As I was listening to the radio on the way home from work tonight, I heard the Black Crowes’ “Hard To Handle,” but it was noticeably different than the one that appeared on their debut. The big difference was a nice horn section – one that fit the song so perfectly that I think I’ll be mentally filling in that part any time I hear the original version (“original” being a relative term, since it’s a cover).
When did this horntastic version of the song come out?
I’m not sure what version you heard, but remember, the Black Crowes’ version of “Hard to Handle” was not the original. Otis Redding did the original version at least 20 years before the Black Crowes. And several artists (including Tom Jones) had covered that tune before the Black Crowes.
Sigh… and the OP already knew that. Ignore the previous post. I apologize for responding at all.
I know the version you’re talking about. I can’t find a cite for it, but I’ve heard this version with horns within a year or two of the original release. I definitely heard it before 1995.
I can’t recall if there are horns on it, as it’s been awhile since I’ve heard it…but might it be the Toots and the Maytals version?
No, you definitely heard the Black Crowes version. But you heard the horns remix.
I researched this a couple months ago because I, too, like the horns version much better than the original and was trying to find a copy of it. Anytime I hear the original BC version, it’s missing something, and I, too, fill in the horns part.
IIRC, the horns remix is only available on some sort of promo CD that was sent out. I found one once on eBay, but haven’t looked since.
Again, IIRC, the horns remix was done and the CD sent out, and the BCs hated it.
Sorry I don’t remember all the back story. It’s been a while since I looked into it.
Based on Turek’s lead, it seems that the horns version was included on the 1990 US promo CD released by the “Crowe Mafia Fanclub.”
Personally, I actually prefer the bare version of the song vs. the horny one.