This week, rather than searching for a song by a specific artist, I decided to search for the best version(s) of a song. I first heard this song on an album of Stephen Foster’s music sung by Thomas Hampson, a classical music singer. The album is called American Dreamer, and if you think Stephen Foster is just Oh Susanna, you should give the album a listen, though rock and roll it definitely is not. Hampson’s version is on youtube, but with no video.
The song is Hard Times Come Again No More, which seems timely. The prevailing wisdom on youtube is that it is a Civil War era song, but that’s not the case. It dates to 1854, and it clearly references a time of economic hardship in which even our often inadequate social “safety net” didn’t exist.
The song lends itself to all kinds of arrangements. Sticking to my criteria of no lip synching, I’ve chosen two that I think lead the pack. The first is Bob Dylan, singing a hard scrabble version at a Willie Nelson tribute concert.
The second is in an entirely different style, by James Taylor and Yo-Yo Ma, from Ma’s Appalachian Journey album.
Honorable mention to Mavis Staples, who loses out because of the lip synching ban.
UPDATE: In response to popular demand (see comments), I’m putting Mavis Staples up. I’m still not convinced about the lip synching.
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