Comments: 21

• Amy Kristian Andreason from Eugene, OregonThis song was in fact written about my mother. My father was with Tim Harden when they met my mother. He was fell in love with her, and wanted to run away with her. All facts that can be verified.
• AnonymousYour website identifies tim Hardin as the writer of "If I were a Carpenter," but the listing on Google credits Darin with the authorship. Someone needs to change that.
• Vicki from Cincinnati OhBob Seger did an outstanding version of this song.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyFifty years ago today on March 1st, 1970 "If I Were A Carpenter"* by Johnny Cash and June Carter peaked at #2 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Hot Country singles chart, for the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "It's Just A Matter of Time" by Sonny James...
  And on March 7, 1970, "If I Were A Carpenter" reached #1 {for 1 week} on the Canadian RPM Country Singles chart...
  Between 1964 and 1976 the husband and wife duo had eight records on the Hot Country Singles chart, four made the Top 10 with their two biggest hits both peaking at #2, the above "If I Were A Carpenter" and "Jackson" for one week in April of 1967...
  Besides their two #2 records, their other two Top 10 were "It Ain't Me Babe" {#4 in 1964} and "Long-Legged Guitar Pickin' Man" {#6 in 1967}...
  May both Johnny Cash {1932 - 2003} and June Carter Cash {1929 - 2003} R.I.P.
  * For both their #2 records it was Sonny James who kept them out of the top spot, his "It's Just A Matter of Time" was at #1 for "If I Were A Carpenter", and for "Jackson" it was his "Need You" at #1...
  And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the Hot Country Singles' Top 10 on March 1st, 1970:
  At #3. "Fightin' Side of Me" by Merle Haggard & the Strangers
  #4. "I'll See Him Through" by Tammy Wynette
  #5. "Honey Come Back" by Glen Campbell
  #6. "Welfare Cadillac" by Guy Drake
  #7. "Tennessee Birdwalk" by Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan
  #8. "Country Girl" by Jeannie C. Riley
  #9. "Occasional Wife" by Faron Young
  #10. "A Week In A Country Jail" by Tom T. Hall
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 27th 1969, "Simple Song of Freedom" by Tim Hardin entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #81; and on August 24th, 1969 it peaked at #50 (for 2 weeks) and spent 7 weeks on the Top 100...
  The song was composed by Bobby Darin, and Bobby made the Top 100 twice with songs composed by Tim Hardin; "If I Were A Carpenter" (peaked at #8 for 2 weeks on October 30th, 1966) and "The Lady Came From Baltimore" (reached #62 for 2 weeks on April 23rd, 1967)...
  "Simple Song of Freedom" was Tim Hardin only Top 100 record...
  R.I.P. Mr. Hardin, born James Timothy Hardin, (1941 - 1980) and Mr. Darin, born Walden Robert Cassotto, (1936 - 1973).
• Fred from Laurel, MdAnother great Tim Hardin song of that time, that was done splendidly by Peter Paul & Mary, and later by Rod Stewart -- Reason To Believe.
• Fred from Laurel, MdI must take issue with the contention that, "if it wasn't English, it didn't sell." Not only were the Lovin Spoonful doing fine at that time, as mentioned, but so were the Beachboys - many #1 hits, including several two-sided 45-rpm hits - and Sonny & Cher had, at one time, 5 of the top 10 singles! And there were The Supremes, the Four Tops, the Temptations, the Mamas and Papas, Bob Dylan, The Byrds, ... Lots of American recording artists were quite popular during that time.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn April 21st 1968, "If I Were A Carpenter" by the Four Tops entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #99; and on June 2nd it peaked at #20 (for 2 weeks) and spent 10 weeks on the Top 100...
  It reached #7 in the United Kingdom and #17 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart...
  Sadly, three members of the original Four Tops have passed away; lead singer Levi Stubbs (1936 - 2008), Lawrence Payton (1938 - 1997), Renaldo Benson (1936 - 2005), and Abdul 'Duke' Fakir will celebrate his 79th birthday this coming December 26th...
  May Levi, Lawrence, & Renaldo R.I.P.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 18th 1970, "If I Were A Carpenter" by Johnny Cash and June Carter entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and on February 22nd it peaked at #36 (for 1 week) and spent 8 weeks on the Top 100...
  It reached #2 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart...
  The original version was track one of side one on Tim Hardin's 2nd studio album, 'Tim Harden 2'...
  Four other covered versions have charted on the Top 100; Bobby Darin (#8 in 1966), the Four Tops (#20 in 1968), Bob Seger (#76 in 1972), and Leon Russell (#73 in 1974)...
  Sadly, the song's composer, Tim Hardin, passed away on December 29th, 1980 at the young age of 39.
• Niles from Belpre, OhRobert Plant did an incredible job too.
  I'm with you Lisa
• Daniel from Farmingdale, NyThis song always moved me. I don't know exactly why. It's a very simple ballad of a man questioning the love he hopes a woman has for him but it has a timeless message to it that has a universal message. It's my favorite Bobby Darin song. No one could have sung it better. What a shame he died so young.
• Bruce Muckala from Minnesota, MnThe story of the song pitching sounds like a myth as Richard in Toronto states: John Sebatian wrote the songs or co-wrote them so they couldn't be "pitched" to him.
• Jim from Naples, FlAs it's more of a folksong, I prefer the earlier versions by Bobby and Tim.
• Steve from Saint Louis, MoBobby Darin returned the songwriting favor and wrote "A Simple Song of Freedom" for Tim Hardin to sing. It is described in Wikipedia as one of Hardin's few commercial successes.
• Niles from Belpre, OhThe Four Topps also recorded this song. I believe they did a fantastic job.
• Elaine from Spokane, WaI agree with Lisa, Robert Plant's version is the best!
• Jon from Oakridge, OrI like Johhny Cash's version of this.
• Vince from Paliwag, KyI think the fact about the pitched songs was really just a fictional anecdote told by Darin in his last television special. It's a funny story, though.
• Joshua from Twin Cities, MnThe title "If I Were A Carpenter" was eventually re-used for a tribute album to (you guessed it) the Carpenters.
• Lisa from Brampton, CanadaI like Robert Plant's version the best.
• Richard from Toronto, CanadaIt doesn't make sense that Magic and Summer in the City were 'pitched'to the Spoonful, since both songs were composed by members of the Spoonful.
  
  There's something missing.

see more comments