“Pushin’ Too Hard” / “Try To Understand”

This was the second release of the song "Pushin' Too Hard", the one which catapulted the song into the nationwide Top 40 in 1966 for The Seeds. When looking around for Seeds 45s for sale, this will probably be the most common one. And it’s one that every rabid fanatic (or even casual fan) of garage punk flower psychedelia should have in their vinyl collection.

This release, the original Crescendo release in America that became a nationwide, then worldwide, hit, is for better or worse nearly everyone’s introduction into the magic and maddening world of Sky Saxon and The Seeds.

As usual, the label singles out the lead singer for special mention: under “THE SEEDS” is the legend “Featuring Sky Saxon.”

This same recording had already been released on a single by GNP Crescendo, titled “You’re Pushing Too Hard”. (The B-side of that single was the non-LP "Out Of The Question".) "Try To Understand" had been released before this as well; it was an A-side in its own right. Both of those earlier singles had failed to become hits.

This single, which came in a generic company sleeve, is usually found on the light blue Crescendo label, although later repressings on an orange label are seen too. The "Pushin' Too Hard" / "Try To Understand" single was subsequently licensed to record labels around the world, and bootlegged by others besides, yielding a motley collection of discs for collectors to hunt down.

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