Tag Archives: Tim Hardin

Music Monday: August 19, 2024

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Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.

Blog image for 2024

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

It was 55 years ago when a crowd of over 400,000 people gathered at Max Yasgur’s 600 acre farm in Bethel, NY for a three day festival which lasted four due to weather interruptions. Officially named The Woodstock Music and Art Fair but more commonly referred to as Woodstock, the music festival was held from August 15-18, 1969 and featured more than 30 musical performers to entertain the “peace & love” crowd four months before the world said goodbye to the counterculture decade.

Poster
Max Yasgur
Max Yasgur on stage

Top: A copy of the concert poster found online. Middle: Max Yasgur, the owner of the farm where the music festival took place. Bottom: Yasgur addresses the crowd at the festival. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Woodstock was where Crosby, Stills & Nash made their second public performance after releasing their debut album in May 1969. They played an acoustic set followed by an electric one where they were joined by Neil Young. And the fact that the definitive funk & soul band, Sly & The Family Stone, took the stage in the middle of what was deemed a “hippie fest” and gave one of the best the performances of their career still blows my mind. Jimmy Hendrix’s now legendary guitar take on our national anthem remains a highlight from the concert as well.

There was something for everyone whether they enjoyed folk, pop, rock or funk music. In my tween years I always thought this was the dream concert I wished I could have seen live. But then I saw a clip of Otis Redding at Monterey and knew that was truly the place I needed to be. Still, Woodstock was a monumental event in both history and music. A movie of highlights from the epic concert was released in March 1970, followed by a soundtrack album two months later. A Director’s Cut of the film was released in 1994 to mark the 25th anniversary of the festival followed by a 40th Anniversary edition in 2009. The new footage changed my favorite performances over the years, but the four I share below have remained my top choices for about a decade.

Tim Hardin new 2
Sly new
Jefferson Airplane
csn new

Four photos taken at Woodstock in August 1969: One: Tim Hardin. Two: Sly Stone. Three (L-R): Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, Marty Balin and Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane. Four (L-R): David Crosby, Graham Nash and Stephen Stills of CSN). (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Tim Hardin (performed Friday, August 15, 1969):  “If I Were A Carpenter” (1967, written by Tim Hardin).  

Sly & The Family Stone (performed Sunday, August 17, 1969):  “I Want To Take You Higher” (1969, written by Sly Stone).

Jefferson Airplane (performed Sunday, August 17, 1969):  “Volunteers” (1969, written by Marty Balin and Paul Kantner).

Crosby, Stills & Nash (performed Monday, August 18, 1969): “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” (1969, written by Stephen Stills).

Stay safe & well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 503

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Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

Aug 2021 blog

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are still facing a serious situation but a new year gives us hope for the new days, seasons, opportunities & moments ahead. Still, music is something that will never change for me. It is my refuge, the most comforting part of my life & the one thing I consistently count on. So until a more normal semblance of life returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day. And if this helps anyone else, even better.

Forty years ago today TV became all about the music. MTV premiered on Aug 1, 1981 and suddenly our homes were the best seats in the house for great music. Of course, there were plenty of terrible songs with terrible videos to go around as well but by the end of the decade, the music video was mostly a masterful work of art.

One of my favorite things about MTV was the “Unplugged” series which made its debut in 1989. There is such an elegance to acoustic music & the powers that be at the video channel saw that and turned it into an award winning franchise. Many artists had huge live records courtesy of these shows, especially Eric Clapton. His 1992 album won 3 Grammy Awards and became the best selling album of his career.

Many of my other favorite artists participated in the series, too, including Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Tony Bennett and Rod Stewart. His 1993 Unplugged…And Seated album produced several hits including today’s song. It was originally released 50 years ago on his 1971 album Every Picture Tells A Story. His old “Faces’ bandmate, Ron Wood, played on that album with him & was seated to Stewart’s right during the MTV performance. It was a great testament to both music & friendship all wrapped up into one fabulous show.

“If I gave you time to change my mind
I’d find a way just to leave the past behind
Knowing that you lied straight faced while I cried
Still I look to find a reason to believe”.

Unplugged

Rod Stewart’s 1993 album, Unplugged…And Seated. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Rod Stewart: “Reason To Believe” (recorded live during “Unplugged…And Seated, February 1993 & released May 1993. Originally recorded in 1971. Written by Tim Hardin).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 427

Posted in Music by

Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

May blog 2021

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are still facing a serious situation but a new year gives us hope for the new days, seasons, opportunities & moments ahead. Still, music is something that will never change for me. It is my refuge, the most comforting part of my life & the one thing I consistently count on. So until a more normal semblance of life returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day. And if this helps anyone else, even better.

