Pushin' Too Hard
"Pushin' Too Hard" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by The Seeds | ||||
from the album The Seeds | ||||
B-side |
| |||
Released | November 1965 July 1966 (re-issue) | |||
Recorded | September 14, 1965 | |||
Studio | United Western Recorders, Hollywood | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:38 | |||
Label | GNP Crescendo | |||
Songwriter(s) | Sky Saxon[4] | |||
Producer(s) | Sky Saxon | |||
The Seeds singles chronology | ||||
|
"Pushin' Too Hard", originally titled "You're Pushing Too Hard", is a song by
The song became the signature tune for the group and a template for their musical style – so much so that
Composition
Sky Saxon wrote "Pushin' Too Hard" while sitting in the front seat of a car waiting for his girlfriend to finish grocery shopping at a supermarket.[6][7] The lyrics can be interpreted as the protagonist warning his girlfriend against controlling him,[8] or as a rant against society as a whole.[9] The song contains two chords which alternate throughout, as well as instrumental breaks featuring an electric piano solo—played by Daryl Hooper—and a guitar solo played by Jan Savage.[10]
The Seeds recorded the song on September 14, 1965 at United Western Recorders in Hollywood, Los Angeles.[11] Saxon produced the song while Harvey Sharpe provided bass.[11] The song only required two takes to be completed, with the master being compiled from an edit of the second.[11]
Release
The Seeds released "You're Pushing Too Hard" as a single in November 1965.[12][13] Though the song did not chart initially, a Los Angeles disc jockey began playing it extensively following the release of the band's self-titled debut album in April 1966.[14] With the title having been changed to "Pushin' Too Hard", a new single was issued in July 1966 and the song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in December.[13][14][15] It peaked at number 36 in February and spent 11 weeks on the chart.[16][17]
Some radio stations banned the song, believing that the title dealt with being a pusher of illegal drugs.
Legacy
Critical reception
You're always hoping 'maybe this is a good one.' When Sky actually wrote the lyric to that song it was about a girlfriend he was having trouble with. He initially called us 'flower rock music' 'cause the words are kind of flowery, and...the girls used to toss flowers at us on stage. So it became 'flower power'.
–Daryl Hooper, the Seeds keyboardist, on fans' reaction to "Pushin' Too Hard"[20]
Film and television appearances
The Seeds, appearing as fictional band The Warts, performed "Pushin' Too Hard" on a 1968 episode of the television sitcom The Mothers-in-Law.[27] The song is featured on the soundtracks to the films Air America (1990),[28] 976-Evil II (1992), Wild America (1997),[29] and Easy Rider (2004; expanded edition).[30] In the second-season episode of Lost titled "The Whole Truth", Jack and Locke listen to the song while Ana Lucia interrogates Henry.[31] The song featured in a 2012 Nike commercial titled "Game On, World" which pays homage to classic video games.[32] It was used in Episode 6 of the 2023 TV series Funny Woman.
Other versions
Frank Zappa parodied the chorus of "Pushin' Too Hard" on the song "Sy Borg" from his 1979 rock opera album Joe's Garage.[33] Brazilian Jovem Guarda singer Wanderléa recorded, in 1967, a version of the song, called Vou lhe Contar, with portuguese lyrics written by Rossini Pinto.[34] Disco singer Paul Parker released a cover version of "Pushin' Too Hard" as the B-side to his 1982 single "Right On Target".[35]
Track listing
- 7" Vinyl (1965)
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "(You're) Pushin' Too Hard" | Sky Saxon | 2:38 |
2. | "Out of the Question" | Saxon, Russ Serpent | 2:15 |
- 7" Vinyl (1966)
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Pushin' Too Hard" | Saxon | 2:38 |
2. | "Try to Understand" | Saxon | 2:53 |
Personnel
- Rick Andridge - drums
- Darryl Hooper - keyboards
- Jan Savage - guitars
- Sky Saxon - lead vocals
- Harvey Sharpe - bass guitar
Chart performance
Chart (1967) | Peak position |
---|---|
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[16] | 36 |
U.S. Cash Box Top 100[42]
|
40 |
Can. RPM Top 100[43] | 44 |
References
- ^ Stiernberg, Bonnie. "The 50 Best Garage Rock Songs of All Time". Paste. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- ISBN 9781440835131.
- ISBN 9780634055485.
- ^ "secondhandsongs.com". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- ^ Hull, Robot A. (October 1977). "Steve Miller/Seeds Records: The Steve Miller Band: Book Of Dreams (Capitol) and The Seeds: Fallin' Off The Edge (GNP Crescendo)". Creem. Retrieved August 31, 2019 – via Rock's Backpages.
