This Is – TIM HARDIN****

Can’t Slow Down/Blues On The Ceilin’/Stagger Lee/(I’m Your) Hoochie Coochie Man/I’ve Been Working On The Railroad/House Of The Rising Sun/Fast Freight/Cocaine Bill/You Got To Have More Than One Woman/Danville Dame

This Is featured Tim Hardin on acoustic guitar performing mostly classic blues songs in 1963 in front of a coffee house audience in Greenwich Village. Taken from demo tapes before he obtained a recording contract.

“These are songs recorded between 1963 during Hardin's 'coffeehouse days' in Greenwich Village. These are raw and deep renditions of ancient blues and classical folk songs. Hardin's depth and devotion are absolute. He wallows elegant and passionately in a tough and dry performance that proclaims his greatness. This is a new way of facing the blues. He has something captivating and yet we don't believe it completely in such a primitive repertoire.”

“These recordings are actually really good. White boy blues played with real commitment. It's got an informal quality. If you're a fan of Tim Hardin or any of the great folkies of this period, then you will enjoy this.”

“I think it's fantastic. It didn’t leave my turntable for months. The sound of a lot of the songs is like listening to an old blues man. It is different in a lot of ways from later Tim Hardin records. There are no heavy strings. It's mostly just Tim and his guitar. This is from the early 60s, and his vocals are filled with a hunger and soul. He also has a strong blues guitar style throughout.”

“This is the best album he ever recorded. It was an early recording with only Hardin and his guitar in a vacant room. He was sober and his picking style is classic folk. If you want to listen to Hardin before he fell into the abyss, this is him at his best.”

“The songs on this LP are different from later ones; they are more haunting, gutsy, raw and real. It sounds like it was recorded in a bar, late at night after everyone has gone home. Over half of the tracks are traditional blues numbers and even the four originals are in a very similar straight blues style. It takes a few listens to even realize that there is no band, no rhythm section, no backup singers, nothing but Tim on the guitar and his foot on the stage floor for rhythm and lyrics that will stay with you for the rest of your life.”