Written and first recorded by Tim Hardin (1965).
Also recorded by Bobby Darin (1966), Marianne Faithful (1967).
Hit versions by Rod Stewart (as “(Find a) Reason to Believe” studio, US #62 1971), Rod Stewart (live, US #19/MOR #2/UK #51 1993).
From the wiki: ‘Reason to Believe’ is a song written and first recorded by American folk singer Tim Hardin in 1965. After having had his recording contract terminated by Columbia Records, after refusing to release an album of material he had recorded for them, Hardin achieved some success in the 1960s as a songwriter based in Greenwich Village. The original recording of ‘Reason to Believe’ comes from Hardin’s first authorized debut album, released on Verve Records, Tim Hardin 1, recorded in 1965 and issued in 1966 when he was 25.
“Bobby Darin, whose recording of Hardin’s ‘If I Were a Carpenter‘ would hit the US Top 10 and signal a major shift toward folk music for the one-time lounge singer, covered ‘Reason to Believe’ in 1966. British rock chanteuse Marianne Faithful recorded her version in 1967 for the album Loveinamist,.
“Rod Stewart’s recordings are best-known. A studio arrangement was released in 1971 on the Every Picture Tells a Story album, reaching #62 on its own before the flip, Stewart’s signature song ‘Maggie May’, overtook it on its way to top the Billboard Hot 100. A live version was released in 1993, and received considerable airplay as part of his MTV Unplugged appearance and subsequent Unplugged…and Seated album. ‘Reason to Believe’ charted anew, this time peaking at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart.”
Bobby Darin, “Reason to Believe” (1966):
Marianne Faithful, “Reason to Believe” (1967):
Rod Stewart, “Reason to Believe” (1971):
Rod Stewart, “Reason to Believe” live Unplugged performance (1993):