"Hard Times" is the seventh single from British rapper and songwriter Plan B's second studio album, The Defamation of Strickland Banks. On 19 May 2011, it was released as a digital download, featuring newly recorded vocal parts by Elton John and Paloma Faith, recorded as a charity single with all the proceeds benefiting victims of the 2010 Pakistan floods and 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The song was used by Sky Sports in the build up to Crystal Palace vs West Bromwich Albion in April 2010.
Track listing Digital download "Hard Times" (featuring Elton John & Paloma Faith) – 4:05
Promotional CD single "Hard Times" (featuring Elton John & Paloma Faith) – 4:05 "Hard Times" (Live) (featuring Elton John & Paloma Faith) – 5:44 "Hard Times" (Edit) – 3:48
Personnel
Plan B – vocals, producer
Production David McEwan – producer Eric Appapoulay – additional producer Mark "Top" Rankin – engineer, mixing
Additional musicians (single version) Elton John – piano, vocals Paloma Faith – vocals
Additional musicians (album version) Tom Wright-Goss – guitar Eric Appapoulay – bass, backing vocals Richard Cassell – drums Everton Newson – violin Louisa Fuller – violin Sally Herbert – violin Warren Zielinski – violin Bruce White – viola Sonia Slany – viola Ian Burdge – cello
Chart performance Chart (2011)Peakposition UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) 147
Release history Region Date Label Format United Kingdom 19 May 2011Hard Times (feat. Elton John & Paloma Faith) - Single by Plan B itunes.apple.com/gb/ Atlantic Digital download
References