Search - Tim Hardin :: Suite for Susan Moore/Bird on

For Hardin devotees only

Panagiotis Stinis | Minneapolis, MN | 01/07/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It is difficult to define a Hardin devotee. The music that this man made and the way he sang defied all classification. He could veer towards folk,blues and jazz with wonderful results and at the same time he could combine all of them in a rather singular blend accompanied by his distinctive voice. These 2 albums here show that even when under a dry spell Tim was a very sensitive and complex songwriter. Complex in the sense that his voice is added as an extra instrument and can carry a simple tune to incredible heights.
Undoubtedly, there are quite a few "misses" but it is worth buying this for the rest which is Hardin vintage. Probably the two best cuts here are "First love song" and "If I knew" which date back to 1965-66 (alternate takes of these two songs appeared in the "Hang on to a dream" compilation).
Except for those older songs there are some new ones that stand their ground well, notably "Southern Butterfly", "Everything good becomes more true" and "Love Hymn". As always the poetry in his songs is unique in expresiveness and nobility without ever becoming distant from real feelings. On the contrary it only shows the gentleness that this man had along with all the demons that claimed his life on December 29, 1980.
Finally, Hardin includes some covers which don't always hit the right note (at least for me). For example, I didn't enjoy the jazz cover of the standard "Georgia in my mind". That said, there is his interpretation of Cohen's "Bird on a wire" that is beyond description simply because the lyrics could have been a short biography of Hardin and he feels at home with everything said in this song.
All in all, a strange collection of songs that reflect upon the life of an even stranger soul. Listen to the way he sings: "If whiskey don't kill me now, I believe I'll live till I die" from the "Moonshiner" and you'll understand what I mean."

Tim Hardin's Best

M. White | Northeast - USA | 08/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although alot of folks might think that Tim Hardin 2 with "If I Were a Carpenter" on it is his best LP, these two releases in one package and recorded circa 1970 and 1971, I believe, show us Hardin at his creative peak. "Suite" is Tim pulling out all the stops incorporating Jazz, Poetry, Folk, Blues; hell, everything but the kitchen sink is in the mix here. Folklore has it that he recorded "Suite" while living in a huge house in Woodstock, NY and he would wander around the house at all hours recording bits and pieces of songs at a time. "Bird" is a collection of self-penned tunes and covers that show Tim in great voice and he interprets Leonard Cohen's title tune beautifully. On both releases, he pours his heart out about the love he has for his wife, his newly born son, his struggle with drugs and alcohol, as well as his fear of becoming a new parent. Hardin is a must for anyone who is seriously interested in American Folk, Jazz and/or singer/songwriter offerings and this two-for is the best work he ever did."

The needless "Classic- discussion"

Monika van de List | 10/08/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Whenever that "Suite for Susan" album gets mentioned, people don't talk about the musical issues, they argue wether it's a classic album or just overrated "..."(whatsoever).

Needless to say that Tim never could reach the hights of those wonderful two Albums he recorded for Verve in 1966 - 1967 again.

But you get to hear great tunes on "Susan". They don't stick to any Pop or even Folk formula, most of them have a lovely improvised and sensitive feeling about them.

Anyone new to the Tim Hardin world might be irritated, but once you've taken his early classics to your heart, this album here shows you somehow the dark side of Tim Hardin 1 and 2.

"Bird on a wire" comes on strong and jazzy.

Your hear the smoke in Tim's voice, but it's a disappointing album (That's why I only give 4 stars; "Susan"=5; "Bird"=3) cause it lacks the beauty his 3 first records so obviously had.

There are some fine moments, mostly "Southern butterfly", but I guess it lacks more original Hardin songs to be a great album in a whole.

Whatsoever; it's worth buying!"