Reason to Believe - Live Unplugged Version; 2008 Remaster

This was written by folk singer Tim Hardin, who originally recorded it in 1965 and performed it at Woodstock four years later. Hardin wrote some popular songs and was a very influential musician, but he had severe drug problems and died in December 1980 at age 39. His death came shortly after John Lennon's.

At first listen, this song can seem rather sweet, but it's anything but. The girl "lied straight-faced" while he cried, but still he can't get over her. He knows if he gives her the chance, she'll make him forget about it because he keeps looking for a reason to believe she's not that kind of person.

Stewart first released "Reason To Believe" in 1971 as a single with "Maggie May" as the B-side. Disc jockeys liked the flip side better and played "Maggie" instead, which became the hit, going to #1 in both the US and UK while "Reason To Believe" stalled at #62 in the US and #19 in the UK. The song got new life in 1993 when Stewart released a live, acoustic version for his MTV Unplugged special. Appearing on the album Unplugged... and Seated, this version returned the song to the charts, going to #19 in the US and #51 in the UK.