San Diego's the Hard Times were a solid garage
folk-rock outfit led by two gifted songwriters, Rudy Romero and Bill
Richardson, but the band unfortunately never seemed to establish its own
identity, drifting between folk-rock, sunshine pop, and a light
psychedelia during its short history, breaking up almost immediately
after releasing one album, 1967's Blew Mind, which is included here in
its entirety along with a handful of non-album 45 releases, making this
essentially the group's complete recorded output. There's a lot to like,
certainly, from lovely covers of Bob Lind's "Come to Your Window" and
Al Kooper's "Sad Sad Sunshine" (which is presented in both the album and
single versions) to the spooky, atmospheric "Blew Mind," a Richardson
original, and Romero's "Give to Me Your Love" (which was actually
recorded under the group name New Phoenix and was produced by Mama Cass
Elliot). There's also a lot to scratch one's head about, as well, like
the odd, overly baroque version of "Candy Man" which opens this
collection, a production approach that is also repeated on Hard Times'
ill-advised cover of Donovan's "Colours." One can't help but wonder what
might have happened if Romero and Richardson had been allowed to
develop the band further on a second album, but that was not to be. When
all is said and done, the Hard Times remain an intriguing footnote in
the era between mid-'60s folk-rock and the emerging flower power scene
of 1967 and 1968. ~ Steve Leggett, Rovi
Artist : Hardtimes
Album : Blew Mind
Genre : Rock
Year : 1967
Track s : 22
Playtime : 00:57:30
Size : 106,34 MB
Codec : MPEG 1 Layer III / Lame 3.97 / 256 kbps
Track s:
001. Candy Man (02:39)
002. Here, There and Everywhere (02:25)
003. Play It For Me (02:08)
004. Take A Look Around (02:41)
005. Fortune Teller (02:29)
006. Goodbye (02:37)
007. Not Me (02:17)
008. Colours (02:15)
009. I'm Not a Rock (02:35)
010. Under the Sunlight (02:09)
011. Sad Sad Sunshine (03:00)
012. Blew Mind (02:47)
013. You're Bound to Cry (02:51)
014. There'll Be a Time (02:28)
015. That's All I'll Do (02:30)
016. Come To Your Window (02:29)
017. They Said No (02:38)
018. Sad Sad Sunshine (mono) (03:04)
019. Fortune Teller (mono) (02:34)
020. Goodbye (mono) (02:26)
021. Give To Me Your Love (The New Phoenix) (03:09)
022. Thanks (The New Phoenix) (03:09)
First time on CD for 1968 album from San Diego act who were regulars on Dick Clark's 'Where The Action Is' with The Robbs & Paul Revere & The Raiders. Includes the entire World Pacific album, non-LP singles, & their last two recordings (as the New Phoenix which were produced by Mama Cass Elliot). Features 22 tracks including 10 bonus tracks, 'You're Bound To Cry', 'There'll Be A Time', 'That's All I'll Do', 'Come To Your Window', 'They Said No', 'Sad Sad Sunshine' (Mono 45), 'Fortune Teller' (Mono 45), 'Goodbye' (Mono 45), 'Give To Me Your Love' (The New Phoenix) & 'Thanks' (The New Phoenix).
San Diego's Hardtimes were one of those oddities of the 1960's...the unknown group who had more exposure than most stars!.....as regular stars themselves of Dick Clark's TV show "Where The Action Is!" along with The Robbs and Paul Revere And The Raiders among others, they had the nationwide exposure other acts only dreamt of...their records were produced at various times by legendary jazz producer and World Pacific Records boss Dick Bock, Byrd's manager/producer Jim Dickson, and their close friend Mama Cass Elliot....and darn fine records they were too!.....more than justifying their hefty latter day price tags.
Well loved and much discussed among fans of Softpop, garage punk and folk-rock alike, this first ever CD release includes their complete World Pacific album, all their exciting and garagey non-album singles, and their last recording (as the New Phoenix) produced by Mama Cass Elliot......members went on to T.I.M.E., Steppenwolf, and The Union Gap, but none of these excellent bands were a patch on The Hardtimes!
This is the first time ever on CD for this album and included are many unpublished photos of the group plus detailed liner notes with interviews with the band members. A must for fans of Softpop, garage Rock, Psychedelia and Folk Rock!
Artist : Hardtimes
Album : Blew Mind
Genre : Rock
Year : 1967
Track s : 22
Playtime : 00:57:30
Size : 106,34 MB
Codec : MPEG 1 Layer III / Lame 3.97 / 256 kbps
Track s:
001. Candy Man (02:39)
002. Here, There and Everywhere (02:25)
003. Play It For Me (02:08)
004. Take A Look Around (02:41)
005. Fortune Teller (02:29)
006. Goodbye (02:37)
007. Not Me (02:17)
008. Colours (02:15)
009. I'm Not a Rock (02:35)
010. Under the Sunlight (02:09)
011. Sad Sad Sunshine (03:00)
012. Blew Mind (02:47)
013. You're Bound to Cry (02:51)
014. There'll Be a Time (02:28)
015. That's All I'll Do (02:30)
016. Come To Your Window (02:29)
017. They Said No (02:38)
018. Sad Sad Sunshine (mono) (03:04)
019. Fortune Teller (mono) (02:34)
020. Goodbye (mono) (02:26)
021. Give To Me Your Love (The New Phoenix) (03:09)
022. Thanks (The New Phoenix) (03:09)
First time on CD for 1968 album from San Diego act who were regulars on Dick Clark's 'Where The Action Is' with The Robbs & Paul Revere & The Raiders. Includes the entire World Pacific album, non-LP singles, & their last two recordings (as the New Phoenix which were produced by Mama Cass Elliot). Features 22 tracks including 10 bonus tracks, 'You're Bound To Cry', 'There'll Be A Time', 'That's All I'll Do', 'Come To Your Window', 'They Said No', 'Sad Sad Sunshine' (Mono 45), 'Fortune Teller' (Mono 45), 'Goodbye' (Mono 45), 'Give To Me Your Love' (The New Phoenix) & 'Thanks' (The New Phoenix).
San Diego's Hardtimes were one of those oddities of the 1960's...the unknown group who had more exposure than most stars!.....as regular stars themselves of Dick Clark's TV show "Where The Action Is!" along with The Robbs and Paul Revere And The Raiders among others, they had the nationwide exposure other acts only dreamt of...their records were produced at various times by legendary jazz producer and World Pacific Records boss Dick Bock, Byrd's manager/producer Jim Dickson, and their close friend Mama Cass Elliot....and darn fine records they were too!.....more than justifying their hefty latter day price tags.
Well loved and much discussed among fans of Softpop, garage punk and folk-rock alike, this first ever CD release includes their complete World Pacific album, all their exciting and garagey non-album singles, and their last recording (as the New Phoenix) produced by Mama Cass Elliot......members went on to T.I.M.E., Steppenwolf, and The Union Gap, but none of these excellent bands were a patch on The Hardtimes!
This is the first time ever on CD for this album and included are many unpublished photos of the group plus detailed liner notes with interviews with the band members. A must for fans of Softpop, garage Rock, Psychedelia and Folk Rock!
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