Bobby Darin was born 85 years ago in NYC on May 14, 1936 as Walden Robert Cassotto. He grew up playing several instruments & developing his voice to prepare himself for a career in music. He started writing songs in 1955 at the Brill Building and eventually caught the attention of powerhouse music executive Ahmet Ertegun. By 1958 Darin had his first hit with “Splish Splash” and he was off.

His music evolved over the years taking him from the bubble gum pop sound of his first hit to his cover of Tim Hardin’s “If I Were A Carpenter” (Day 125) in 1966. He also starred in films & several TV specials & became half of one of the first supercouples when he married actress Sandra Dee in 1960. Darin died much too young at age 37 in 1973 but he left behind a legacy as a performer in all genres of entertainment because he did it all unbelievably well.

“Someday I don’t know how
I hope she’ll hear my plea
Some way I don’t know how
She’ll bring her love to me“.

Bobby-Darin-1962

Bobby Darin circa 1962. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Bobby Darin: “Dream Lover” (1959, written by Bobby Darin).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 135

Posted in Music by

Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

Thoreau music quote

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day.  And if this helps anyone else, even better.

Time for another mid-week Motown break.  The Four Tops had tremendous success whether they were singing their own Motown originals or covers like “Walk Away Renee” (first recorded by The Left Banke in 1966), “If I Were A Carpenter” (written & recorded by Tim Hardin in 1967) or “River Deep Mountain High” (originally recorded by Ike & Tina Turner in 1966).  The reason they never missed was because Levi Stubbs was as close to perfection as a vocalist could be.  He had a smooth polished vocal as opposed to the impassioned raw emotion of his Temptations counterpoint, David Ruffin.  I often thought of Stubbs singing to be close in style to Sam Cooke’s while Ruffin’s was more like Otis Redding’s.  All four men had incredible iconic voices, just different styles.

Added to Stubbs’ vocals were the harmonious backing sounds by his group members- Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Renaldo “Obie” Benson and Lawrence Payton-along with the music of The Funk Brothers and the historic magical sound of The Four Tops was complete.  All four members stayed together for 44 years, a record unmatched by any other act on the label.  To this day they remain one of Motown’s most beloved and renowned groups and one of my great loves from that era.

“All you left is our favorite song
The one we danced to all night long
It used to bring sweet memories
Of a tender love that used to be.” 

Four Tops

The Four Tops circa 1965 (L-to-R) Renaldo “Obie” Benson, Levi Stubbs, Abdul “Duke” Fakir, and Lawrence Payton.  (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Four Tops:  “It’s The Same Old Song” ( 1965, written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 125

Posted in Music by

Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

Thoreau music quote

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day.  And if this helps anyone else, even better.

Today’s song has been covered by a myriad of artists including Robert Plant, The Four Tops, Bob Seger, Johnny Cash (as a duet with his wife, June Carter Cash) and Leon Russell, and all of them are great versions.  But my favorite one was recorded by Walden Robert Cassotto, better known by his stage name, Bobby Darin.  It was a top ten hit for him in 1966.  If you are not too familiar with Darin, it is very easy to write him off as a novelty act because of his first hit song, “Splish Splash”.  But make no mistake, he was an accomplished musician playing guitar, piano and drums.  He also wrote and recorded songs in all different types of musical genres including pop, rock & roll, jazz, swing, country & folk.

That is how he took us from “Dream Lover”, “Mack The Knife” and “Beyond The Sea” in the 1950’s to today’s song and “Simple Song of Freedom” in the 1960’s.  He began his career as a songwriter at The Brill Building in NYC, the same place where Carole King & Gerry Goffin started.  It was there that Darin met & was signed by record executive Ahmet Ertegun, who discovered people like Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton (when he was in the band, Cream), Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Led Zeppelin.  I think Darin’s vocal has a haunting sadness in it that just resonates throughout today’s song.  And with superb lyrics by songwriter Tim Hardin and a beautiful arrangement, this tune just had everything it needed to be something both remarkable & unexpected all at once.

“Save my love through loneliness
Save my love for sorrow
I’ve given you my onlyness
Come give your tomorrow.”

Bobby-Darin-The-Direction-Albums-

Bobby Darin circa 1969.  (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Bobby Darin:  “If I Were A Carpenter” (1966, written by Tim Hardin).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.