Hard to Handle (song)

"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.

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. 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)
 * A. "Hard to Handle" (album version) – 3:08
 * B. "Waitin' Guilty" – 3:02

International 7-inch and cassette single (1990)
 * 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)
 * 1) "Hard to Handle"
 * 2) "Jealous Again" (acoustic version)
 * 3) "Twice As Hard" (live at the Paradiso, June 5, 1990)
 * 4) "Stare It Cold" (live at the Paradiso, June 5, 1990)
 * A 12-inch picture disc was also released, omitting "Stare It Cold".

UK CD single (1990)
 * 1) "Hard to Handle"
 * 2) "Jealous Again" (acoustic version)
 * 3) "Twice as Hard" (remix)

UK 7-inch single (1991)
 * A. "Hard to Handle" (album version)
 * B. "Sister Luck" (live at the Greek Theatre)

UK 7-inch picture disc (1991)
 * A. "Hard to Handle" (album version)
 * B. "Stare It Cold" (live at the Greek Theatre)

UK 12-inch single (1991)
 * A1. "Hard to Handle"
 * B1. "Dreams" (live at the Greek Theatre)
 * B2. "Stare It Cold" (live at the Greek Theatre)

UK CD single (1991)
 * 1) "Hard to Handle"
 * 2) "Sister Luck" (live at the Greek Theatre)
 * 3) "Stare It Cold" (live at the Greek Theatre)

Japanese mini-CD single (1991)
 * 1) "Hard to Handle"
 * 2) "Jealous Again" (acoustic version)

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.
 * A cover of the song appears on Tony Joe White's 1970 album Tony Joe.
 * 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 and performed it for John Peel on his show of 4 September 1975
 * 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; they fused blues and reggae to produce this dub-style cover.