- ^ Ziegler, Chris (2003-11-06). "Pushing Kinda Sorta Hard". OC Weekly. Retrieved 2010-08-02.
- ^
Erickson, Steve (November 2001). "L.A.'s Top 100". ISSN 1522-9149. Retrieved 2010-08-02.
- ^ Weber, Bruce (2009-06-29). "Sky Saxon, Lead Singer and Bassist for the Seeds, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-02.
- Cowles Publishing Company. p. I-1.
- ^ a b
Unterberger, Richie. ""Pushin' Too Hard" - Review". Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-08-02.
- ^ a b c Singles As & Bs 1965-1970 (liner notes pg. 2). Palao, Alec. The Seeds. Big Beat Records. 2014. Catalogue number CDWIKD 322
- ^
Strong, Martin Charles (2003). The Great Indie Discography (2nd ed.). Edinburgh: ISBN 978-1-84195-335-9.
- ^ a b Singles As & Bs 1965-1970 (liner notes pg. 21). Palao, Alec. The Seeds. Big Beat Records. 2014. Catalogue number CDWIKD 322
- ^ a b
Joynson, Vernon (1997). Fuzz, Acid and Flowers: A Comprehensive Guide to American Garage, Psychedelic and Hippie Rock (1964-75) (4th ed.). Glasgow: Borderline Productions. p. 286. ISBN 978-1-899855-06-3.
- ^
"Billboard Hot 100". ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2010-08-02.
- ^ a b
Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (8th ed.). New York: ISBN 978-0-8230-7499-0.
- ^
"Billboard Hot 100". ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2010-08-02.
- ^ "Silver Dollar Survey". WLS. 1967-02-17. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
- ^ "Sound Ten Survey". WCFL. 1967-02-09. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
- ^
Kubernik, Harvey (2009). Canyon of Dreams: The Magic and the Music of Laurel Canyon. New York: ISBN 978-1-4027-6589-6.
- ^
Savage, Jon (2002). England's Dreaming: Anarchy, Sex Pistols, Punk Rock, and Beyond (Revised ed.). New York: ISBN 978-0-312-28822-8.
- ^
Gray, Marcus (2004). The Clash: Return of the Last Gang in Town (2nd ed.). Milwaukee, Wis.: ISBN 978-0-634-08240-5.
- ^ "Experience the Music: One Hit Wonders and the Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll". The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. Retrieved 2012-06-28.
- ^
Marsh, Dave (1989). The Heart Of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. New York: ISBN 978-0-306-80901-9.
- ^ Trynka, Paul (editor-in-chief) (2003). "1001 Best Songs Ever". Q (Special edition). Bauer Media Group.
{{cite journal}}
:|author=
has generic name (help) - ^
Stiernberg, Bonnie (2014-08-27). "The 50 Best Garage Rock Songs of All Time". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
- ^
Childs, T. Mike (2004). The Rocklopedia Fakebandica. New York: ISBN 978-0-312-32944-0.
- ^
"Air America Soundtrack - Overview". Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-08-02.
- ^
"Wild America Soundtrack - Overview". Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-08-02.
- ^
"Easy Rider Soundtrack (Expanded) - Overview". Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-08-02.
- ^
Stafford, Nikki (2006). Finding Lost: The Unofficial Guide. Toronto: ISBN 978-1-55022-743-7.
- ^ Nudd, Tim (2012-07-18). "Ad of the Day: Nike+W+K and Adam Berg turn your world into a video game in sublime new spots". Adweek. Retrieved 2012-08-07.
- ^ McDonald, Lisa (2010-10-27). "Project/Object an interview with Andre Cholmondeley". TimesSquare.com. Retrieved 2012-10-09.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Wanderléa, "Vou lhe Contar"". Vagalume. 2017-10-28. Retrieved 2017-10-28.
- ^
Shapiro, Peter (2006). Turn the Beat Around: The Secret History of Disco. New York: ISBN 978-0-86547-952-4.
- ^
"Datapanik in Year Zero - Overview". Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-08-02.
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"Shout On!/Hip-Notic - Overview". Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-08-02.
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"Blister Pop - Overview". Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-08-02.
- ^ McIntosh, Dan (2007-08-14). "The Bangles: Return to Bangleonia: Live in Concert [DVD]". PopMatters). Retrieved 2010-08-02.
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"Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the Rubinoos - Overview". Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-08-02.
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"The King of Garage Rock - Overview". Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-08-02.
- ^
"Cash Box Top 100 2/25/67". Cashbox Magazine, Inc. Archived from the originalon 2012-08-14. Retrieved 2010-08-02.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - March 3, 1967" (PDF).
External links
- "Pushin' Too Hard" at Allmusic