – bass
- Phil Krauss – vibraphone
- Earl PalmerEarl PalmerEarl Cyril Palmer was an American rock & roll and rhythm and blues drummer, and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame....
– drums - Felix PappalardiFelix PappalardiFelix A. Pappalardi Jr. was an American music producer, songwriter, vocalist, and bass guitarist.- Early life :Pappalardi was born in the Bronx, New York...
– bass - Walter Yost – bass
- Buddy Saltzman – drums
- Sticks Evans – drums
- John SebastianJohn SebastianJohn Benson Sebastian Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and autoharpist. He is best known as a founder of The Lovin' Spoonful, a band inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000...
– harmonica
Production notes:
- Erik JacobsenErik JacobsenErik Jacobsen is an American record producer, best known for his work in the 1960s with Tim Hardin, The Lovin' Spoonful, The Charlatans and Norman Greenbaum, and later with Tazmanian Devils and Chris Isaak....
– producer - Don Rubin – producer
- Charles KoppelmanCharles KoppelmanCharles Koppelman is the chairman of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and was Martha Stewart's right-hand man on NBC's The Apprentice: Martha Stewart in 2005.-Career:...
– producer - Artie Butler – string arrangements
- Lisa Law – photography
- David Gahr – photography
- Bill Levenson – executive producer
- Dan Loggins – associate producer
- Jerry Rappaport – compilation producer
- Terri Tierney – coordination
- Colin Escott – liner notes