Tim Hardin - How Can We Hang On To A Dream

Sunday, time for a classic.

"How Can We Hang On To A Dream" is a song composed and recorded by Tim Hardin.

James Timothy Hardin (December 23, 1941 – December 29, 1980) was an American folk musician and composer. He wrote many hits during his carret, tunes like "If I Were A Carpenter", "Reason To Believe" and "How Can We Hang On To A Dream". Hardin is also known for his own recording career.

Today's tune "How Can We Hang On To A Dream" is taken from the debut album "Tim Hardin 1" by folk artist Tim Hardin, released in 1966 on Verve Records. The album contains one of his most well-known and frequently covered songs, "Reason to Believe" a notable hit for Rod Stewart in 1971. Some of the songs were demos that ended up on the final release. Hardin was reportedly displeased with the string arrangements added after principal recording was completed.

The album photography was shot by Lisa Law (credited as Lisa Bachelis) in the garden of her home, which was known as "The Castle" and where Bob Dylan was staying at the time. One of the outtakes of this album shoot was used for Hardin's last album as well as he died the day Law was to photograph him for his new album, Hang On to a Dream

"Tim Hardin 1" is one of the most powerful and compelling records of its era".

On December 29, 1980, Hardin was found on the floor of his Hollywood apartment by longtime friend Ron Daniels. He died of a heroin overdose. His remains were buried in Twin Oaks Cemetery in Turner, Oregon.

Many covers of the song have been recorded by prominent artists of the age, including a 1969 psychedelic rock recording by the short-lived band GANDALF. A cover version with a choral arrangement by Duncan Browne was recorded by THE NICE, as "Hang On To A Dream", on their third album, "Nice", and NAZARETH on "Snakes 'N' Ladders" (1989). A closer cover version was performed by FLEETWOOD MAC on a 1969 BBC recording, released on "Live at the BBC" in 2001. EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER covered it on "The Return Of The Manticore". Johnny Hallyday released a French version in 1969, as "Je m'accroche à mon rêve", with French lyrics by Georges Aber. It was once again covered in 2019 by prominent Irish rap star Rodney Paz for a special edition of The Late Late Toy Show.

THE LEMONHEADS released a much better cover of the track as a bonus addition to online editions of their 2009 covers album Varshons. Life of Riley: The Lightning Seeds Collection includes a cover version of the song. Françoise Hardy recorded the song for her album En Anglais under the title "Hang On to a Dream". THE MOODY BLUES with Denny Laine recorded two complete versions of the song (on April 5, 1969, and July 5, 1969). Both versions remained unissued until the late 2014 UK Esoteric 2-CD boxset of The Magnificent Moodies. Kathryn Williams recorded a cover version on her album Relations. Hardin's version appeared on the soundtrack to the 1997 film Fever Pitch; the English Romo band Orlando contributed a cover version to the Fever Pitch E.P. which was released to accompany the soundtrack.

Enjoy today's classic!



Tim Hardin performing the tune "How Can We Hang On To A Dream" on the piano, filmed 1979



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Official Tim Hardin Wiki

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