Moving from Britain’s Labi Siffre to a funk-soul legend from Indiana, who died at the age of just 26 and whose album, The Baby Huey Story: Living Legend was released posthumously in 1971. A tragic loss to music after a drug-related heart attack, the sheer talent of James Ramey (1944 – 1970) aka Huey is an least captured in this classic album, produced by Curtis Mayfield, who wrote some of its songs, including Hard Times, the former by Huey, followed by Mama Get Yourself Together. The album is packed with wonderful full-on orchestration, horns, bass and more, peerless musicianship and energy, and of course Huey’s voice - powerful, emotional, screaming. The whole album is worth enjoying as an experience, but these two tracks capture its superb scope and spirit. Listen to him? How can we not?
[Verse 1]
Cold, cold eyes upon me they stare
People all around me and they're all in fear
They don't seem to want me but they won't admit
I must be some kind of creature up here having fits
[Verse 2]
From my party house, I'm afraid to come outside
Although I'm filled with love I'm afraid they'll hurt my pride
So I play the part I feel they want of me
And I pull the shades so I won't see them seein' me
[Chorus]
Havin' hard times in this crazy town
Havin' hard times, there's no love to be found
Havin' hard times, in this crazy town
Havin' hard times, there's no love to be found
[Verse 3]
From my party house I feel like meetin' others
Familiar faces, creed and race, a brother
But to my surprise I find a man corrupt
Although he be my brother, he wants to hold me up
[Chorus]
Havin' hard times in this crazy town
Havin' hard times, there's no love to be found
Havin' hard times, in this crazy town
Havin' hard times, there's no love to be found
So many hard times...
Sleepin' on motel floors
Knockin' on my brother's door
Eatin' Spam and Oreos and drinkin' Thunderbird baby
[Chorus]
In this crazy town
Havin' hard times, there's no love to be found
Havin' hard times, in this crazy town
Havin' hard times, there's no love to be found
[Instrumental]
[Outro]
I'm sick and tired
I'm sick and tired of payin' dues baby
And I'm sick and tired of havin' so many hard, hard times baby
And from my party house, from my party house.
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