THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD
1,187) Hardin & York — “Candlelight”
This ’69 A-side and track from the keyboard/drum prog duo’s first album is “an organ driven psychedelic number, regal sounding with thundering bass”. (Kevin Rathert, https://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2021/09/hardin-york-cant-keep-a-good-man-down-the-hardin-york-anthology-2021.html) Stuart Robinson tells us:
[It is] cracker of a song . . . with Eddie Hardin sounding uncannily like Steve Winwood with that excellent organ swirling, and lets not forget that wwhhheeessshhhh sound of the flanging/phasing effect that is on this, this is certainly psych inspired but going other places, but its a fabulous song . . . .
http://pub4.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=313820429&frmid=6809&msgid=1420957&cmd=show
As to the album, Joe Marchese writes:
[T]he LP showcased Hardin’s Winwood-esque vocals and swirling Hammond organ and York’s forceful drumming. While the duo could create a mighty sound on their own, Hurst thickened their psychedelic R&B sound with background vocalists Sue and Sunny, orchestral embellishments, and musicians including guitarist Vic Flick and bassist Herbie Flowers. Hardin continued to grow as a songwriter, penning most of the album’s original material.
https://theseconddisc.com/2021/07/28/listen-everyone-cherry-red-grapefruit-collect-hardin-and-york-albums/
Richie Unterberger is more equivocal:
Hardin & York’s debut album was quite competent yet derivative early progressive rock, and derivative of Traffic in particular. At least, however, it came by its influences quite honestly, Pete York having drummed behind Steve Winwood in thr Spencer Davis Group and Eddie Hardin having joined the Spencer Davis Group. after Winwood left. . . . Hardin sings and writes uncannily like Winwood circa Traffic’s “Forty Thousand Headmen” period, but while that’s a good standard to shoot for, therein also lies the problem: it’s not quite as good . . . and certainly not as original. . . . [But] this is pretty decent stuff. . . . Hardin’s vocals are impressively rich and gritty, and his piano and organ quite skillful.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/tomorrow-today-mw0000740577
As to H&Y’s history, Unterberger writes:
The unusual power duo of keyboardist/vocalist Eddie Hardin and drummer Pete York made a few albums in the late ’60s and early ’70s, and were aptly described as a cross between Traffic and Procul Harum . . . . with their blend of hard rock, soul, progressive, and jazz influences . . . . Both . . . left the Winwood-less Spencer Davis Group in October 1968, and teamed up shortly afterward to form a two-man group . . . . unusual in rock to this day, and as far as two-person organ-drum combos go, the only other one of note from that period was used by Lee Michaels . . . . Hardin covered the bass parts with the left hand of his organ, and the result was actually a pretty full band sound for just the two members. However, on their three albums, the duo was sometimes augmented by horns, flute, guitar, backup female vocals, and other orchestration. Although Hardin & York weren’t that big in the U.K. or U.S., they had more success on the European Continent, particularly in Germany, where they were big both on record and as a touring act. . . . In 1971 each member started playing with their own bands as well (the Pete York Percussion Band and Hardin/Fenwick/Newman), occasionally playing in those bands on the same bill as live Hardin & York concerts. . . . [G]uitariat Ray Fenwick . . . joined Hardin & York in mid-1972, at which point the act’s name changed to Hardin, York & Fenwick.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/hardin-york-mn0000662331#biography
John Wenlock-Smith notes that:
Their stage show was energetic and, with just the two of them, it needed to be to capture the attention of the audience. They did this by using the dynamics of a sole keyboard player along with a jazz rooted drummer who packed a mighty punch, their interplay was dazzling and effusive at times . . . .
https://www.progradar.org/index.php/2021/06/30/review-hardin-york-cant-keep-a-good-man-down-the-hardin-york-anthology-by-john-wenlock-smith/
To see H&Y on Beat Club: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RGptW8JdFk
Live on the BBC:
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Not too shabby. I wasn’t really picking up a lot of Winwood vibes myself but what do I know!
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