Hard to Handle (song) explained
"Hard to Handle" is a 1968 song written by American soul singer Otis Redding along with Al Bell and Allen Jones. Originally recorded by Redding, it was released in 1968 as the B-side to "Amen" (shortly after the singer's sudden death in 1967). The song also appears on the 1968 album The Immortal Otis Redding. Redding's version reached number 38 on the Billboard R&B chart and number 51 on the pop chart.[3]
American rock band the Black Crowes covered the song for their 1990 debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, reaching number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 with their rendition.
The Black Crowes version
American rock band the Black Crowes covered the song for their 1990 debut album, Shake Your Money Maker. Two versions of the song exist: the original album version and the hit single remixed with an overdubbed brass section, available on the 30th Anniversary edition of Shake Your Money Maker.[5] The album version was first released as a single in the United Kingdom in August 1990 and was issued in the United States later the same year.
The song peaked at number 45 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number one on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, and number 45 on the UK Singles Chart. Following the success of the band's first top-40 hit, "She Talks to Angels", the song re-entered the Hot 100 and peaked at number 26 in August 1991, becoming the Black Crowes' highest position on the chart. The same month, the song was re-released in the UK and reached a new peak of number 39.
Track listings
US 7-inch and cassette single (1990)[6] [7]
A. "Hard to Handle" (album version) – 3:08
B. "Waitin' Guilty" – 3:02
International 7-inch and cassette single (1990)[8] [9]
A. "Hard to Handle" (album version) – 3:06
B. "Jealous Again" (acoustic version) – 4:37
UK 12-inch single and Japanese maxi-CD single (1990)[10] [11]
- "Hard to Handle"
- "Jealous Again" (acoustic version)
- "Twice As Hard" (live at the Paradiso, June 5, 1990)
- "Stare It Cold" (live at the Paradiso, June 5, 1990)
UK CD single (1990)[13]
- "Hard to Handle"
- "Jealous Again" (acoustic version)
- "Twice as Hard" (remix)
UK 7-inch single (1991)[14]
A. "Hard to Handle" (album version)
B. "Sister Luck" (live at the Greek Theatre)
UK 7-inch picture disc (1991)[15]
A. "Hard to Handle" (album version)
B. "Stare It Cold" (live at the Greek Theatre)
UK 12-inch single (1991)[16]
A1. "Hard to Handle"
B1. "Dreams" (live at the Greek Theatre)
B2. "Stare It Cold" (live at the Greek Theatre)
UK CD single (1991)[17]
- "Hard to Handle"
- "Sister Luck" (live at the Greek Theatre)
- "Stare It Cold" (live at the Greek Theatre)
Japanese mini-CD single (1991)[18]
- "Hard to Handle"
- "Jealous Again" (acoustic version)
Charts
Year-end charts
Release history
Other versions
- Sunshine pop group Harpers Bizarre covered the song in their unique style on their 1969 LP Harpers Bizarre 4
- Reggae artist Carl Dawkins recorded a cover produced by Lee Perry in 1969 as a 7" A side.
- Mae West, as Leticia Van Allen, sings the song in the 1970 film Myra Breckenridge.[26]
- A cover of the song appears on Tony Joe White's 1970 album Tony Joe.[27]
- Soul artist King Floyd covers this song on his 1973 studio album Think About It (Atco Records)
- British R&B/rock band Snafu included the song on their 1975 album All Funked Up[28] and performed it for John Peel on his show of 4 September 1975[29]
- The Grateful Dead performed the song live 93 times between 3-15-69 and 12-31-82, typically sung by keyboardist Ron "Pigpen" McKernan; it appears on the Grateful Dead live albums History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear's Choice), Fallout from the Phil Zone, Ladies and Gentlemen... the Grateful Dead, Dick's Picks Volume 35, Dave's Picks Volume 6, Dave's Picks Volume 10, Dave's Picks Volume 19, and Dave's Picks Volume 30
- Reggae artist Toots Hibbert covered the song on his 1988 album Toots in Memphis.
- Serbian hard rock band Cactus Jack included a cover of the Black Crowes version on their 2002 live album DisCover.
- Gov't Mule covered the song for their 2007 album Mighty High;[30] they fused blues and reggae to produce this dub-style cover.
Notes and References
- Book: Cartwright, Garth. Robert . Dimery . 2015 . 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. Otis Redding - "Hard to Handle. Universe. New York. 227.
- Book: Cartwright, Garth. Robert . Dimery . 2015 . 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. Otis Redding - "Hard to Handle. Universe. New York. 227.
- Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 486.
- Book: Kemp, Mark. The Black Crowes. . 2004 . . 4th . Brackett . Nathan . Hoard . Christian . 0-7432-0169-8 . 75–76.
- Web site: 'Shake Your Money Maker' 30th Anniversary Box Set. theblackcrowes.com. July 10, 2023.
- Hard to Handle. The Black Crowes. 1990. US 7-inch single vinyl disc. Def American Recordings. 7-19245.
- Hard to Handle. The Black Crowes. 1990. US cassette single cassette notes. Def American Recordings. 19245-4.
- Hard to Handle. The Black Crowes. 1990. UK 7-inch single vinyl disc. Def American Recordings. DEFA 6, 878 132–7.
- Hard to Handle. The Black Crowes. 1990. UK cassette single sleeve. Def American Recordings. DEFAM 6.
- Hard to Handle. The Black Crowes. 1990. UK 12-inch single sleeve. Def American Recordings. DEFA 612, 878 133-1.
- Hard to Handle. The Black Crowes. 1990. Japanese maxi-CD single liner notes. Def American Recordings. PHCR-8004.
- Hard to Handle. The Black Crowes. 1990. UK 12-inch picture disc sleeve. Def American Recordings. DEFAP 612.
- Hard to Handle. The Black Crowes. 1990. UK CD single liner notes. Def American Recordings. DEFAC 6, 878 133–2.
- Hard to Handle. The Black Crowes. 1991. UK 7-inch single vinyl disc. Def American Recordings. DEFA10, 868 838-7.
- Hard to Handle. The Black Crowes. 1991. UK 7-inch picture disc sleeve. Def American Recordings. DEFAP 10, 868 840-7.
- Hard to Handle. The Black Crowes. 1991. UK 12-inch single sleeve. Def American Recordings. DEFA 1012, 868 839-1.
- Hard to Handle. The Black Crowes. 1991. UK CD single liner notes. Def American Recordings. DEFAC10, 868 839-2.
- Hard to Handle. The Black Crowes. 1990. Japanese mini-CD single liner notes. Def American Recordings. PHDR-21.
- Book: Ryan, Gavin. Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. 2011. Moonlight Publishing. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia.
- The Year in Music 1991: Top Album Rock Tracks. Billboard. 103. 51. YE-41. December 21, 1991.
- New Singles. Music Week. 27. August 11, 1990.
- New Singles. Music Week. 23. August 25, 1990.
- Web site: ジェラス・アゲイン ブラック・クロウズ. Jealous Again Black Crowes. Oricon. ja. March 24, 2024.
- Web site: ハード・トゥ・ハンドル ブラック・クロウズ. Hard to Handle Black Crowes. Oricon. ja. September 10, 2023.
- New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 19. August 10, 1991.
- Web site: "Hard to Handle",. .
- Web site: Tony Joe - Tony Joe White | Album | AllMusic . .
- Web site: All Funked Up – Snafu | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic. www.allmusic.com.
- Web site: BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 28/08/1975 Snafu.
- Web site: Mighty High. Gov't Mule. ATO Records. 2007. ATO0039, 88088-21585-2.. Discogs. 2007.