Hard Times (Plan B song)

"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

1. "Hard Times" (featuring Elton John & Paloma Faith) – 4:05

• Promotional CD single

1. "Hard Times" (featuring Elton John & Paloma Faith) – 4:05
2. "Hard Times" (Live) (featuring Elton John & Paloma Faith) – 5:44
3. "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

Release history

References