This is a somewhat uneven CD which runs the gamut from excellent to less than expected. Die hard Tim Hardin fans, however, will certainly enjoy it overall. If you are a die hard Tim Hardin Fan, then you will agree that this is a four star CD. If you are not, deduct one star from my rating.
"Simple Songs of Freedom" was Tim Hardin's only top 100 hit and, oddly enough, was written by Bobby Darin who never recorded it. It is, however, a wonderful anti-war song. Yet, Bobby recorded Tim Hardin's "If I were a Carpenter" and turned it into a top 10 hit, something Tim Hardin was never able to replicate. Go figure.
"Shiloh Town", written by Tim, is the best cut on this CD. A beautiful, wistful song, it represents Tim Hardin, who was a most expressive singer and minstrel at heart, at his best. Though he often classified himself as a jazz singer, his music and singing was an often provocative combination of jazz, blues, and folk all rolled into one. It was his ability to amalgamate these genres of music that made him unique.
If you want a truly all time great CD, get "Reason To Believe: The Best of Tim Hardin" which is a five star CD whether you are or are not a Tim Hardin fan. There is not one bad cut on that CD, and it best tells you what Tim Hardin was all about. That is the CD of which reviewer Daniel Dennis writes in his January 11, 2000 review, and it is to the songs on that CD to which he is referring. His review actually pertains to that CD and not to the "Simple Songs of Freedom" CD. I hope that this clears up any confusion.